I am experimenting with some North African recipes at the moment but also, as always, trying to be mindful of not overdoing it with the calories in day-to-day dishes. For this reason it is always good to find something that sounds tasty but falls into the ‘not quite so naughty’ category. (Eating this recipe cannot guarantee a smaller waistline but it is certainly not an unhealthy option.)
Some weeks ago, in a charity shop, I found a copy of The Time to Eat Cookbook by Sîan Davies, a book published by the diet help organisation WeightWatchers. Although I am not following the WeightWatchers regime there are some delicious and simple recipes in the book, following sensible healthy eating rules. All give an idea of the total calorie numbers, but as I am slightly adapting the original recipe I shall not be including this information. However, as the changes are mostly healthy options, this recipe broadly keeps to the ideals of the original. The changes I have made are: using Ras el-Hanout, a North African Spice Mix which can be bought ready made or mixed at home, the option of tinned plum tomatoes in place of fresh ones and the addition of chopped preserved/Pickled Lemon, which is popular in cooking across North Africa. Alternatively, dried fruit (raisins, dried apricot or prunes), which are also often used in North African dishes, could be added in place of or as well as the pickled lemon and/or aubergine. This would obviously affect the calorie count of the dish, giving bigger portions. I have chosen not to add any calorie counting details to my recipes.
Moroccan Style Lamb & Rice Pilaf
(Serves 4)
350g/12ozs lean lamb mince or diced lean lamb
1tsp olive oil (or less, leave this out and dry fry if possible)
1 large onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2tsp Ras el-Hanout (originally ½tsp each ginger & cinnamon plus 1tsp paprika)
1 aubergine, diced & salted
225g/8ozs courgettes, diced – if small ones then sliced
225g/8ozs long grain rice, pre-soaked and drained in at least 2 changes of water
220ml/½pt/10fl ozs water and 2tsp vegetable stock, or lamb stock if available
400g/14oz can plum tomatoes, diced
or
450g/1lb chopped fresh tomatoes (plum type if available) & a little water, as needed
2tbsp chopped preserved/Pickled Lemon (optional)
2tbsp chopped fresh mint, reserving a little to garnish
Salt & freshly ground black pepper
1. Fry the lamb mince for 5 minutes in as little extra oil as necessary, ideally using a non-stick pan should mean it can be dry fried. Drain off any excess oil before continuing.
2. Add the onion, garlic and Ras-el Hanout (or ginger, cinnamon and paprika). Stir well.
3. Drain the aubergines. Add to the pan with the courgettes, juice from the tinned tomatoes (if using – set aside the drained tomatoes to stir in when the pilaf is almost finished), rice and stock. (Any extra dried fruit should be added at this point.) Bring to the boil.
4. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, until the rice has absorbed the liquid and is soft. Check periodically to make sure that it does not boil dry.
5. Add the tomatoes (or the drained tomatoes set aside when the liquid was used at stage 3), preserved lemon and most of the mint and heat through.
6. Transfer to a warmed dish and scatter over the remaining chopped mint before serving.