We were delighted when Mason Cash sent us over a tagine to put through its paces and as Mandy enjoys a little (sometimes a lot!) spice in her cooking we grudgingly passed it over to her. We were kindly sent this to review. This is what she had to say about it:
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“Even if you never use this for cooking it would make a brilliant and colourful addition to any kitchen or dining area. As a purely ornamental item this striped terracoota tagine makes a wonderful statement piece and a great talking point.
The Mason Cash 28 cm Striped Tagine is available from Amazon
Inspired by the succulent and spicy dishes of North Africa this Mason Cash tagine is made from chip-resistant terracota which has been decorated in the vibrant oranges and reds favoured by the region.
I was surprised at just how light this was and at 28cm it was a good size and should comfortably feed a least four people. Consisting of two parts – a flat, circular base with low sides and a large cone that covers the base for cooking – the idea being that as condensation is created from cooking it returns to the base keeping your meat and veggies tender, succulent and moist.
I’ve never used a tagine before and hadn’t a clue about where to start, so my first plan of action was to invest in a tagine cook book. After checking out the Mason Cash website I found some really helpful information about how to get the best from my tagine and followed their instructions for a foolproof tagine and firstly covered the base area with onions, I then added all the spices followed by the other vegetables in my recipe and finally added the meat and the required amount of water.
With that done I popped on the lid and put it into the oven – don’t expect this to be ready in an hour or so – it takes a good bit longer than that and could take up to four hours – best advice I was given -follow the time given on the recipe and don’t be tempted to lift the lid too often.
Designed to be served straight to the table, make sure you use a heat proof mat so that your table doesn’t get damaged, just lift off the lid and let them help themselves.
If I had to find one thing I didn’t like about the tagine it would have to be removing the lid. Once I removed the tagine from the oven I found it hard to grip the lid making it difficult to remove. A heat proof glove should solve the problem.
I loved the colourful design of the tagine and I would certainly use it again when friends we’re coming round. It was a good size for the family or for entertaining and the food cooked beautifully. Often when food is slow cooked it takes a bit of effort to get it clean again however I’m happy to say that I found the tagine really easy to clean and it’s also dishwasher safe. Now it’s sitting in pride of place on my dining room unit and it’s become quite a talking point when friends and family visit. If you’re searching for a gift for Christmas I’d definitely recommend a tagine”
Have you ever cooked in a Tagine? Get in touch below and tell us your favourite recipe.
