Intermediate-Spiced Lamb Tagine with Apricots

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-03 · Updated 2026-05-03

A fragrant Moroccan-inspired lamb tagine simmered with warming spices and sweet apricots for a balanced, hearty stew. This Middle Eastern recipe, ready in about 130 minutes, pairs lamb shoulder, cubed, onion, diced, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs lamb shoulder, cubed
• 1 large onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup dried apricots, halved
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add 2 lbs lamb shoulder cubes seasoned with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper, browning on all sides for about 6-8 minutes until deeply caramelized. Remove and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same pot, reduce heat to medium, add 1 large diced onion and 4 minced garlic cloves, sautéing for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Stir in 2 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp ground ginger, and 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, cooking for 1 minute until spices bloom.
4. Step 4: Return the lamb to the pot, pour in 2 cups chicken broth, and bring to a simmer. Cover and reduce heat to low, cooking gently for 1 hour.
5. Step 5: After 1 hour, add 1 cup halved dried apricots and 1 tbsp honey, stirring well. Continue simmering uncovered for 30 minutes until the lamb is tender and sauce thickened.
6. Step 6: Remove from heat and sprinkle 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro over the stew before serving.