Potato, Green Chilli and Olive Tagine

, from Issue #49. August, 2015
Photography by Aaron McLean.
Potato, Green Chilli and Olive Tagine

Tagine refers to a Moroccan conical-topped clay pot, as well as the traditional braised dishes made therein. Serve this fragrant, lightly spiced tagine with warm flat-breads, couscous and a salad or use to accompany roast chicken or lamb.

Serves: 6

INGREDIENTS

1 kilogram waxy red potatoes, scrubbed and cut into large chunks
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, sliced
2 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
1 teaspoon each ground coriander, cumin, ginger, turmeric and paprika
pinch of chilli flakes
3 cloves garlic, crushed
grated zest 1 lemon
1 tablespoon honey
2 bay leaves
4-6 long green chillies
1 cup large green olives
1 x 400 gram tin crushed tomatoes
1 x 400 gram tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock or water
sea salt and freshly ground pepper

To serve
plain yoghurt
toasted pumpkin seeds
ground paprika
coriander

METHOD

Heat the oil in a large saucepan or tagine and cook the onion and carrots with a good pinch of salt for 5 minutes. Add all the spices, garlic, lemon zest, honey, bay leaves and the chillis and cook for 2 minutes. Add the potatoes and turn to coat in the spices. Add the tomatoes, chickpeas and the stock or water, season and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for about 40 minutes until the potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally.

To serve: Top with spoonfuls of yoghurt and scatter with the pumpkin seeds and a pinch of paprika. Garnish with coriander.