🇲🇦 Moroccan Cuisine

Mrouzia

Sweet Lamb with Raisins and Almonds

Prep Time 3 hours
Servings 6
Difficulty Hard
Calories 582 kcal

Tender lamb shoulder braised with honey, raisins, toasted almonds, and ras el hanout, creating a deeply sweet and savory Eid specialty.

Ingredients

  • 1.5kg lamb shoulder, cubed
  • 200g raisins
  • 150g blanched almonds
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp ras el hanout
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp saffron threads
  • 1 onion, grated
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • Salt and pepper
  • Sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions

  1. 1 Marinate lamb with ras el hanout, cinnamon, saffron, grated onion, olive oil, salt, and pepper for one hour minimum.
  2. 2 Place lamb and marinade in a heavy pot, add water to barely cover, and bring to a simmer over medium high heat.
  3. 3 Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for two hours until lamb is extremely tender and falls off the bone easily.
  4. 4 Soak raisins in warm water fifteen minutes, drain. Toast almonds in butter until golden. Set both aside for later.
  5. 5 When lamb is tender, add honey and raisins. Cook uncovered thirty minutes until sauce is thick and caramelized deeply.
  6. 6 Mound lamb on a platter, pour reduced sauce over, top with toasted almonds and sesame seeds before serving warm.

Did You Know?

Mrouzia was originally a preservation method using honey and spices to keep meat edible in the days before refrigeration.

From The Culinary Codex — http://theculinarycodex.com/dish/moroccan/mrouzia/