Moroccan Beef Stew With Apricots (Printable Format)
Tender beef, sweet apricots, and warming spices meld into this fragrant North African stew, simmered slowly for deep flavor and comforting warmth.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 2 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1½-inch cubes
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
02 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
03 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 2 medium carrots, sliced
05 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
→ Dried Fruits
06 - 1 cup dried apricots, halved
→ Liquids
07 - 2 cups beef broth
08 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
→ Spices
09 - 2 tsp ground cumin
10 - 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
11 - 1 tsp ground coriander
12 - 1 tsp ground ginger
13 - ½ tsp ground turmeric
14 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
15 - ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
16 - 1½ tsp salt
17 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Others
18 - 2 tbsp olive oil
19 - 2 tbsp honey
20 - ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
21 - toasted slivered almonds
# How-To Steps:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Brown beef cubes in batches, searing all sides evenly. Transfer browned beef to a plate and set aside.
02 - Add chopped onion and carrots to the pot. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
03 - Stir in garlic, cumin, cinnamon, coriander, ginger, turmeric, paprika, and cayenne. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the spices.
04 - Return beef to the pot. Add tomato paste, diced tomatoes, beef broth, salt, and pepper. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients and bring mixture to a simmer.
05 - Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 1½ hours. Stir occasionally to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking on the bottom.
06 - Add dried apricots and honey. Continue simmering uncovered for another 30 minutes, or until beef is very tender and sauce has thickened to desired consistency.
07 - Taste and adjust salt and pepper if necessary. Skim off and discard any excess fat that has risen to the surface.
08 - Serve hot, garnished with chopped fresh cilantro or parsley and optional toasted slivered almonds. Accompany with couscous or crusty bread if desired.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The sweet and savory dance between apricots and beef is genuinely addictive
- Your whole house will smell like a cozy Moroccan spice market
- Leftders taste even better after the flavors have time to really settle in
02 -
- Rushing the beef browning step is the biggest mistake you can make because those crusty bits are where half the flavor lives
- Adding the apricots too early will make them disappear completely into the sauce
- The stew needs that final 30 minutes uncovered to concentrate the flavors properly
03 -
- A pinch of saffron added with the spices makes this feel extra special
- The stew actually tastes better the next day so consider making it ahead