Slow-Cooker Moroccan Beef Tagine

Name: Slow-Cooker Moroccan Beef Tagine
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 7 h 40 min
Yield: 10
Cuisine: African
Ingredients: 1 boneless beef chuck roast (2 to 2 1/2 lb), trimmed; 1 tablespoon salt; 1 tablespoon butter; 1 can (14.5 oz) Muir Glen™ organic fire roasted diced tomatoes, undrained; 2 tablespoons honey; 1 tablespoon spicy harissa paste; 1 tablespoon ras el hanout (Moroccan seasoning blend); 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 4 small carrots, peeled and cut in 2-inch pieces; 1 cup thinly sliced yellow onion; 1/4 cup chopped pitted dates; 3 cloves garlic, chopped; 2 cups uncooked couscous (from 10-oz package); 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves; 1 cup crumbled feta cheese, if desired

7 Ratings

6 Comments

Kitchen Tested

Prep 30 min
Total 7 hr 40 min
Servings 10

Want to try a Moroccan-style tagine without buying an earthenware tagine pot? You’re in luck! A slow cooker does a fine job of braising North African-seasoned chuck roast into a tender beef dinner. MORE+ LESS-

By Tablespoon Kitchens

Updated May 28, 2018

Ingredients

boneless beef chuck roast (2 to 2 1/2 lb), trimmed

tablespoon salt

tablespoon butter

can (14.5 oz) Muir Glen™ organic fire roasted diced tomatoes, undrained

tablespoons honey

tablespoon spicy harissa paste

tablespoon ras el hanout (Moroccan seasoning blend)

1/2

teaspoon ground cinnamon

small carrots, peeled and cut in 2-inch pieces

cup thinly sliced yellow onion

1/4

cup chopped pitted dates

cloves garlic, chopped

cups uncooked couscous (from 10-oz package)

1/4

cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

cup crumbled feta cheese, if desired

Steps

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1

Spray 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Rub beef with salt. In 12-inch skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Cook beef in butter 3 to 5 minutes on each side or until browned. Transfer beef to slow cooker.
2

In large bowl, mix tomatoes, honey, harissa, ras el hanout and cinnamon. Stir in carrots, onion, dates and garlic. Pour mixture over beef in slow cooker. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 7 to 9 hours or until beef is tender.
3

Carefully transfer beef to cutting board; let stand about 5 minutes or until cool enough to handle. Shred beef, discarding any pieces of fat and cartilage. Stir into sauce in slow cooker.
4

Meanwhile, make couscous as directed on package (do not add salt or butter). Serve beef mixture over couscous. Top with cilantro and feta cheese.

Expert Tips

Ras el hanout is a North African seasoning blend that includes warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and clove alongside stimulating ginger, pepper and chili. This flavorful seasoning is often called “Moroccan spice blend” and can be found in most grocery stores.
We used regular unseasoned couscous (without butter or salt) to soak up the flavors of this highly seasoned braise.

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving

Calories: 340
Calories from Fat: 100

% Daily Value

Total Fat: 11g; 17%
Saturated Fat 4 1/2g 23% Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol: 55mg; 18%
Sodium: 890mg; 37%
Potassium: 390mg; 11%
Total Carbohydrate: 39g; 13%
Dietary Fiber 3g 13% Sugars 9g
Protein: 22g

% Daily Value*:

Vitamin A: 70%; 70%
Vitamin C: 2%; 2%
Calcium: 6%; 6%
Iron: 10%; 10%

Exchanges:

2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 1/2 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 2 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 1 Fat;

Carbohydrate Choice

2 1/2

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

Moroccan flavors are all the rage these days and for good reason, too. Tagine is an especially well-known North African concept, but it actually has two meanings. Tagine is a type of North African cookware that’s made of either clay or ceramic. The dish is used for as a cooking vessel and a serving vessel. Alternatively, tagine refers to the stew that’s slow cooked in the vessel. Traditional tagine is a rich and thick stew that’s made of a type of meat and vegetables. Beef tagine is sometimes called Moroccan stew; our recipe is an easier version of beef tagine and doesn’t require a trip to Africa to acquire an authentic ceramic vessel. Instead the slow cooker comes to the rescue and delivers a authentic(ish) global experience. It’s perfect for Sunday dinner. As for the rest of the days of the week, here are more beef dinners for hectic weeknights.