Slow Cooking Magic: Lamb or Beef Tagine with Wonderbag

The tagine, a North African stew named after the distinctive clay pot it’s traditionally cooked in, is as delicious as it is versatile. Layered with spices, tender chunks of meat, and an assortment of vegetables and fruits, this slow-cooked dish is a comforting, fragrant escape to the heart of Morocco. But what if we told you there’s a way to prepare a tagine that doesn’t just rely on a stove or oven but also reduces your energy use and kitchen heat? Welcome to the world of cooking with a Wonderbag—a revolutionary, non-electric slow cooker that’s changing the sustainability game, one meal at a time. In this guide, we’ll show you how to create a delectable lamb or beef tagine using the Wonderbag, ensuring you get the same aromatic flavours as the traditional method but with a twist that’s kinder to the environment.

The Wonderbag Way

Wonderbag is not your typical slow cooker—it’s a portable, heat-retention cooker that allows food that has been brought to a boil to continue cooking without additional heat. By capturing the full potential of the initial heat source, Wonderbag lessens your carbon footprint and saves you money on fuel. A truly game-changing innovation, the Wonderbag is particularly useful for slow-cooking dishes like tagines, bolstering the flavors while also maximizing energy efficiency in your kitchen.

The Recipe

We’re gearing up for a rich, fragrant lamb or beef tagine that will entice your senses and warm your soul. This recipe suits tagines and casseroles wonderfully and is perfect for using the Wonderbag. Remember, the tagine is both a dish and a container, so whether you’re working with a traditional clay pot or a more modern slow cooker, the principles for creating an authentic tagine remain the same.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need for a tagine serving 4-6 people:

1.5kgs of lamb or beef, cut into sizeable chunks (reserve the fat if using lamb)
1 large onion, thinly sliced
8 garlic cloves, crushed
2 large carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds
200g dried apricots, halved
70g tomato paste
4 teaspoons of sugar, to taste
2 teaspoons dried thyme (or use fresh if available)
1 teaspoon dried rosemary (or use fresh if available)
Salt and pepper to season
Olive oil for cooking
Boiling water

Method

Start by heating a large pan or your tagine over a medium-high flame. If you’re using the fat from lamb, add this to the pot to render down slightly, then add the meat in batches, allowing each piece to brown on all sides. Season the meat with salt and pepper as it cooks.
Once the meat is browned, reduce the heat to medium and add the sliced onions and crushed garlic. Stir them through the meat and allow them to soften and caramelize slightly for about 5 minutes. Now is the time to add the dried or fresh herbs, infusing the dish with their wonderful flavors. Stir the pot regularly to prevent anything from sticking or burning.
In a bowl, mix the tomato paste with approximately 2 cups of boiling water to dilute it somewhat, making a thick liquid. Add this to the pot, along with the carrots and apricots. Adjust the level of liquid with additional boiling water until the meat is almost submerged. Sprinkle the surface with sugar—it’ll balance the acidity of the tomatoes and add a touch of sweetness to the stew.
Allow the tagine to come to a gentle simmer. Once it’s reached this point, carefully transfer it to your Wonderbag. Secure the bag or lid, and leave the pot to continue cooking in the bag for about 5 hours. The residual heat will slowly and evenly cook the tagine, melding the flavors and ensuring the meat is beautifully tender when you open it.
At this point, the tagine is ready to be served. The lamb or beef should be succulent and the apricots infused throughout. The carrots will have absorbed the savory-sweetness of the sauce, while the tomato and herb base should be rich and aromatic. Be sure to adjust the seasoning to your taste and marvel at how such tender, complex flavors developed from such a sustainable and slow cooking process.

Enjoying the Fruits of Your Labor

This tantalizing dish is perfect with a side of couscous or crusty bread to sop up the sauce. It pairs nicely with a crisp green salad or steamed green vegetables to provide a fresh contrast to the rich main course. Tagines often marry savory with sweet, and for those who enjoy a bit of heat, serving the dish with a sprinkle of harissa on the side will certainly add a fiery dimension.

Sustainability in the Kitchen

The environmental impact of this cooking method is significant. By using a Wonderbag across a variety of recipes, you reduce your reliance on electricity or gas for cooking, joining a collective effort to lower carbon emissions. Household activities, such as cooking, play a critical role in our individual carbon footprints. The Wonderbag, by contrast, is a tangible and effective way to contribute positively to our planet’s health.

Hone Your Tagine Technique

Experiment with different combinations of spices, fruits, and vegetables to tailor your tagine to your palette. Whether it’s the earthy sweetness of pumpkin and prunes or the zesty brightness of preserved lemon and olives, the tagine is a culinary canvas that can be adapted to a variety of tastes. Remember, the key is not to rush the cooking process. The Wonderbag, with its low-energy requirement and even heat distribution, is just the appliance to help you master the art of the tagine.

Takeaways

Cooking a tagine in a Wonderbag is not only about the destination—the rich, aromatic stew at mealtime—but also the journey of capturing and conserving heat efficiently, mindfully consuming power, and savoring the flavors slowly developed over hours. Each conscious and deliberate step in preparing this dish culminates in a culinary masterpiece that nourishes the body and the environment alike. By slowing down the cooking process, we’re doing our part to create a more sustainable kitchen and, by extension, a more sustainable lifestyle.

Your Turn

Now that you’ve discovered the sustainable cooking potential of the Wonderbag, it’s time to explore the other recipes and techniques that align with a slow, mindful approach to consumption. With each dish you master, you’ll be contributing to a greener planet, one slow-cooked meal at a time. Happy slow cooking!