Moroccan Tagine Berber - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 tablespoons olive oil
2 lbs boneless lamb shoulder, cubed
2 medium onions, peeled and quartered
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
1 pinch saffron thread
salt & freshly ground black pepper
2 medium yukon gold potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 large carrot, peeled, halved crosswise, and quartered
1 large zucchini, halved crosswise and quartered
2 small turnips, peeled and quartered
1 medium green pepper, trimmed and cut lengthwise into 1 '' strips
1 medium tomatoes, thinly sliced

Preparation

Heat 2 tbls oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or tagine (a Moroccan cooking vessel) over high heat.
Add lamb in batches and brown on all sides, stirring frequently.
Set aside.
In same pot, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium-low heat, add onions, cook for 15 minutes, then add cumin, cinnamon, paprika, and saffron and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Stir, mixing well, and cook until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes more.
Return meat to pot and mix well.
Form mixture into a mound in center of pot.
Arrange potato quarters around meat, pressing angled sides into mound.
Arrange carrots and zucchini the same way.
Arrange turnip quarters and green pepper strips alternately around mound.
Season vegetables with salt and pepper.
Cook, covered, over medium-low heat, basting occasionally with liquid from bottom of pot, until vegetables are cooked, about 1 1/4 hours.
Arrange tomatoes atop meat, cook, covered, for 5 minutes more, and serve.