The Institute of Post Conflict Development
The Story
Tagine: A taste of home
Younes Aomari, a Moroccan mechanical engineer, poet and spoken word poet, known by his stage name “Otakuflow,” is recognized for his artistic commitment. He’s the Co-founder of “Moroccan Poets” and ex- president of the SLAM’AROC association.
He has also participated in major initiatives such as the Olive Writer’s Summer Camp 2022 and the Artivism 2023 program and finals of UdeS show 2026. His writings, imbued with an authentic and impactful voice, have been published on renowned platforms and in literary journals, including Space City Underground, Ripple Lit, and the Paris Lit Up association.
When packing for long travels outside of home, a Moroccan tagine and a Moroccan teapot are the first items to go in my suitcase. And it has to be a clay tagine; it not only makes for a better cooking pot than the metallic ones, but it’s also an artifact made of Moroccan soil.
Cooking a chicken and vegetables tagine was the first Moroccan recipe I learned. Tagine is a slow-cooking and versatile pot; the clay distributes the heat perfectly, and the signature cone-shaped lid makes sure to condense the steam (a feature much appreciated in a land where historically access to water was scarce) and keeps a circle of well-distributed warmth—fair to say, a true culinary technological wonder.
The round shape further accentuates the reunion element of food culture in Morocco, how meals are meant to be shared and get around. The sharing part is crucial for the culinary experience as it introduces “Baraka” (blessing or divine grace) to the nutritions of the meal, which makes a 3-portion-sized tagine enough for double the people; this comes from a place of abundance in the Moroccan mindset, inspired by the Islamic belief that God is The Provider.
Making a tagine is a very meditative experience; that’s how I grew up watching my grandmas do it, slowly and with great attention to the details. There are so many recipes cooked in the tagine; it adapts to the seasonal vegetables and the budget of every household in Moroccan society. In the fast-paced world we live in, making a tagine is an opportunity to slow down, and as my grandmas taught me, always start with “Bismillah,” in the name of Allah, and then proceed with your recipe
The chicken and vegetable tagine is probably the least fascinating among the long list of recipes, but to me it’s a memory portal to the kitchen in my grandparents’ house. The cooking experience is also very grounding, full of colors and fragrances from the different colored vegetables and spices and the rich smell from the spices interacting with the rest of the ingredients; it really keeps you present.
The tagine is so magical to me that even when I’m not using it to cook, it’s perfect to serve my food.
Let this be an invitation: make your tagine, take your time with it, and share it with your friends and family. Thank me later
“The views presented here do not necessarily represent the views of the Foundation for Post Conflict Development. They serve as a people to people exchange of information based on values of respect and desire for cultural and diplomatic understanding without judgement. All points of view are welcome and are necessary to better understand the context of post conflict development. It is in this spirit that the FPCD created this Institute.”