Tajines: everything you should know

What is the origin of tajine?

Tajine originally comes from North - Africa, Morocco to be exact. Berbers used to travel often: they couldn't take too much on these trips. The tajine was convenient then: instead of all kinds of pots and pans, they only had to take the tajine with them.

What is a tajine?

ZBoth the product and the dish share the name "tajine." The product tajine consists of a dish topped with a lid in a pointed shape. Originally they were made of ceramics, but nowadays, they are made of more durable materials. A famous dish is a stew of meat, with ras el hanout spices and mixes of vegetables and potatoes.

How to use a tajine?

You will put a delicious slow-cooked meal on the table with a tajine. They are made to be used on low heat, allowing ingredients to simmer for hours. The unique shape allows the vapor to fall back into the dish during cooking, making your dish extra flavorful. You can help this process by adding cold water at the top of the tajine.

A ceramic tajine should be immersed in water for 24 hours before use. After that, we recommend immersing the tajine in water for an hour each time before use. It makes the pottery less prone to breakage.

Different kinds of tajines

Tajines are made of different kinds of materials. Traditionally they were made of ceramics, but these were not suitable for induction. Therefore, you see that predominantly European models make their tajine from cast iron or stainless steel suitable for any heat source. Cast iron models are ideal for high heat, where you can sear meat and stew it.

How to clean the tajine?

The tajine is easy to clean, but you must be careful. The way you clean depends on the material it is made from. If the tajine is made of stainless steel, it is even dishwasher safe; tajines made from other materials are not dishwasher safe.

If the tajine is made of ceramic or cast iron, clean it with a sponge and lukewarm water. Don't use abrasive or coarse sponges. Only rinse with water to keep your tajine in the best shape possible.

Can you use tajine on induction

Do you use induction and still want to use a classic tajine? This is possible with a small adapter that you place between your induction plate and your tajine. The adapter distributes the heat gradually. This adapter is useful not only for the tajine but for all pots and pans that do not work on induction.

Electric Tajines
Nowadays there are also electric tajines on the market. Using these, you don't have to worry about the heat, and you can let these simmer for hours.

Save the flavor
The flavor and aroma of the dish are released when you remove the lid from the tajine. Our serving tip is to remove the top at the table. The delicious aromas will reach your guests right away.

Do you already own a tajine ? Please share your favorite recipe with our readers in the comments!