Moroccan Fish Tagine

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This simple and aromatic fish tagine is full of North African flavors.

Ready within 30 minutes, the balance of sweet and savory flavors combined with the spices make for a intense and delicious tagine that’s full of vegetables and health. 

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What is a Moroccan Tagine?

Tagines are commonly found in Moroccan cuisine and have been a staple for many years. They are named after the traditional cookware in which they are made (tagine refers both to the name of the dish and the cookware).

The dish can be thought of as a succulent, stew-like dish, usually containing either a meat, poultry or fish and then some vegetables or fruit. Vegetarian varieties are also possible.

Moroccan tradition is to eat from the tagine directly, using sides like bread, rice and couscous to help soak up the tasty juices. 

Why You Should Try This Moroccan Fish Tagine

There are a bunch of reasons you should give this Moroccan fish tagine a try:

  • It’s packed with big Moroccan flavors. The big flavors come out in the spices like harissa, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric and combine delightfully with the sweetness of the apricots.
  • It’s hearty enough to eat by itself, or can be eaten with rice, bread or couscous to really fill you up.
  • It a delicious way to get those important omega-3 fats from the salmon into your diet.
  • It can be ready in 30 minutes and makes for a perfect midweek meal.
  • It’s super customizable – if you have any leftover veggies, you can easily through them in.

Substitutions

Tagines come in all different types, so you’ll find you can interchange, add or remove various ingredients.

  • Fish – we’ve used salmon in this recipe (it tastes great and is super healthy), but you can try different types of fish, even white fish. Most fish cook at about the same rate, so you shouldn’t need to alter when you add it to the pan, but but be sure to check.
  • Harrisa – the harrisa can add some extra heat to the tagine and really adds something, but if you don’t have it on hand don’t fret. If you want the spice, then you can add some fresh chilis instead. Even cayenne pepper can add some extra kick.
  • Vegetables – this recipe uses onions, carrots and potatoes, but the beauty of tagines is that they can be so versatile. You can try adding some cauliflower, broccoli, bell peppers, sweet potato, green beans, eggplant – whatever you’ve got left in the fridge!
  • Spices – cumin, cinnamon and turmeric combine for some lovely earthy flavors with some sweetness from the cinnamon. However, if you don’t have them on hand, then these substitutes below are the closest resemblance.
    • Ground coriander or chili powder for cumin
    • Nutmeg or Allspice for cinnamon
    • Saffron or ground ginger for turmeric
  • Chickpeas – I’m a big fan of chickpeas in this tagine and they are great way to add legumes and protein into your meals. If you don’t like them, either remove or substitute black beans, which have a mild, sweet flavor that’s similar to chickpeas. 
  • Dried apricots – any dried fruit can add a different taste whilst adding some extra sweetness to the dish, such as raisins or sultanas.

How to Store Moroccan Tagine

If you have leftovers, you should freeze portions to stop the fish going off.

Transfer any leftovers to freezer-friendly containers or zip lock bags. Frozen fish tagines keep for 6 months. Defrost overnight before reheating on the stovetop. 

Extra Delicious Tagines

If you’re not feeling fish with your tagine, you can try these tagine recipes instead.

What to Serve with this Moroccan Fish Tagine

There’s enough in this tagine for a full meal by itself, but you can serve it alongside these tasty dishes:

Ingredients

These are the ingredients you’ll need to serve this Moroccan fish tagine for 2 people.

  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 onion
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 large carrot
  • 2 new potatoes
  • 1 tbsp harissa paste
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground turmeric
  • 1 cups (400g) chopped tomatoes
  • ¼ cup (50g) dried apricots
  • 2 cups (500ml) water
  • ½ cup (100g) chickpeas
  • ½ lemon, juice
  • 2 salmon fillets
  • 10g mint leaves

How to Make Moroccan Fish Tagine

Step 1 – Heat the oil in a large pan at a medium heat.

Step 2 – Add the onions, carrots and potatoes to the pan and cook for 5 minutes. 


Step 3 – Whilst the vegetables are cooking, chop the garlic. Add the garlic, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric and harissa and cook for another minute until the spices are fragrant.

Step 4 – Add the chopped tomatoes, apricots, chickpeas and water, season, then bring to a boil and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the vegetables are cooked through.

Step 5 – Add the salmon chunks and cook for a further 5 minutes.

Step 6 – Stir in the lemon juice and mint, taste and add more seasoning, spices or harissa if necessary.

Step 7 – Serve with your favorite couscous, rice or bread.

Yield: 2

Moroccan Fish Tagine

Moroccan Fish Tagine

This healthy, protein-packed Moroccan fish tagine is full of vibrant flavors. It's easy to customize and ready within 30 minutes.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 onion, peeled and chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
  • 1 new potatoes, cut into chunks
  • 1 tbsp harissa paste
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground turmeric
  • 1 cup (400g) chopped tomatoes
  • ¼ cup (50g) dried apricots
  • 2 cups (500ml) water
  • ½ cup (100g) chickpeas, drained
  • ½ lemon, juiced
  • 2 salmon fillets, chopped into small chunks
  • 10g mint leaves, chopped

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in a large pan at a medium heat. Add the onions, carrots and potatoes to the pan and cook for 5 minutes. 
  2. Add the garlic, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric and harissa and cook for another minute until the spices are fragrant. 
  3. Add the chopped tomatoes, apricots, chickpeas and water, season, then bring to a boil and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the vegetables are cooked through.
  4. Add the salmon chunks and cook for a further 5 minutes.
  5. Stir in the lemon juice and mint, taste and add more seasoning, spices or harissa if necessary.
  6. Serve with your favorite couscous, rice or bread.

Nutrition Information

Yield

2

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 644Total Fat 37gSaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 27gCholesterol 143mgSodium 278mgCarbohydrates 23gFiber 5gSugar 6gProtein 54g
© Alex Johnson

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