La Tienda Terra Cotta Cazuela Dish (12.8 inch, 96 oz / 12 cup capacity)
A very versatile size cazuela -- you might use it to make a small paella, or similar rice dish. Cazuelas, terra cotta dishes, have been used in Spain for literally thousands of years. Our cazuelas are unique in that they are made by potters who follow a Roman formula that has been employed for centuries in this area of Spain.  Although terra cotta is nothing more complicated than moistened clay, low fired with an interior glaze so it can hold liquids, this particular technique that they follow involves including small pebbles in the mix which strengthens the bowl and increases its heat retention. La Tienda is the only source for this high quality cazuela in America.  The glaze on the cazuela is perfectly safe for all applications -- it contains no lead. We provide directions for a simple seasoning (essentially soaking in water for a few hours) which renders the cazuela good for stovetop, oven or microwave. When cooking with terra cotta, the key is to increase heat gradually.