With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, how about dinner at home? This Slow Braised Red Wine Lamb Stew with Moroccan Spices is spicy, fragrant and hearty. Elegant comfort food that is perfect any night of the week, or a special occasion.
Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? Dine in? Go out? Buy gifts? Or, are you one of many that take it as “just another day”?
February is usually the coldest month of the year. There are a few things that take place during this month. Super Bowl, Family Day (in Canada), usually reading weeks for university and college students. It’s a favourite time of year for many people to travel south.
Valentine’s Day is the big holiday of the month. As soon as the Christmas decorations are down in the stores, Valentine’s paraphernalia appear. From cards to cute stuffed animals, jewellery to fresh cut flowers, and EVERYTHING you can think of in between.
Restaurants plan their special menus, florists order in lots of roses, and chocolate companies get stocked up with delicious treats. What do you do?
CELEBRATING AT HOME
One thing about cooking at home (well there are many things) is that you can experience the tastes of the world without all the travelling. This Slow Braised Red Wine Lamb Stew with Moroccan Spices is a perfect example.
You can even make this quick and easy Irish Soda Bread to go along with it.
Morocco has some of the most fragrant, delicious, exotic tastes anywhere. Fruits, meats, spices, breads, tea. All so full of flavour, not to mention the aromas they create. The Alhambra Merguez seasoning in this lamb stew is one of those tastes.
Have you ever tried lamb egg rolls? I always have these Roccan Lamb Rolls on hand in the freezer. OMG so freaking good!!
Lamb is such a delicious protein to work with. It can be a little on the expensive side. Using lamb for special occasions is great since cooking at home is ALWAYS cheaper than going out. Plus, you usually have leftovers for another meal.
This stew is braised with wine and wonderful spices. Tender pieces of meat with carrots, potatoes and peas, all surrounded by a thick, delicious gravy. Perfect for dipping your bread in. Simple, but a little exotic, comfort food that is celebration worthy.
Seriously, we don’t go out to celebrate the big day. Most of the time it is in the middle of the week, which is certainly not convenient. Everyone is busy with work, kids, activities. Going out to dinner on a Tuesday night just doesn’t work for most people.
KEEPING IT SIMPLE
As for the reason behind the holiday, that has always seemed odd to me. Why should we dedicate one day to say “I LOVE YOU”? I would much rather have someone tell/show me all year long instead of just one day.
It doesn’t have to be lavish, or even cost money. As much as I love roses, I would rather have my wonderful loving husband wash all the dishes that pile up in the kitchen during recipe testing (and he does).
There are so many ways to show a person how much you care about them. It doesn’t (and shouldn’t) be expressed only one day of the year.
SPENDING TIME TOGETHER
We never go out for dinner on Valentine’s Day. For one thing, it is crowded, especially at any of the good restaurants. Another thing, it is EXPENSIVE to go out to dinner, especially on special occasions. If you have kids, throw in the cost of a sitter, and this special day gets pricey.
Since the holiday usually falls on a weekday, we will celebrate it on a weekend. Last year we spent time in the kitchen making Coq au Vin and Sticky Toffee Pudding. See we travelled to France and the UK in one night!!
Cooking together is fun. If you have kids, turn it into a family affair and get everyone involved. The kid’s are just as hyped about the holiday as everyone else. They have been doing crafts and handing out Spider Man and Frozen Valentine’s to all their friends.
So what will it be, going out or dining in? Cooking together or ordering takeout?
This Slow Braised Red Wine Lamb Stew with Moroccan Spices will be happening in our house for dinner.
If you want to travel to Thailand, give my Green Thai Curry With Beef a try.
Slow Braised Red Wine Lamb Stew with Moroccan Spices
Ingredients
- 2 pounds leg of lamb (trimmed and cut into 1 1/2" chunks)
- 2 tbsp cooking oil (your choice)
- 1 medium onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
- 1 cup dry red wine
- 2 pounds potatoes (peeled and cubed)
- 8 ounces baby carrots (diagonally cut)
- 1 cup peas (fresh or frozen)
- 1 can diced tomatoes (28 ounces)
- 2 tsp Alhambra Merguez seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300º F.I used a cast iron dutch oven to cook the entire stew in from start to finish. You may choose to use a frying pan and casserole dish.
- Heat the dutch oven over med-high heat (or your frying pan) and 1 tbsp of oil.
