Tandoori Cooking

Tandoori is a cooking method by which food is cooked in a clay oven over charcoal. It is named after the oven it was traditionally cooked in, which is called a tandoor. Meat is marinated in yogurt and spices, while breads like naan and roti are often pressed against the side wall of the tandoor. The combination of the marinade, the charcoal, and the incredibly high heat gives tandoori food its characteristic flavor. While at restaurants breads are still usually cooked on the sides of a tandoor, meats are generally prepared on a grill instead of by the traditional methods.

Fast Facts

1. Origin: Punjab region in India
2. Tandoor: cylindrical clay oven

Tandoor

A tandoor looks like an urn, at least three feet tall, with a narrow opening at the top. It is made of clay. The bottom is filled with hot charcoal. The lid at the top traps the high heat within the oven. Tandoors are expensive and difficult to maintain, and in many Punjabi villages, the entire town will share one tandoor.

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