In Morocco, meals are meant to besavoured – a real experience that excitesthe senses and shouldn’t be rushed. Thatis the case for both cooking and eatingone of its most traditional dishes, thetagine – or tajine. These delicious, slow-

cooked stews are generally made using chick-en or lamb, and sometimes fish, as the mainingredient, with herbs, fruits, vegetables orspices added for seasoning along with olivesand preserved lemon.

originsA Moroccan word, tagine refers to both the dishand the glazed earthenware pot with a conical-shaped lid in which it is cooked. They wereoriginally used by nomadic Berbers to cook theirstews over open fires as well as for serving it.

Steam condenses on the inside of the lid,helping to preserve moisture in the food, aswell as aiding infusion of the flavours. The lidcan be taken off during cooking to stir the dish.

the dishWhile taginesare tradition-ally cooked intheir conicalpots, anyceramic dishwith a lid canbe used. The meatis simmered slowlyin an oven, often for several hours, so that itbecomes very tender and soaks up thearomatic flavours. There are many variationson the theme, particularly with lamb.

To accompany a tagine, try mint tea, thenational drink of Morocco.

the cityMarrakech is a kaleidoscope of colours,sounds and smells, with the Djemma el Fnasquare in the centre of the city’s old medinaquarter the focal point for its food stalls, musi-cians and performers. Enjoy a coffee

overlooking the square, haggle for bargains inlabyrinthine souks, visit opulent palaces andchill out in tranquil, exotic gardens.

where to eat tagine in Marrakech

l maison mk (www.maisonmk.com):Owned by photographers Paul and Aoib-heann Hopkins, this luxury riad serving updifferent takes on tagines in its Moroccan/French fusion restaurant, gastro mk, it alsooffers half-day cooking courses. VisitMellah market to buy the ingredientsbefore cooking a traditional tagine yourselfin the kitchen guided by the Berber chef.Jamie Oliver filmed his Channel 4 Jamiedoes...Marrakech programme at maisonmk, cooking on its roof terrace after goingto the same market.

l Al Fassia (www.alfassia.com): This city-centre restaurant is one of the few with an ala carte menu, with dishes prepared andserved exclusively by women.

l Le Tobsil (+212 2444 4052): Indulge your-self in this grandiose former palace in theheart of the medina, where the set-menufood is always reliable.

where to eat tagine in London

l Original Tagines restaurant in Marylebone(www.original-tagines.com): Take yourpick from a dozen different tagines basedon lamb, chicken, fish and vegetables.

l Tagine restaurant in Balham(www.zizoutagine.com):Traditional Moroc-can-style tagines, spiced up with optionalharissa sauce. Bring your own bottle.

Spring 2012 tlm n the travel & leisure magazine www.tlm-magazine.co.uk 59

travel fare n tagine & marrakech, morocco

For a chicken tagine recipe, go to www.tlm-magazine.co.uk/s/recipes

Get into a real

stewFor the latest in our series onfamous dishes and their origin,we head to exotic Marrakechto spotlight the classicMoroccan tagine

marrakech facts

getting there: Direct flights areoperated by British Airways(www.ba.com), bmi(www.flybmi.com), Royal Air Maroc(www.royalairmaroc.com) andseveral low-cost airlines.

stay: Stay in a traditional riad, suchas maison mk, or choose from arange of hotels, the most famousbeing Marrakech grande dame LaMamounia(www.mamounia.com).

information: Moroccan NationalTourist Officewww.visitmorocco.com

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