How to Select a Tagine
Tagines are used to cook, roast or stew food in North African countries. In Marrakesh, couscous, chicken and lamb are most often cooked till juicy and tender. Dried fruit like apricots or prunes are added to sweeten the mixture. Spices like saffron add complexity. Today, you can take this ancient way of cooking meats and vegetables and bring it to your home kitchen. To select the right tagine for your kitchen, you must consider what use it is for, the price you want to pay and what you will be cooking. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Decide what use your tagine will serve. Some tagines are purely decorative and have elaborate Moorish decorations. They are not suited for heating in an oven or on a grill, but tagines look great in eclectic decor. If you plan to cook with your tagine, this will narrow your options to what tagine you need to select.
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Determine how much you want to spend on a tagine. They can range from $25 for a decorative clay tagine to $300 for a high performance stainless steel and ceramic version. If you just want a decorative tagine, the less expensive tagine would be best for you. If you plan to cook with your tagine, then you may have to spend a little bit more money.
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Pick what you will be cooking with your tagine. If you are slow roasting lamb and couscous, there are tagines that tolerate low temperatures. If you plan to sear or broil your ingredients, you will have to consider a tagine that tolerates high heat. Those models will be most likely a hybrid tagine consisting of stainless steel and ceramic.
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Select a clay tagine from an authentic tagine supplier from the Middle East if you are looking for an authentic tagine experience. You need to season these tagines with olive oil, and they cannot be cleaned in the dishwasher. These may not tolerate high heat, so expect to cook on low roasting temperatures up to 350 degrees.
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Purchase an Emile Henry glazed clay tagine if you need a dishwasher safe and authentic tagine. This model will run about $90, but it is very convenient for the home cook at an affordable price.
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Choose a stainless steel-ceramic hybrid tagine if you are looking for style and function. These tagines will cost up to $300, but they can stand up to 500 degrees in an oven. You will be able to sear and broil in this model. Cleaning should be done by hand with a stainless steel cleaner.
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Tips & Warnings
Read the instructions to your tagine before cooking. Some may need seasoning or special care.
