Tandoori oven cooking is a cooking method similar to grilling. Marinated meat is threaded onto long skewers and cooked over a hot fire in a tandoor, or clay oven. The walls of the oven reflect the heat, keeping the temperature extremely hot and smoky.
The Tandoor
The tandoor is a deep clay oven, usually buried or enclosed to insulate it and intensify the heat. A charcoal fire is built in the bottom of the oven, creating a very hot cooking environment. Skewered food cooks very quickly, creating a crispy exterior and sealing in the juices and flavors. The tandoor imparts a unique flavor and texture to the foods that cannot be duplicated without a tandoor oven. Tandoori recipes can be prepared on a gas or charcoal grill with good results, but the flavors will not be the same.
Clay Pots
Clay pots are available in a variety of sizes to be used for tandoori cooking at home. The clay must be soaked in cold water for at least a half hour before the first use, and for at least 15 minutes before subsequent uses. The pot should be placed in a cold oven to heat it slowly. Placing the clay into a preheated oven can cause it to crack or break.
Clay pots are popular in Mexico and parts of Central America. The clay absorbs the flavors like a tandoor oven, but it is impossible to duplicate the intense dry heat of a tandoor in this way.
Preparing the Food
Meat for cooking in a tandoori is marinated overnight in a mixture of yogurt and spices. The yogurt tenderizes the meat and the spices flavor the food. Typical spices used include ginger, garlic, curry powder, chili powder, and saffron.
The meat is then threaded onto long metal skewers or pre-soaked wood skewers. Place the skewer into the tandoor oven, resting one tip on the bottom of the oven and the other against the side of the oven. The meat will cook very quickly. You can also grill the meat over medium heat. Turn the skewers occasionally and baste with leftover marinade. When the meat is done, turn the heat up briefly to crisp the outside. If desired, lightly baste the cooked meat with a mixture of melted butter and lime juice to compliment the flavors.
Tags: tandoor oven, bottom oven, clay oven, Clay pots, onto long, threaded onto
