Serious Moroccan Beef Tagine
A fragrant, spice-laden North African dish with tender beef, apricots, and almonds. Slow-cooked to perfection in a clay pot. This moroccan-inspired beef ready in about 175 minutes pairs cubed beef shoulder, halved dried apricots, slivered almonds for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 460 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, cubed beef shoulder
- 1 cup, halved dried apricots
- 1/2 cup, slivered almonds
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large, diced onion
- 4 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 10 saffron threads
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat olive oil in a large tagine or heavy Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, sauté for 5 minutes until translucent. Stir in cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and saffron — cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 2: Add beef cubes, salt, and pepper. Brown on all sides, then pour in water. Bring to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook for 2.5 hours until beef is tender.
- Step 3: Stir in apricots and almonds — cook for 15 minutes until apricots soften and glaze forms. Adjust seasoning and serve with couscous or crusty bread.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Serious Moroccan Beef Tagine take to make?
Total time is about 175 minutes (25 min prep + 150 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Serious Moroccan Beef Tagine?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep cubed beef shoulder from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Serious Moroccan Beef Tagine?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Serious Moroccan Beef Tagine for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Serious Moroccan Beef Tagine?
Moroccan beef like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★☆
Good flavors but the sauce was a bit thin. I'd reduce it longer.
- ★★★★☆
Nice recipe! Presentation was beautiful. Flavor was good, not great.
- ★★★☆☆
Decent recipe but nothing special. Might try a different version.
