What is a Tagine?
Tagines are shallow, round clay cooking pots with pointed, cone-shaped lids in which Moroccan stews are traditionally made. Cooking in a clay tagine, very gently over a brazier (kanoun) of constantly replenished embers, diffuses the heat all around the pot and produces, at the end, a reduced sauce sizzling in it's own fat. However, many modern Moroccan households, and most American households, find it more convenient to cook the tagine on the stove top or ideally, in the oven. Remember that the tagine is very delicate and can crack if exposed to direct heat, so if you use a gas stove, be sure to use a diffuser before placing your tagine on the burner.
Tagines are distinguished by their cooking fats and spices, although the distinctions have become blurred these days. M'qualli are tagines cooked in oil with saffron and ginger, producing a yellow sauce. M'hammer refers to tagines cooked with olive oil or butter, and spiced with cumin and paprika, where the sauce is red.
Where Can I Buy a Tagine?
Many kitchen supply shops or gourmet shops oftentimes will carry tagines, but they still may be difficult to locate within the USA. I received my tagine as a gift from my fiance's mother, and carried it all the way from Agadir, Morocco back to Tacoma, WA.
Tagines are available made from a variety of materials, including
clay and other ceramics, stainless steel, cast iron and silicone. Price
and versatility can vary greatly by material.
Simple clay tagines are widely available online and in ethnic
markets for as little as $20 to $30. However, many of these cannot
tolerate high heat on the stove, which means meat cannot be browned in
them. These tagines are best for foods cooked in the oven. Foods must be
browned in another skillet before being added to the tagine. Many of
these tagines also must be seasoned with oil before first use.
Most clay tagines also cannot go in the dishwasher. Some clay tagines
have decorative glazing. Be careful with these, as some glazes contain
lead.
Here are a few suggestions on where to buy a tagine:
The Spanish Table
The Spanish Table has locations in Seattle, WA, Santa Fe, NM, Berkeley, CA, and Mill Valley, CA. You can also order online and have your tagine shipped to you. These are traditional clay tagines, and cost between $40 - $90.
Tagines.com
Tagines.com offers a selection of both cooking and serving tagines, and has reasonable prices to boot.
SiliconeZone
SiliconeZone makes a silicone tagine lid that fits over any skillet, and at $20, it may be the most economical choice.
Emile Henry
Emile Henry offers a line of beautiful, modern, and durable tagines. They can tolerate high-heat cooking on the stove, in the oven and in the
microwave. They also can go in the freezer and dishwasher.
All -Clad
All-Clad offers a stainless steel version of the tagine. It is extremely durable and the stainless steel bottom offers even heat distribution. It also has handles! The All-Clad tagine costs about $200.
Le Creuset
Le Creuset takes a similar approach to All-Clad with its tagine, which combines a
ceramic top with an enameled cast-iron base. These cost about $150 and
have superb heat retention and they also come in a variety of cool colors...
Now you've got your tagine... what next? Here is an interesting video about traditional Berber tagine cooking