green bean and meat tajine (mqualli)

Ingredients for 6 to 8 people :

* 1 1/2 kg (3 lbs 5 oz) of meat (mutton shoulder and chops or veal knuckle)

* 1 kg (2 lbs 3 oz) of green beans * 1 heaped teaspoonful of ginger

* 1 coffeespoonful of saffron (mixed packet saffron and crushed flowers)

* 3/4 ladle ful of groundnut oil * 1 pickled lemon * 1 teaspoonful of flour

* 10 preserved olives * 1 lemon juice

Preparation:

Cut the meat into pieces of about 150 g (5 oz), rinse and put in a thick-bottomed saucepan Add salt, ginger, saffron, oil and cover with water. Allow to boil for a few seconds, mix well, and add the green beans. Cook with the lid on, stirring from time to time. Add water if necessary.

When the meat and beans are cooked and tender, add the preserved olives and the pickled lemon zest, cut in pieces, and the lemon juice. Bind the sauce with the flour, blended with a little water, and leave to boil down until it is rich. Remove from the heat. Arrange the pieces of meat on a round dish with the green beans on top. Pour the sauce over and decorate with the pickled lemon and olives.