- Add the lamb (in a couple of batches) and brown on all sides. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. This should take about 10 minutes.
- When all the meat is done, add the remaining oil to the pot. Add the onions and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the salt, pepper and Merguez seasoning to the pot and mix well.
- Stir in the flour, mix well, and cook for 30 seconds.
- Whisk in the wine. Be sure to scrape up any brown bits, and smooth out any lumps from the flour. Cook for about 2 minutes, just to cook out some of the alcohol.
- Add the water, tomatoes (and juice) and bring to a boil. Stir to make sure there are no lumps.
- Add the lamb, mix, cover and place in the oven for 1 hour.
- Remove from oven and add the carrots and potatoes. Cover and return to oven. Cook for 45 minutes.
- Remove from oven and add the peas. Cover and return to oven. Cook for 30 minutes, or until veggies are nice and tender.
- Pour some wine, slice some bread....get ready to eat!!
- Ladle stew into bowls.ENJOY!!
Giselle Rochford
I had a Moroccan roommate once who made something similar to this, but without the lamb because she was pescatarian. It was amazing and I’m sure this one is epic too. Definitely need to try a vegan version of this some time!
p.s. Those pancakes look hella yummy too ?
Homemade & Yummy
Well a non meat version would work too.
swathi
Homemade red wine lamb stew sound perfect for Valentine menu.as a spice lover I can agree with you that Moroccan spices goes well with lamb.
Homemade & Yummy
Yes they sure do. We love Moroccan spices the most with lamb. Red wine speaks for itself.
Derek | Dad With A Pan
Sometimes the best valentines day dinners are the ones that your significant other truley enjoys. Doesn’t always need to be cutesy with hearts all over them. This stew looks amazing!
Homemade & Yummy
Simple, and elegant. Perfect for the celebration. Easy to make too.
Megan Marlowe
Truth be told, I’ve never made lamb! This stew looks hearty and delicious and just the thing I need to get me through this freezing Winter! I am not waiting for a special occasion to make this stew!
Homemade & Yummy
HAHAH…well enjoy. It is perfect comfort food anytime for sure.
Lynn | The Road to Honey
Sometimes we go out while other times we stay home. Personally the restaurants are always so crowded in Boston that I think it is almost better to celebrate the day after Valentines Day. That said, if this stew were involved, I know my hubby would want to stay in. Lamb is his very favorite protein.
Homemade & Yummy
HAHAH…well hope you give it a try. I know he would love it. Spend some time making it together…while sipping some wine.
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry
This looks totally delicious. Love a good lamb stew. Do you know where I can get Alhambra Merguez in the UK?
Homemade & Yummy
I have included a link that explains what is in the spice mix. It would be easy to mix up your own blend for sure.
Kathryn @ FoodieGirlChicago
I don’t eat a lot of lamb but have a feeling it would be very tasty in this stew. I love the Moroccan spices you used!!
Homemade & Yummy
This is a delicious and easy stew to make. Time is the factor….but great for the weekend.
Kathryn @ FoodieGirlChicago
I don’t eat a lot of lamb but I have a feeling it would be very tasty in this stew. Love the Moroccan spices you used in this.
Homemade & Yummy
Yes it sure does work well in stew. The spices really make this dish sing with flavour.
Sarah
Lamb is one of my all time favorite meats! This sounds absolutely incredible!
Homemade & Yummy
It works so well in this tasty stew.
Manila Spoon
I love cooking with red wine as it adds so much depth of flavor! The Moroccan spices for sure bring this delectable dsih to another level of yumminess!
Homemade & Yummy
The first time I tried lamb I did not like it. Now we love it. Using Moroccan spices by far is our favourite way to cook it.
Sarah James @ Tales From The Kitchen Shed
So much better to stay at home and cook for your loved one and your red wine and lamb stew looks perfect for the occasion. I love the addition of those lovely warming spices, thanks for sharing.
Homemade & Yummy
You are welcome. If you like lamb I hope you give it a try.
Sarah @ The Fit Cookie
I bet the lamb and the Moroccan spices in this stew go together so well! I enjoy cooking with lamb now and then, it really does have a great taste. We live in ranch country, so some friends of ours have grass fed lamb that we could buy from them. It still gets expensive even though it’s right outside our back door though!
