Getting back on track

After the last few calorie-laden postings, I thought it was high time I posted something healthy. This is a dish I prepared for our church lunch last week. I decided to cook vegetarian this time so that I could enjoy it too, and I really, really did enjoy it! I just fancied doing something a bit different, and when I spied a packet of cous cous in Kaldi (an import shop) I had a flash-back to my time spent in France, of evenings dining in Moroccan restaurants. I decided to make a vegetable tagine:



This is exactly the sort of food I would like to eat more of - spicy, fruity, full of flavour and texture - but I'm not quite sure how it went down with my fellow diners...

Fruity Veggie Tagine

4 carrots , cut into chunks (I used 2 'normal' carrots and 2 red ones - I don't know what they're called but they seem to be in season here, they have a more earthy flavour)
1 sweet potato, cut into chunks
1 wedge of kabocha (pumpkin), cut into chunks
3 red onions , cut into wedges
2 red peppers , deseeded and cut into chunks
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp each ground cumin , paprika, cinnamon and mild chilli powder
400g can chopped tomatoes
2 small handfuls soft dried apricots
2 tsp honey

Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Scatter the veg over a couple of baking trays, drizzle with half the oil, season, then rub the oil over the veg with your hands to coat. Roast for 30 mins until tender and beginning to brown.
Meanwhile, fry the spices in the remaining oil for 1 min - they should sizzle and start to smell aromatic. Tip in the tomatoes, apricots, honey and a can of water. Simmer for 5 mins until the sauce is slightly reduced and the apricots plump, then stir in the veg and some seasoning.

I can see myself making this regularly now, it was so tasty and a painless way to get my 5-a-day in one sitting. Very, very yum!