A tagine is a North African stew that consists of a round, hollow dish topped by a tall conical lid. Originally made of earthenware, it is now available in other materials. With a tagine you can make delicious stews of chicken, meat or fish with vegetables and herbs. For this, you let the dishes simmer in the pot for a longer time. The word tagine does not mean simmering dish for nothing.
How does a tagine work?
Cooking with a tagine is tasty and simple. The tagine actually does all the work for you. Using the cooking liquid, the dish steams itself in the cone until cooked. This obviously takes some time, but is well worth the wait. It works as follows: The cooking liquid from the food evaporates and fogs the inside of the cone. Because the lid is airtight, this vapor runs back into the dish. This causes your dish to steam and prevents it from drying out. The pottery absorbs heat evenly and holds the heat of the stew well and the flavors together. This allows the food to cook slowly. So with the right ingredients and patience, you'll conjure up a flavorful dish on the table. And let's face it, it also presents nicely in such a dish.