Tagine, or tajine, is simply an ancient method of slow cooking. Shaped like a teepee, the tagine allows steam to escape very slowly, keeping the food inside moist and the meat tender. In places like the Middle East and North Africa, you can order a tagine to go. But don't be fooled - this is no fast food! To order a tagine, you would select your preferred meat and veggies and they would be cooked with spices in your own personal clay cooker in a basement area filled with hot coals and buried in ash. Several hours later you would return to take home your hot and delicious meal, right in the cooker.
But just because you don't have a basement filled with hot coals and ash, doesn't mean you can't enjoy the succulent flavors of this exotic cooking method. Tagines can be used at home on the stove, grill, or in the oven and are more widely available than ever before at specialty stores such as Sur Le Table or World Market. An electric crock pot or covered creucet will do the trick too!
A dear friend of mine, who was raised in the Middle East, sent me this glorious photo of her famous chicken, rice, and carrots - slow cooked with our Moroccan Tagine spice blend. This dish became an instant family favorite. There's nothing I like hearing more than being a part of a special family memory or tradition. What a gift!
While our spice blend is named after tagine cooking, it is useful and delicious in countless other preparations as well. Try it as a rub or marinade on lamb, chicken, beef, kebobs, or even fish. Add it to sour cream for an excellent dip or sauce. Throw some in your rice as it cooks for an amazing side dish. This one is only limited by your imagination. Find us on Facebook and share your creative uses!