Homemade & Yummy
Oh my…would I love to have that outside my back door. However you look at it, it’s always cheaper to cook at home. That is what I love about cooking, you can indulge and save money too.
Elizabeth
I absolutely LOVE the sound of this dish! We eat a lot of lamb in our house and we’re really fond of Moroccan flavours too. Utterly gorgeous!
Homemade & Yummy
It is so delicious. Love the fact we had leftovers too.
Ticker Eats The World
I have a lot of respect for anyone who likes to cook food “slowly”. Not only is this a sign that the person is passionate about cooking and willing to give it time, but slow cooking adds so much flavour into the dish and a stew is perfect for that, that the food goes up to a completely different level. Oh! and wine in or with anyone is just YUM!
Homemade & Yummy
Well this is something I like to do on weekends, when I have the time. It is worth the effort, and yes the flavour is great.
Ticker Eats The World
I always appreciate anyone how cooks “slowly” making dishes that allows flavours to mature and seep in over time. It also showcases that the said person enjoys cooking and does it out of love and passion. Thank you for a delicious looking dish.
Homemade & Yummy
Yes if you can find the time to slow cook now and again, it is so worth the effort. I usually sip some wine, and find time to relax while this does its thing.
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine
This is such a beautiful dish. I am like you– love to make delicious and comforting meals at home for holidays.
Homemade & Yummy
Yes totally into cooking at home, especially for special occasions. If we go out to dinner at all, it is usually to celebrate our anniversary….or out with friends.
Dene' V. Alexander
Lamb is one of my favorite types of meats to eat, but we don’t eat it enough. This would be a unique way of preparation that I think could easily please everyone that would partake in it. Never tried Morrison spices, I think I will give it a go!!
Homemade & Yummy
Moroccan spices are so flavourful. You can find them easily online, or at the grocery store.
Natalie | Natalie's Food & Health
I LOVE lamb meat. Here in Croatia, we have many traditional Croatian dishes made with lamb. Yes, it’s quite expensive BUT it’s very healthy, meat is so flavorful. I love how you combined Moroccan flavors here. I have to check out that Alhambra Merguez seasoning. This lamb stew sounds so good and perfect for cold winter days.
Homemade & Yummy
We love it. The leftovers are so good. Cooking at home lets you indulge in more expensive meats, and save money too.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan
We don’t go out for dinner on Valentine’s day or on any holidays because we don’t like the crowd on those days and would rather eat out on a quiet weekday. Love the complete round up of dinner ideas for valentine’s day and would start giving hints to my husband.
Homemade & Yummy
It was a fun collaboration. We got the day covered for sure. I hate the crowds, and the high prices too.
Kellie MacMillan
This recipe sounds delicious, I love moroccan food so much. It is one of my faves. Valentine’s isn’t a huge deal for us as we tend to celebrate all year long. One year is particularly memorable for us though, the one time we did go out to eat was when we were also trying to start our family. We had a ‘dry’ dinner and then went to the drugstore to pick up a pregnancy test. ha,ha. Great times – fast forward we now have a 9 year old beauty.
This year we are going to the dentist to have our teeth cleaned. My oh my how times have changed LOL
Kellie from Princess & The Yard Ape
Homemade & Yummy
See…everyone has their own special way to celebrate. Have fun at the dentist.
Sharon Rigsby
Believe it or not, I’ve actually never made anything with lamb but this recipe looks so delicious I can’t wait to try it.. Thank you for sharing!
Homemade & Yummy
Sure hope you give lamb a try. It is delicious.
Adriana Lopez Martn
This is a beautiful lamb stew, the layering of the favors is fabulous cannot wait to try it soon in my kitchen.
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
The Food Hunter
I love everything about this stew and your photos are awesome
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks for stopping by.
Byron Thomas
Oh, wow – this looks so delicious! I love a good hearty stew, but it’s been years since I’ve eaten lamb. As for dinner at home on Valentines, I’m all down for that. John.e and I used to go out for dinner earlier in our relationship, but grew rather tired of the crowds and the overpriced Valentine’s menu.
Homemade & Yummy
I never used to like lamb. Guess my first experience was a bad one. Now we totally love it. We don’t like the crowds and the high priced dinners either.
