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Rustic Roman Terra Cotta Cazuela - 11.5 Inches
$29
- Handmade by skilled artisans
- Traditional Roman design
- Useful handles
- Lead-free, food safe
- Size - 112 oz - 14 cups
This is a traditional bowl of unparalleled quality designed for cooking and serving. The terra cotta vessel is classically proportioned with handles applied by hand.
You will find this extraordinary cazuela to be your best friend when you are cooking in the kitchen, trying to serve things at their peak when they are hot.
These unique cazuelas are made following the classical tradition of “refractory” clay: the potters blend tiny heat retaining pebbles into the terra cotta clay. When you bring to the table your piping hot casserole, stew or cocido, it stays hot for an amazing period of time! And when you serve your ice cold gazpacho or fresh fruit compote, it will stay chilled too.
It is made from the same source of clay from the foothills of the Pyrenees as has been used since Roman times! Villages throughout Spain have used this kind of cazuela from time immemorial. But it is more than romance – this is a beautiful and functional work horse.
No need to worry about the glaze on the cazuelas; it contains no lead and is perfectly safe for all applications.
Use and Care
To clean, soak in sudsy water and scrub with a soft brush to remove any hardened food.
This sturdy clay cookware is safe to use in the oven or on the stovetop. Before cooking with your cazuela, you will need to cure it using the directions below. If it has not been used for cooking for an extended period of time, it should be cured again prior to use.
Avoid intense heat such as flame applied directly to the dish. A flame tamer or other type of buffer is necessary. Introduce heat in a gradual process whenever possible rather than placing it in the target heat level.
If the cazuela is properly cured it should be able to handle temperatures up to 500°F, such as in a pizza oven, provided it is heated gradually.
Standard curing method - Soak the entire dish in water to cover for 12 hours. Drain and wipe dry. Rub the unglazed bottom with a cut clove of garlic (we are not sure how the garlic works, but why argue with tradition?) Fill the dish with water to 1/2 inch below the rim, then add 1/2 cup of vinegar. Place the dish on a flame-tamer over low heat and slowly bring the water to a boil (no flame tamer? Crumple a sheet of aluminum foil and create a ring that you place over your burner to create about an inch of space between the heat and the cazuela). Let the liquid boil down until only about 1/2 cup remains. Cool slowly and wash. Your cazuela is ready for use - the garlic has created a seal. This technique has been used since the Middle Ages. It seasons the pot, kills bacteria and hardens the unglazed parts.
Alternate curing method - Especially if you intend to use the cazuela to cook strongly flavored fish or seafood. After soaking, rub the inside of the base with olive oil and put into a preheated 300°F oven for 1 1/2 hours. Turn off the heat and let cool.
A health note: No need to worry about the glaze on the cazuelas; it contains no lead and is perfectly safe for all applications. Ours is the only potter in Spain that uses photo-atomic analysis to assure that the products are cadmium-free and lead-free. The FDA requirement for a product being “lead-free” is one part per million (PPM). Our cazuelas have less than three hundredths (03) parts per million (PPM).
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Customer Reviews
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"Fantastic pot AND serving dish, all in one! The service and the packaging were fabulous as well . . . it shows that La Tienda cares for their products AND their customers!"
Patrizia - Davidsonville, MD May 2023
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"Great product. Large enough for a whole chicken and vegetables "
Debbie - Delray Beach , FL June 2022
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"Loved the cooking."
Frank - Myrtle Beach, SC October 2021
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ROBERT - ALEDO, TX February 2013
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Sabrina - Terrebonne, Quebec January 2013
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"Gorgeous bowl,bigger than I expected but I can use it for casserole, fruit, bread. Beautiful shape, very pleased with purchase"
Peggy - Edmonton, Alberta August 2012