Unlock the secret of tajine cuisine

An healthy meal

A thousand and one tajine recipes have one thing in common: Even though an infinite variety of tastes and ingredients are brought together, each recipe invariably includes only a few spoonfuls of olive oil.

Add fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts or legumes, meat or fish, a few magical spices, and you're done!

A healthy dish, seductive and bursting with flavour, tajine compares favourably with Mediterranean cuisine acclaimed by food lovers who appreciate the virtues of the olive and its oil, fish and fresh peppers.

The tajine : food and serving dish

At one and the same time, tajine defines the food as well as the serving dish. It takes its name from the earthenware container in which it was originally prepared. Cast iron cookware has replaced earthenware to cook over electric or gas heat. Please note electric tajines on the market have revived the tradition of cooking and serving from the same dish!

Traditional tajine spices

• are saffron
• white and gray pepper
• ginger
• flat parsley is favoured among fine herbs

But proponents of tajine cuisine often depart from these strict guidelines owing to their curiosity and willingness to try new pairings. That's why you'll now find cumin, coriander, cinnamon and tumeric, star anise and cloves gracing our tajines.

The absolute rule!
Never stir or mix the tajine while it's cooking. It's in the cooking that flavours mix and mingle.

Prepare a tajine in 7 steps

1. Slice an onion, add some garlic and strips of red pepper and brown in a small amount of olive oil in a casserole.
2. Let it all soften about ten minutes, add the spices, brown a minute or two longer.
3. Now add the meat and brown – chicken or other poultry, lamb, veal, or firm flesh fish that lend themselves so well to tajine!
4. Once the meat is grilled, top it with quartered tomatoes or fennel, halved artichokes, fresh or dried figs or apricots, cashews or beans... the choice is yours.
5. Add enough water to cover, place lid on casserole and cook gently 30 to 45 minutes.
6. Carefully place this culinary delight in the tajine dish that you will bring to the centre of your table.
7. Be sure to include some small finger bowls. Your guests are apt to get caught up in the spirit of the moment and eat with their fingers like real Moroccans!

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