Moroccan Tajine is an essential meal in Moroccan culture that has gained international fame for ages as many sources demonstrate.

What are the Origins of Moroccan Tagine?

The origins of Moroccan Tagine come from North Africa. Particularly Morocco. It is a dish named after the clay pot used to cook it, with a shallow base and a distinctive conical lid. This dish is essential in Moroccan cuisine. Moroccans eat it at least three times a week in different types.

The cultural side behind Moroccan Tajine?

Moroccan Tajine is more than just a meal. It is a cultural experience that brings people together over its warm, inviting flavors and funny discussions about its taste. It is not only a delicious meal that people adore, but also an exercise that parents use to teach their kids some much-demanded values in modern times such as responsibility and relying on themselves. For instance, it is not lucky to have a good Tajine from the first time. Therefore, Moroccans try every time to enhance their skills in cooking it. It is common to find a female or male asking his or her mom, or aunt about what went wrong in his or her last try of cooking it. Which fosters the skill of trying and retrying until they get it right.

When do Moroccans Learn to Cook Tajine in Morocco?

Moroccans give a lot of importance to teaching their kids how to make a Tagine. The first engagement with Tajine in Moroccan culture starts when they celebrate a religious celebration called the “Big Eid” where they slaughter a sheep or cow. On the second day of this celebration, they have what is called “khaylotta” which literally means, “mixing”. At that event, neighbors’ kids are supposed to gather at one of their friends’ houses in the neighborhood. Each one of them brings meat, bread, and soda. Then the mom or the dad of the host’s house teaches them how to cook the Tajine on the coal. Moroccans call it “khaylotta” because all friends are supposed to mix their meat and then eat it together. This habit teaches the Moroccan kids two important values: sharing, and team’s work. Moreover, they learn how to cook the most eaten meal over the week in all of Morocco.

One of the Most Fascinating Traditions in one of the Areas of Morocco about Tajine

In one of the Moroccan areas called “Sous” where Agadir is one of its famous tourist cities, the men take care of cooking in the social events. They usually bring a cow or two and make many Tajines for the guests. They have breakfast at 07h00 am, then Tajine at 09h00 am, after that, they cook Tajine again for dinner. Women do not cook in the social events in this area. They just enjoy the wedding or other celebrations. Sometimes, women help with cooking the bread. The men in this area believe it is too much of a responsibility for women to do everything in the big events, so they take charge of cooking and serving. Sometimes they cook it on coal and sometimes on gas. They cook between 50 Tajines to 200 Tajines depending on the celebration.

How Serious are Moroccans about Cooking a Tagine?

It is weird to find a Moroccan who does not know how to cook Tajine either a man or a woman. Everyone is supposed to know how to prepare it. Parents also encourage their kids to learn cooking for many reasons. They usually tell their children that when they will go to study in future in another city or abroad, they will find themselves facing the fact that they have to cook to avoid eating outside every day, which is not an acceptable idea in Morocco. Even in the college culture, the one who cannot cook between his classmates especially Tajine can be considered as someone who misses a very important thing. Despite the huge changes that are going on in the country, Moroccans still feel proud of being able to cook Tajine. A man can put a condition of having a Tajine at dinner to accept his friend’s invitation. Even if it is all the times used as a joke to say: I am waiting for good food tonight.

What is the Relationship Between International Moroccans and Tajine?

It is rare to find an individual Moroccan, man or woman living outside of Morocco and does not have a Moroccan Tajine. Several Moroccans who live abroad take Tajine’s pot with them to where they live every time they come back to Moroccan. They say: it is easy to find good Tajine’s pot in Morocco. Others who are not sure if they will come back to Morocco soon order it online from someone who lives in Morocco because of its good quality.

How Can You Take the Experience of Making a Tajine in Morocco?

Tourists love to eat Tajine when they come to Morocco, and a lot of them join workshops to learn how to cook it. Many websites introduce chefs who are experts in making Moroccan food. Tourists love the experience of making a Tajine in Morocco because of the friendly soul of Moroccans when they cook. For many Moroccans cooking is an art where they express their love, passion, creativity, and showing care to their lovers. That is why Moroccans were happy to be considered to have the best Moroccan cuisine in the world as Gordon Ramsay announced in 2024 after the competition that he held online on Instagram.

What are the Types of Tajine?

Moroccans make many types of Tajines that can be summarized into five basic types.

• ⦁ Tajine of meat

• ⦁ Tajine of chicken

• ⦁ Tajine of fish

• ⦁ Tajine of minced meat with eggs

• ⦁ Tajine with only vegetables

Moroccans are very creative in making many types of Tajines. Choosing which one to cook relies on which elements you have in your kitchen, what you eat, and what you do not eat at all. Usually, Moroccans ask their guests about the things that they should avoid in making Tajine for them because they can put many things that many other people do not like. Therefore, it is normal to ask about the content of it.

What is the Easiest Way to Make a Tajine?

Making a Tajine is a creative process. However, there is the easiest way of making it. The first thing you should do is to choose which type of Tajine you want to make; the one with fish, chicken, or meat.
We can divide the process of making a Tajine into three stages. The first one is when you put the meat in the Tajine for 30 minutes on low heat, with a small cup of water, and spices: Salt, Paprika, Garlic, Coriander, Turmeric, and Bezar.
The second stage starts after 30 minutes of cooking only meat. You increase the heat and add three small glasses of water with the vegetables that you like. Usually, normal Tajine will be with potatoes and onions. Some people add small pieces of tomatoes too that eventually melt with the heat. Moreover, Moroccans add carrots, Peas, artichokes, etc.
The third stage is when the water starts reaching a low level. Therefore, to avoid the burning of meat and vegetables, you lower the heat to the lowest degree for more than 20 minutes while making sure that nothing burns.
Then take it to your lovely table and have a nice meal!

Where Does the Biggest Tajine Exist in the World?

Morocco is famous for having the world’s largest Tagine pot in the world. This fabulous world record is located at Place Mohammed V in Safi. 200 Moroccan women in 1999 gathered to prepare a massive Tagine meal. The impressive ceramic pot stands 5.5 meters tall and 6.3 meters wide, embellished with colorful and traditional Moroccan designs. It is located on a huge stone cooker.

The largest tagine in the world, Safi, Morocco. Photo: Etotheraf/Wikicommons