Lamb and Quince Tagine with Chermoula and Buttered Couscous

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1kg lean lamb shoulder or leg, cut into chunks
• 2 onions, thinly sliced
• 5cm fresh ginger, finely grated
• 200g skinned chopped tomatoes, fresh or from a can
• Small cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 4 tbsp clear honey
• 1 small preserved lemon, flesh discarded (from the international section in large supermarkets) or 2 strips lemon zest, finely chopped
• 750ml lamb or chicken stock
• ¾ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 400g can chickpeas, drained
• Pared zest and juice 1 lemon
• 1kg quinces (about 4 medium)
• 40g butter, plus an extra knob
• 2 tbsp caster sugar
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon

Preparation

1. 1To make the chermoula, blend all the ingredients to a smooth paste in a food processor.
2. 2Heat 11⁄2 tbsp of the oil in a large flameproof casserole. Fry the lamb in 2 batches until browned all over, then lift onto a plate. Add the rest of the oil and onions to the pan and fry over a medium heat until soft and browned. Add the grated ginger, cook for 1 minute, then add the tomatoes, cinnamon, ground ginger, 2 tbsp honey and 2 tbsp chermoula. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, then return the lamb to the casserole and add the preserved lemon/lemon zest, stock, 1⁄2 tsp salt and the pepper. Part-cover, then simmer for 1 hour.
3. 3Stir in the chickpeas and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes more until the lamb is tender and the sauce has reduced a little more.
4. 4Meanwhile put 1 litre cold water and the lemon zest and juice in a saucepan. Peel, quarter and core the quinces, putting them in the pan as you go, to stop them browning. Bring to a simmer over a medium heat and cook for 10-15 minutes until just tender when pierced with the tip of a knife. Drain well and transfer to a deep frying pan or sauté pan. Add the butter, the remaining 2 tbsp honey, the sugar, cinnamon, 4 tbsp of the lamb cooking liquid and the remaining 1⁄4 tsp salt, then cook gently, turning now and then, until the juices are sticky and reduced and the quinces are tender.
5. 5Shortly before the lamb is ready, put the couscous and salt in a large heatproof bowl, then stir in the hot water. Cover with a clean tea towel and leave for 5 minutes. Uncover, then fluff up with a fork. Melt the 40g butter in a large pan, add the couscous and stir over a low heat for 2 minutes until heated through, then fork through the lemon zest. Melt the knob of butter in a pan and fry the almonds in it for 1 minute.
6. 6Stir the remaining chermoula into the lamb and adjust the seasoning to taste. Arrange the quinces over the top, scatter with the almonds, then serve with the buttered couscous.