Fred
One of the great things about food bloggers networking is that certain meals that looked so difficult to make look a lot easier. This red wine Lamb stew does look like its filled with a lot of flavor. Where can I can i find the Alhambra Merguez seasoning? Thanks for sharing Gloria!
Homemade & Yummy
I did share a link on my post, or you can make your own. I also shared a link to what goes in the mix on the post as well.
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way
We simply love lamb but we always make a leg of lamb roast quite boring compared to your exotic stew. And we never go out for Valentine’s Day. In fact, we are of the mind that we make Valentine’s Day every day. Keeps the romance in our lives. Your lamb stew is getting pinned so I can make it once I get home to my Le Creuset Dutch Oven 🙂 Have a super weekend.
Homemade & Yummy
Totally agree….it is not just one day of the year. I used a leg of lamb in this stew…it works perfectly. I love my dutch oven…I have 2!!
Stephanie@ApplesforCJ
I don’t really celebrate Valentines Day! And to be honest don’t really go out to eat much anytime. But for the most part I think you can always make better food at home and this stew is just proof of that!
Homemade & Yummy
Totally agree…the food is much better at home.
Eyecandypopper
Beautiful, you had me at Moroccan spices! It’s a flavour that is not used enough, and it’s incredible! I also totally agree with cooking together, and spending more time enjoying each others’ company, slowing down, and not glued on our smartphones. 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
HAHAH….yes it is a great way to spend some quality time together.
Wendy
I have been doing a lot of cooking with Moraccan spices and flavors this winter in stews, tangines, and even the crock pot! The cooking smells are wonderful and the flavors are so warming! This does look like a stew worthy of a celebration!
Homemade & Yummy
Moroccan cooking is so delicious. I love using my tagine too.
Natalie
We never go out on Valentine’s Day, but make a special dinner at home instead. I love the flavour and aroma of Moroccan spices. They’re so warm and inviting. This stew looks incredible. Definitely Valentine’s Day worthy?
Homemade & Yummy
Staying home is so much more enjoyable. The food is better, cheaper,no crowds…and you have leftovers for another day.
Veena Azmanov
This time valentine dinner is going to be homemade – think i’m going to try this Gloria.. Thanks
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you enjoy it. We always stay home…we find it much more relaxing, cheaper…and frankly the food is better at home. But you would know that too.
Sarah @ Champagne Tastes
I actually DON’T celebrate Valentines Day. (I prefer to read the gross origin stories about St Valentine hahaha.) I do appreciate a good date night dinner though! Especially if the hubs is cookin’! 😀
Homemade & Yummy
It is a delicious dinner for any night of the week.
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie
We usually stay in and cook, if anything we will go out a couple days before or after. This stew sounds like a great way to cozy up and stay warm!
Homemade & Yummy
Staying in is so much better, and so is the food.
Erica
I totally agree with you about staying in on Valentine’s Day! Last year, I decorated our dining room like a fancy restaurant and then we cooked a prime rib together with simple sides. We definitely enjoyed our time together and the food was fantastic! As it’s still been so cold here, your lamb stew sounds perfect as I have not yet picked out our menu for this year, thank you!
Homemade & Yummy
Decorating the house is a great idea too. Seriously I don’t understand why people pay so much money to celebrate this day.
Aish Das-Padihari
I rarely cook with wine but I know for a fact that, wine can add a lot of taste to any dish. Especially meat. I also make a lamb and potato curry but I make it Indian style.
Homemade & Yummy
Yes, wine does add flavour, along with making the meat tender. Your curry sounds delicious too.
Melissa @ My Wife Can Cook
Looks amazing! We never go out for Valentine’s Day. I definitely prefer making something delicious at home! This looks perfect for that!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes we always stay home too. The food is better, and save us a lots of money.
The FoodOlic
Doesn’t this look like a hearty soup, filled with exotic Moroccan flavors! Yum! what is in the Alhambra Merguez seasonning exactly?
Homemade & Yummy
It’s a wonderful blend of cumin, paprika, turmeric, coriander, cayenne…to name a few. So aromatic and totally delicious.
Corina @ Searching for Spice
What a delicious stew! I love Moroccan spices and I’d happily eat this for Valentine’s Day. We’ll just be having a nice meal at home this year. Probably something delicious but uninventive like steak to keep my husband happy!
Homemade & Yummy
Cooking/celebrating at home is so much nicer. We do it all the time.