Tajines
A tajine is a traditional Moroccan terracotta pot used to cook Moroccan
stews consisting of a combination of meat or poultry and vegetables
flavored with spices. Over time, the word ‘tajine’ started referring to the
dish itself in addition to the pot.
The conical shape of the tajine lid causes the steam coming off of the
stew to cool down and precipitate back into the vessel. This helps
conserve all the aromas of the dish. The meat of the tajine is very tender
as it is cooked on a low heat, while the vegetables have the perfect
texture as they are layered according to their specific cooking times.
When cooking with traditional tajines, choose one that has a natural
brown color and that is lead-free. The ones painted in various colors
may contain lead, which can seep into your food and potentially harm
your health. You can use the painted tajines for serving and keeping the
food warm by placing regular plates containing food inside the tajine.
Do not worry if you do not have a tajine; you can cook all the wonderful
Moroccan stews using a cooking pan that you cover with a lid or
aluminum foil.
