Originally posted October 11, 2021
Reposted May 2, 2022
The Pot, The Dish, And Its History.
Tagine is symbolic of Moroccan cuisine. It is a pot, it is the dish, and it is the icon that shares the history and influences of Morocco. Learn the tagine history and its origins.
What is a Tagine?
Tagine, or tajine in French, refers to the Berber cookware which is a conical-shaped, two-piece earthenware clay pot. It also refers to the dish or stew.
The design of the tagine is quite genius and practical. As the covered pot cooks over a heat source, originally hot charcoal, the trapped steam in the fluted cone top condenses and drips moisture back down to the stewing dish. Everything cooks evenly, the contents tenderize and caramelize, and the natural flavors all come out. All the while, minimal water is needed to cook the dish.
The tagine is essentially a slow cooker for savory stews, meats, poultry, fish, vegetables, and couscous.
Tagine History & Origins
The tagine’s origins are often credited to Harun al Rashid, a ruler of the Islamic empire in the late 8th century. In the 9th century, historians found a collection of stories called One Thousand and One Nights in which the tagine was described.
Some food historians argue that the tagine’s influence goes even further back to the Roman Empire which used portable ovens similar to the shape of the tagine.
The tagine was used primarily used by nomads in North Africa who made food over a fire. Because of the tenderization in the tagine, they could use lower quality and tougher meat to produce a succulent stew.
It is important to note that Morocco was never colonized by the Ottomans nor invaded by the Arabs. Rather, Arabs were allowed in the country to spread Islam and its culture. In turn, Morocco helped spread Islam and its own influence into Europe, particularly in the Iberian peninsula – as Moors comes from Moroccan or moorokan. That being said, it was the Moroccans who shared cuisine techniques with not only the Spaniards but also their French colonists.
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