If you are looking to up the variety of healthy dishes in your cookbook, this is the perfect article for you. We have put together a list of our favorite healthy Tagine recipes.

A tagine works similarly to a slow-cooked dish. Tagine meals are cooked slowly using the juices found within the food that is being cooked. The added benefit of a tagine comes from the shape of its lid. The cone-shaped lid enhances the condensation process and allows the spices to fall back into the dish over and over throughout the cooking process so you are left with a beautifully flavored dish without needing to fry anything.

Also, traditional Moroccan Tagines are served with grains such as couscous or buckwheat which contain more nutritional value than rice or other starch laden foods.

Here are 4 different tagine recipes that you really must try! Any of these would work in a large pot, or even better, a cast-iron tagine like the ones found here: https://unocasa.com/products/tagine-pot.

1. Fish Tagine

This recipe is the perfect way to add more fish to your diet without adding a ton of breading or frying it in oil.

Ingredients for the marinade

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 4 tsp ground cumin
• 3 tsp paprika
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 tsp salt
• Juice and zest of 1 lemon
• 8 fillets of tilapia or other white fish (enough for just under 2 lbs)

Ingredients for the tagine

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 medium onions, sliced thinly
• 2 garlic cloves, diced
• 3 medium cans chopped tomatoes
• 2 cups fish stock
• 1 cup green olives, pitted and sliced in half
• 4 red peppers, deseeded and diced
• 3 cups new potatoes, sliced in half

Directions

1. Mix the fish with the marinade ingredients and set aside.
2. Fry the onions in the olive oil for 3 minutes.
3. Add the remaining ingredients except for the fish, and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Place the fish on top and continue to cook for 6 minutes or till the fish is done.
5. Serve with rice, couscous, or buckwheat.
6. Lamb Tagine

If you are looking to an alternative to beef to add a little extra iron to your diet, this lamb tagine is the perfect fit.

Ingredients for the meat marinade

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 lbs lamb fillet (chunks)
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• 2 tsp paprika
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp ground coriander
• Juice of 2 lemons
• 2 tsp garlic powder

Ingredients for the tagine

• 1 large spoonful olive oil
• 1 inch of fresh ginger, grated or finely chopped
• 1 tbsp tomato passata (or tomato paste)
• 1 ½ cups vegetable, chicken, or beef stock
• 3 large tomatoes, diced
• 1 cinnamon stick (1 inch long)
• 10 dates, pitted
• 10 olives, pitted and cut in half
• Rice, buckwheat, couscous to serve

Directions

1. Mix the marinade ingredients with the meat and cover. Chill overnight in the refrigerator.
2. The next day, heat the oven to 160 C. Heat a spoonful of olive oil in the pan on the stove and cook the onion for 2 minutes.
3. Add the ginger and cook for 1 minute more.
4. Pour in the meat with the marinade and cook for 5 minutes.
5. Add the remaining ingredients and let simmer for 2 hours, with the lid.
6. Serve over the rice, buckwheat, or couscous.
7. Moroccan Chicken Tagine with Lemon and Olives

Everyone loves a good chicken dish and this Chicken Tagine is no exception. This recipe is a great way to make turn comfort food into something healthy.

Ingredients

• 2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• Black pepper (optional)
• 1 3-4 lb chicken, cut into at least 8 pieces
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 preserved lemon, diced
• 1 cup green olives (pitted and sliced in half)
• ½ cup vegetable broth
• Couscous, rice, or buckwheat for serving
• Chopped fresh cilantro or flat-leaf parsley (optional, to garnish)

Directions

1. Marinate the chicken in the spices, including black pepper, if using. Leave it to chill for at least one hour, or overnight if desired.
2. Put the olive oil into your tagine and brown the chicken pieces for 5 minutes, skin side down. Add the garlic powder and onions, cover and cook for 15 minutes on medium-low heat.
3. Add the lemon pieces, olives, and broth. Cover and simmer, turning the chicken pieces over. Let the tagine simmer for 1 hour.
4. Serve over couscous, rice, or buckwheat, with fresh herbs on top, if using.
5. Veggie tagine

A Veggie Tagine is the perfect way to add more vegetables to your diet. The beautifully blended flavor and spices in this dish will have even the biggest meat-eater asking for the recipe!

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 medium onions, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp saffron threads
• 2 cups sweet potato or squash, cubed
• 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 2 cups vegetable stock
• 2 cups soft prunes (pitted)
• 1 preserved lemon, diced
• 1 tbsp butter
• ½ cup blanched or slivered almonds
• 2 tbsp honey or brown sugar
• 1 cup black olives, pitted and sliced in half
• 1 small bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
• Harissa on the side (optional)

Directions

1. Heat the oil in your tagine pot on medium-low heat and fry the onions for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and spices and cook for 2 minutes more.
2. Toss in the squash, chickpeas, and the vegetable stock, stirring well. Add the prunes and chopped preserved lemon.
3. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then cover and turn down to low heat. Let simmer for 40 minutes or till the veggies are soft.
4. In the meantime, fry the almonds in the butter, then remove from heat. Stir in the honey or sugar and olives, and add to the tagine pot.
5. Serve with chopped cilantro on top.

A final word on tagine recipes

Any and all of these recipes are sure to make tagine a healthy family favorite! Once you gain some experience and confidence don’t be afraid to add your own spins to these recipes!

Enjoy your healthy must-try tagine recipes!