The World Cup Food Challenge - Day 11, Algeria (Green Bean and Lamb Tagine)

Since starting my World Cup Food Challenge, I have talked about it, a lot. I find it hard to talk about anything else, aside from the football, that is. I find it hard to understand how people can manage to carry on with their daily lives in complete oblivion of the thing that has taken over my life. I have sat racking my brain for another topic for small talk that was not about football or food, I failed. I opted for silence instead. Luckily though, there are people around me who are more than happy to talk football with me, and who are genuinely interested in my self imposed challenge so I have an outlet to discuss all my trials and tribulations, my thoughts and plans, my joys and disappointments in this challenge. In one of the many conversations I have had, Algerian food in particular came up. We were discussing the fact that neither of us really knew anything about Algerian food. I said, taking a blind stab in the dark, that I supposed it would be a lot of grain and legumes and vegetables. I was thinking Egypt. Algeria is thereabouts on the map, so... I drew my conclusions. When I finally got around to researching Algerian, I was in for a pleasant surprise! - And I will leave it at that! The more I say, the more likely I am to expose how ignorant I still am about Eygptian and Algerian food, and probably offend a bunch of people while at it.

I decided very quickly what I was going to cook for Algeria. Once I came across the lamb tagine, there was very little chance that I would go for anything else. You see, lamb is really my favourite meat. Hands down, I do not even have to think about it. I might have to pause between the choice of a perfectly cooked cut of beef or a lamb chop, and will probably go for the steak; and may choose roast beef over roast lamb on occasion, but generally speaking, I love lamb. Then came a day many, many years ago when I was stood on the edge of a field ooh-ed and ahh-ed at lambs springing about. They were joyful to watch. Then out of the blue said a voice beside me (the voice of my boyfriend at the time, not a disembodied voice in the air), "yeah, and you eat them." Oh, the horror! I was traumatised! That, made me give up lamb for a long time. I eventually started eating lamb again but only about once or twice a year.

I have since overcome my trauma. I am not sure if or how I have come to terms with consuming lamb. They are still cute and I still love to see them springing about the fields. But they also taste good and I erm... love them also. It does not have to make sense. I do not feel compelled to resist lamb as much as I did, neither do I have lamb as much as I once did. When I saw the lamb tagine recipe, there was no resisting.

Now, lamb tagine is not specific to Algeria. Most sites seem to name Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco as being countries where it is popular. I tried to follow, as closely as possible, a recipe which claimed to be Algerian. Green bean and lamb seemed to be generally attributed to Algeria only, though the most popular hits on Google might not be the best source of accurate information. Be that as it may, that is what I chose to make. I did though, take a few liberties and allowed influences from a Tunisian recipe to seep into my dish as well. As neither Tunisia nor Morocco are in the World Cup, I figure it does not matter. The recipe below is as close as possible to what I actually did, which is rather a combination of the two recipes above.

For recipe, see: Algerian Green Bean and Lamb Tagine
Verdict: SUCCESS!!
Oh, and how! This is no doubt the best dish I have made in this challenge so far! During the cooking process, it was already obvious that this was going to be great. The smells which filled the kitchen were mouthwatering. I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner that evening. And as usual, I had enough leftover for a packed lunch. I was the first in the kitchen at work that day, and managed to heat up my food and sit down before anyone else got there. The first guy who came in after me immediately wanted to know what I was having, saying that it smelled so good. I do not think he even had a chance to see what it was I had on my plate. Another lady walked in as I was talking to him, and immediately asked for the recipe. The smell alone was enough to convince them. This is definitely one for keeps, and to be pulled out at dinner parties to impress, or on days when I want a easy as anything delicious meal!