How to use a tagine pot? If there is one thing I get asked about a lot it’s this! How to cook in a Moroccan tagine pot and is it easy and worth it to integrate tagines into one’s cooking routine?
Well, absolutely yes! And I highly encourage you to do so. Honestly, I can’t imagine a cooking routine that doesn’t include using tagine pot cookware.
And I’m not only saying this because I am of Moroccan origins, or because I grew up eating tagine dishes very regularly. It’s REALLY because these little clay tagine pots are magical. They can create amazing tastes and flavors that you will be craving more and more. Plus, they are one of the healthiest cookware thanks to their composition, clay, and to the slow cooking that allows nutrients preservation.
Moroccan tagine pots are really easy to use once you know tagine characteristics and the traditional cooking techniques. That’s what I will detail in this tagine cooking guide, based on my experience with tagines both in Morocco and outside Morocco.
Cooking vs. Serving Tagines
A very important thing to know is that not all tagine pots available in the market are made for cooking. In fact, many of them are only for serving-purposes, meaning you can’t use them on the stove.
It can get a little tricky here as many sellers claim their serving tagine pot are compatible with cooking too, while it’s not the case. If you are unsure, ask your seller again, especially if your tagine pot is heavily and beautifully decorated.
The general rule of thumb is if a tagine pot is pretty basic or have very small embellishments, it’s more likely to be a cooking tagine. Otherwise, you need to double-check.
If you don’t have a tagine pot yet, here is a thorough guide to finding the right tagine pot for your family.
Seasoning a Tagine Pot
Seasoning tagine pots also called curing a tagine pot, is a PRIMORDIAL step in tagine preparation. Unfortunately, many overlook this step, resulting in fragile tagine pots that can easily crack and break.
Seasoning a tagine pot consists of preparing your tagine base and lid for future uses by sealing and strengthening their structure. This is done ONCE, before the very first use, through a series of simple steps which include soaking the tagine pot, brushing it with oil, and cooking it in a low-heated oven for a couple of hours.
Seasoning is important, and most cooking tagine pots in the market are sold unseasoned. If you haven’t seasoned your tagine pot yet, make sure you check my tagine pot seasoning and cure guide.
Using a Heat Diffuser with your Tagine
Another important thing to remember is that clay tagines are really sensitive to heat. So always use your tagine pot on a low-to-medium heat and ALWAYS use a good-quality heat diffuser. Otherwise, it’s only a matter of time before your tagine cracks. This $20 stainless steel heat diffuser is the one I’ve been using for years, but you can get any comparable heat diffuser.
Using tagines on Gas or Electric Stoves
You can perfectly use your tagine pot on your Gas or Electric stove if you use your tagine pot on a heat diffuser on low-to-medium heat.
When cooking in your tagine pot, check regularly to make sure the ingredients don’t stick to the bottom. That’s why heat diffusers are very handy, in fact, when you are using your tagine with a heat diffuser, the sauce won’t evaporate quickly and your tagine experience will be much more relaxed.
TAGINE COOKING STEPS
One of the most popular tagine recipes is the meatballs tagine. It’s also one of the easiest tagine recipes to make. I will share with you the detailed steps below.
There are as many tagine recipes as there are regions in Morocco and I must admit it, most online recipes don’t respect the traditional way of making a Moroccan tagine. So, if you are looking for authentic tagine recipes, then I highly recommend this Moroccan tagine cookbook. It’s the one I always recommend to my non-Moroccan friends as it shares the traditional recipes with easy, detailed steps, perfect for even beginners.
STEP 1: Prepare the base layer
The first step is to place a layer of onions (depending on the recipes they are either cut in cubes or rings). Then add garlic and cooking oil in this step and lightly cook everything for a couple of minutes. For four servings, you can use one small onion, 1 medium garlic clove, and 5 tbsp olive oil.
STEP 2: Add the crushed tomatoes and spices
Once the onions become slightly transparent, add 1 pound crushed tomatoes and spices: 1 tsp paprika powder, 1/2 tsp pepper powder, 1 tsp cumin powder, and salt.
Mix well and let cook on a slow heat for 15 to 20 minutes checking occasionally that nothing sticks at the bottom of your tagine pot.
STEP 3: Add the meatballs to the cooking sauce
Prepare your meatballs by manually mixing 1 pound minced meat with spices and herbs (1 tbsp coriander, 1 tbsp parsley, 1 tsp paprika powder, 1/2 tsp pepper powder, 1 tsp cumin powder, and salt).
Form small meatballs and gently add them to the sauce cooking in your tagine. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes or until your meatballs are cooked to your taste.
STEP 4 (OPTIONAL): Crack a few eggs on top of the meatballs
Once everything is cooked to your taste, crack one or two eggs on top of the meatballs and let cook for a couple of minutes. Decorate with fresh coriander and parsley.
Serve hot with fresh bread.
How to clean my tagine
thank you, I followed your recommendations, got the tagine cookbook you mentioned, and made my first tagine recipe. It was INCREDIBLE! thank you! now, how can I clean my tagine? can I use soap?
Response from Moroccanzest
Hi Maria, so glad your first tagine recipe was a success! now for cleaning, just soak your tagine in water for a few minutes and use your regular soap, water, and a scrub brush. cheers to your next tagine recipes! -xx
Help request
I downloaded the book you suggested on my iPhone and cannot find it. Anyone assistance on how I can find this would be appreciated.
Response from Moroccanzest
Hi Lorraine, someone from the team just sent you an email with the download link. Once downloaded to your iPhone, the ebook will be in your ”download” folder. let me know if you need more help -xx
worked!
thank you, I made the meatballs tagine, my husband and two toddlers LOVED it! Thank you so much
oven use
Can I cook my tajine meatballs in the oven? Or is a tajine only used for stove top recipes?
Response from Moroccanzest
Hi, usually meatball tagines are cooked on the stove, but you can use your tagine in the oven. just make sure the tagine is seasoned and the oven is on a low temperature – below 300F. I would also place it in the oven before turning the heat on to avoid a thermal choc which can break your tagine -xx
awesome recipe
thank you we just tried the meatball tagine recipe, everyone LOVED IT
