The Moroccan Tagine is a traditional vessel that has been used by people in North Africa for centuries. It is traditionally made of clay or ceramic, and created delicious slow-cooked stews. One of the most important aspects of making a delicious tagine is curing the tagine pot before use. In this blog post, we will explore why curing a Moroccan tagine is so important and how you can do it.
Firstly, it is important to understand what curing a tagine means. Curing is the process of preparing the tagine pot before its first use. It involves soaking the tagine in water for a few hours or even overnight, depending on the manufacturer's instructions. The reason for this is to prevent the pot from cracking during cooking and to enhance the flavor of the tagine.
So, why is it so important to cure a Moroccan tagine? One of the primary reasons is that un-cured tagine pots are more likely to crack or break during cooking. This is because the clay or ceramic material is porous and absorbs moisture during cooking. If the tagine is not cured properly, the moisture can cause the pot to expand and contract rapidly, which can result in cracks or even breakage.
Furthermore, curing a tagine pot helps to enhance the flavor of the tagine. The soaking process allows the clay or ceramic material to absorb water, which in turn helps to distribute the heat more evenly during cooking. This results in a more flavorful and tender dish.
More so, tagines serve as both the cooking vessle, and serving dish, allowing food to stay warm for longer. Moroccan tradition is to gather around and eat communally from the tagine, using pieces of bread to soak up the sauces and scoop up the vegetables and protein.
On our website, we sell various types of Moroccan tagines that require curing before use. Our tagines are made of high-quality clay or ceramic and are perfect for making so many yummy meals.
The following is how we recommend you cure your tagine:
1. Soak the base and lid in water for 24 hours.
2. Pat dry, then brush surfaces with olive oil and place in a cold oven.
3. Heat the oven to 225 Fahrenheit and leave in the oven for 2 hours.
4. Turn off the oven and let cool completely. Small cracks in the ceramic are normal, and over the years the patina they create gives evidence of your cooking skills.
5. After cooking, wash your tagine with hot water and baking soda, pat dry, then rub with a little olive oil.
**It is NOT dishwasher safe.
If you're looking to make a traditional Moroccan tagine, be sure to check out our website for a variety of tagines. Also, check out out Instagram for occasional recipes!