Hamptons Lane is a monthly gourmet food subscription box. Each month you get to preview the theme, and you can opt out if it’s not for you.
Hamptons Lane sent us this box for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
FYI – if you are interested in this box, it is still available as of today if you sign up for a subscription.
The Subscription Box: Hamptons Lane
The Cost: $47 a month (with the option to skip any month).
The Products: Artisan food products centered around a new theme each month.
Ships to: US only, extra shipping costs for Alaska and Hawaii.
Keep track of your subscriptions: Add Hamptons Lane to your subscription list or wish list!
Check out our past reviews of Hamptons Lane or visit the Food Subscription Box Directory for more food boxes!
This month’s theme is Modern Moroccan, and Hamptons Lane has included a booklet to accompany the shipment. (Previously, they sent a brochure.) The booklet includes a detailed description of the items included in the box.
It also includes recipes and some general information about Moroccan cooking.
Handmade Ivory Ceramic Tagine by Le Souk Ceramique- $50
Tagines are commonly used in North African cooking. The conical, tapered lid allows for the constant return of condensation back to the dish, which helps produce moist, evenly cooked dishes. This tagine by Le Souk Ceramique was made Tunisia. It was hand-tossed on a ceramic wheel and finished with an ivory glaze.
Before using a tagine for the first time, it must be properly seasoned to ensure it doesn’t crack. Hamptons Lane included detailed seasoning instructions along with the tagine, to make sure subscribers could do this properly.
Moroccan Harissa from Villa Jerada (6 oz)- $12
Harissa is a North African kitchen staple. It’s a spicy condiment that’s used as a base for many different dishes. Villa Jerada’s Harissa is a blend of dried chili peppers, Moroccan olive oil, preserved lemons, and a blend of spices. It’s made in small batches with high-quality ingredients.
Ras el Hanout Spice Blend from RawSpiceBar (.4 oz)- $4
“Ras el Hanout is a North African spice mix that is translated in Arabic to mean ‘head of the shop,’ or the best spices the seller has to offer.” It’s a staple of Moroccan cooking, though there is no definitive recipe. RawSpiceBar’s blend contains coriander, rose petals, ginger, black peppercorns, cumin, orris root, turmeric, cinnamon, green cardamom, fennel seed, and star anise. To see other RawSpiceBar blends, check out my reviews of their spice subscription.
Israeli Couscous from Nuts.com (18 oz)- $5
Israeli Couscous is a pasta product made from semolina flour. It’s toasted, which gives it a nutty flavor and chewy texture. Hamptons Lane selected it for this box because it pairs very well with tagine meats and sauces, but it can also be used in Moroccan salads.
Modern Moroccan Meal
Every month, Hamptons Lane provides recipes to accompany their box. I’ve had a lot of luck with the Hamptons Lane recipes, and I always look forward to making them. For this month’s meal, I decided to make: Summery Chickpea Chicken Tagine with a side of Harissa Roasted Carrots & Cauliflower.
Dish #1- Summery Chickpea Chicken Tagine
I began by making the Chicken Tagine. I browned my chicken in the tagine base, and then set it aside while I cooked the onion and garlic. When the onion softened, I stirred in Harissa and Ras el Hanout. When the spices became fragrant, I stirred in chicken stock, chickpeas, and cranberries. (The recipe called for golden raisins, but, unfortunately, they weren’t listed on the ingredients list at the start of the recipe, so I didn’t put them on my shopping list. I substituted dried cranberries, since I had some in my cabinet.) I then covered the dish and cooked it over low heat for one hour.
It turned out beautifully and was delicious! The Harissa and Ras el Hanout spice mix complemented the dish beautifully, and my husband and I happily ate the whole thing. The only problem I had with this dish was that the recipe was too big for the tagine. I noticed that the base was a little full when I put on the lid to let it simmer, but I didn’t think much of it and walked away. When I checked on the dish after 20 or 30 minutes of simmering, I found that the cooking liquids had boiled over and covered my stovetop! The dish itself wasn’t affected, but cleanup was a pain.
Dish #2 Harissa Roasted Carrots & Cauliflower
To accompany the tagine, I made Harissa Roasted Carrots & Cauliflower. I preheated my oven to 400 and cleaned and trimmed my carrots and cauliflower. In a large mixing bowl, I tossed them with about ¼ cup of Harissa, a drizzle of olive oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper. I spread them on a baking sheet and roasted them for about 45 minutes, until they were softened. When they were done, I topped them with crumbled feta and some fresh mint.
This dish was a showstopper. (When I was trying to photograph it, my husband was leaning over my shoulder oohing, ahhing, and begging to dig in.) We both thought the flavor was great, and I appreciated the addition of feta and fresh mint. The feta provided a nice creamy tang, and the mint added a lovely freshness. Cauliflower isn’t always my favorite veggie, but I really liked it in this dish. I think I’ll be buying more Harissa to make it again soon.
Verdict: I look forward to Hamptons Lane every month, and I love that each box helps me create a unique dining experience. I had a couple of hiccups with their tagine recipe this month, but the problems were small and I was still able to create a successful meal. I really appreciate that boxes from Hamptons Lane include both food and tools, and I’m always really impressed with quality of the items they feature. This box has a value of $71, which is well over the $47 cost (fantastic for a food box). Hamptons Lane offers excellent curation and solid value for money, and I definitely recommend it for adventurous cooks and foodies!
What do you think of the Hamptons Lane Modern Moroccan box?
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