How To Use A Tagine On A Ceramic Hob

Always use a low heat for the first 5 minutes so that the temperature builds up gradually.

How to use a tagine on a ceramic hob.

Tagines can also be cooked outdoors over coals. First it refers to a type of north african cookware traditionally made of clay or ceramic. A tagine should be seasoned before using to strengthen and seal it and if it is unglazed to remove the taste of raw clay. Traditionally tagines were placed on an open fire or a bed of charcoal at a very low heat.

Your tagine can be used on all types of stove tops with an induction disk for induction hobs. To season soak the lid and base in water for 2 hours. Patience is essential for tagine cooking. Do not for example add very hot liquids to a cold tagine and vice versa and do not set a hot tagine on a very cold surface.

To avoid cracking or breaking a clay or ceramic tagine make sure it sits above the heat source and not directly on it use a diffuser if you have an electric stove or flat cooktop. After two hours turn off the oven and leave the tagine to cool completely in the oven. But on the stovetop with a heat diffuser to keep from cracking the tagine from direct heat she can t achieve a respectable simmer. The whole point of the tagine s design is to capture aromatic condensation allowing the complex spiced layers to merge into a delicious concoction.

When using the tagine on a hob always use a heat diffuser suitable for on the hob with a heat diffuser in the oven microwave and to serve in general. Do not try to speed the process by raising the heat especially if you are using a clay tagine which can crack if the temperature is too high. So she asks is it safe to use her clay tagine directly over the flame. Wash the cooled tagine by hand and coat the interior with olive oil before storing or using.

The word tagine actually has two meanings. Dry the tagine and brush the interior and exterior of the lid and base with olive oil. If you use a clay or ceramic tagine in an oven place the cold tagine in a cold oven on a rack then set the temperature to no more than 325 to 350 f. Place the tagine or other clay cookware in a cold oven.

Turn the oven on to 300 f 150 c and set the timer for two hours. Place the tagine over low to medium low heat and be very patient while the tagine slowly reaches a simmer. So to use your tagine pot at home on a gas or electric hob use a heat diffuser and start at a very low temperature then slowly raise the heat as necessary. On chowhound kate cortesi reports that she loves her clay tagine from le souk ceramique and has had good results using it in the oven.

Heat diffusers are almost always essential if using a tagine pot of earthenware clay ceramic or any material other than metal. Nowadays it would be hard to reproduce the same conditions on a daily basis.