Tagine Of Root Vegetables Corona Beans

This is my regular go-to recipe for tagine. I make this quiet often specially in the colder months because it’s cozy delicious and warming with aromatic spices.

I learned this recipe” in Erfoud, Morroco during an afternoon cooking class organized by the chef at the hotel we were staying at. Erfoud a stunning little town, the gateway to Sahara. The town has some exclusive shops selling beautiful fossils, pottery, dates and everything the desert has to offer. It’s also famous as a starting spot for car rallies, marathons across the Sahara and of course movie shoots for its stunning desert landscape.

Tagine varies greatly across Morocco and the Sahara. This recipe kinda stuck with me because the uncomplicated and the whole family loves it. I’ve made it several times in the last 2 years and we’ve adapted it to our diet of lean protein and plantbased.

The important part to focus is the spice mix, combination of vegetables and protein. If you choose meat I recommend slow braising in a traditional or tight lid fitting pot in an oven. If you choose cooked beans and vegetables that doesn’t require hours of braising go for stove top and sauce pan with tight fitted lid.

Traditional tagine of course works best and is designed for slow braising food in its own steam captured by the tight fitted lid. If you don’t own a tagine no worries use your best pan with tightly fitted lid.

A few more tips:

• Choose 2-3 vegetables according to season.
• Add 2-4 medium-sized each of these hearty root veggies, like sweet potato, colored potatoes, beets, carrots.
• add a sweet produce or sprinkle with some dried fruit, more like a garnish. Pomegranate, dates or sweet potato works well too.
• If you can’t find preserved lemon use a thick slice of whole lemon.
• Try to use rainbow of veggies for maximum nutritional benefit and variety of textures.
• balance the protein and vegetables ratio for better flavor and texture.
• The spice mix is good for 2 lbs of veggies + protein.
• Protein choices: 2 cups cooked chickpeas/ 1 cup cooked giant corona or Lima beans/ chicken/ lamb or other red meats. Avoid seafood with this combo, I tried and it didn’t work with this spice mix.