How can I use a tandoor oven or clay oven?

The Complete Guide to Using a Tandoori Clay Oven

Cooking in a tandoori clay oven offers a unique and flavorful experience. This traditional method involves preparing food inside a clay oven that uses charcoal, gas, or electricity to generate intense heat. The oven’s high temperatures create a distinctive smoky taste and give dishes their iconic charred texture. Whether you’re using a tandoori clay oven in a restaurant or at home, you can create a variety of delicious dishes, from meats and breads to vegetables. Let’s explore how you can use a tandoori clay oven to make mouthwatering meals, the types of foods you can cook, and some simple tips to help you get the best results.

What is a Tandoori Clay Oven?

A tandoori clay oven is a traditional cylindrical oven made from clay, used for cooking various foods. The oven heats up to extremely high temperatures, usually between 480°F (250°C) and 900°F (480°C), allowing food to cook quickly and evenly. The clay material of the oven holds the heat, while the shape directs the heat upward, creating an intense cooking environment.

The cooking process in a tandoori clay oven involves placing the food inside the oven, where it gets exposed to high heat. This method allows the food to cook from all sides, which gives it that well-known tandoori flavor and crispy texture.

Cooking Techniques in a Tandoori Clay Oven

Using a tandoori clay oven requires some simple steps. You can cook food over open flames or slap bread dough onto the oven’s hot walls. Here’s a breakdown of some popular techniques for cooking with a tandoori clay oven:

1. Skewering and Grilling: This is one of the most common ways to cook meat and vegetables. Pieces of marinated chicken, lamb, beef, or seafood get placed on metal skewers, then lowered into the oven. The heat from the clay oven cooks the meat evenly, giving it a smoky flavor and crispy texture.
2. Baking Bread: Breads like naan, roti, and parathas are slapped onto the inside walls of the oven. The dough sticks to the clay surface, and the high heat quickly bakes the bread. The bread gets that perfect balance of a fluffy interior and crispy exterior.
3. Roasting: You can also roast whole pieces of meat, such as a leg of lamb or a whole chicken. The intense heat cooks the meat evenly, making it tender and juicy on the inside while giving it a delicious charred crust.
4. Cooking Directly on the Walls: For certain dishes, like naan bread, you place the dough directly on the oven’s walls, letting the clay’s heat cook it quickly and give it a distinctive charred flavor.
5. Smoking Foods: Adding wood chips or charcoal inside the tandoori clay oven helps infuse the food with a smoky aroma, which enhances the overall flavor of dishes.

What Can You Cook in a Tandoori Clay Oven?

You can cook almost any food in a tandoori clay oven. It’s a versatile cooking method that brings out the natural flavors of meats, seafood, breads, and vegetables. Below are some of the most popular dishes you can make.

Meats and Kebabs

The tandoori clay oven is famous for cooking meat dishes. The high heat seals in the juices while creating a smoky, flavorful crust. Here are some classic meat dishes you can prepare:

• Chicken Tikka: Small chunks of chicken marinated in yogurt and spices, skewered, and cooked in the oven until tender and slightly charred.
• Tandoori Chicken: Whole chicken or chicken pieces marinated in a mix of yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, and spices. The oven’s high heat gives the chicken a crispy skin and juicy inside.
• Lamb Kebabs: Marinated cubes of lamb, beef, or pork cooked on skewers. You can serve these kebabs with mint chutney, fresh onions, and lime wedges for an authentic taste.
• Seekh Kebabs: Minced meat (usually lamb or beef) mixed with spices, shaped around skewers, and cooked until juicy and flavorful.
• Fish Tikka: Fish filets marinated in herbs and spices, skewered, and cooked until the edges are crispy.

Bread

Baking bread in a tandoori clay oven gives it a special texture and flavor. The high temperatures help create a crispy exterior while keeping the inside soft and fluffy. Here are some types of bread you can make:

• Naan: A popular Indian flatbread, naan is made from leavened dough and cooked on the walls of the oven. It’s often brushed with butter or garlic after cooking for extra flavor.
• Tandoori Roti: This unleavened whole wheat bread is cooked directly on the clay walls of the oven, resulting in a rustic and smoky flavor.
• Paratha: Layered flatbread that can be plain or stuffed with potatoes, onions, or paneer. The paratha gets a crispy texture and rich taste when cooked in a tandoori clay oven.
• Stuffed Naan: Variations like onion naan, keema naan (stuffed with minced meat), and paneer naan add extra flavor by incorporating fillings inside the bread.
• Lachha Paratha: A flaky, layered bread that becomes crispy when cooked in the oven.

Vegetables and Paneer

The tandoori clay oven isn’t just for meat and bread. It also works well for vegetables, giving them a smoky and charred taste. Here are some vegetarian options:

• Paneer Tikka: Cubes of paneer (Indian cottage cheese) marinated in yogurt and spices, then cooked on skewers until they develop a charred outer layer.
• Grilled Vegetables: Bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, and even soya chunks can be cooked in the oven. The intense heat brings out the natural sweetness of the vegetables.
• Stuffed Vegetables: You can stuff vegetables like bell peppers and tomatoes with spiced mixtures and cook them in the oven for a flavorful side dish.

Why Use a Tandoori Clay Oven?

Cooking in a tandoori clay oven has many benefits. It’s not just about the smoky flavor; the method itself offers various advantages:

1. High Heat Cooking: The oven reaches very high temperatures, which means food cooks quickly. This helps seal in the juices and flavors.
2. Healthier Cooking: When using the tandoori clay oven, you don’t need much oil or fat. The high heat does most of the work, which makes it a great option for those looking to cut calories.
3. Authentic Flavor: The clay walls of the oven add a unique earthy taste to the food that other cooking methods can’t replicate.
4. Versatility: You can cook almost anything in a tandoori clay oven. From meat and fish to bread and vegetables, the oven accommodates a wide range of dishes.
5. Natural Ingredients: The cooking process often involves simple marinades of yogurt, herbs, and spices, which enhance the natural flavors of the ingredients.

Tips for Cooking in a Tandoori Clay Oven

If you’re new to cooking with a tandoori clay oven, here are some helpful tips to get the best results:

1. Preheat the Oven: Always preheat your oven for at least 30-45 minutes before you start cooking. This ensures that the oven reaches the right temperature, allowing the food to cook evenly.
2. Use Metal Skewers: Metal skewers are ideal for cooking meat and vegetables because they conduct heat and help cook the food from the inside as well as the outside.
3. Marinate Your Food: Marinating meats and vegetables for several hours (or overnight) enhances their flavor. Use yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, and spices for the best results.
4. Cook in Batches: Don’t overcrowd the oven. Leave enough space between the skewers for the heat to circulate properly.
5. Check Your Food Regularly: Keep an eye on your food as it cooks. The high temperatures can cook food very quickly, so check frequently to avoid burning.

Maintaining Your Tandoori Clay Oven

Proper care of your tandoori clay oven will keep it in good shape for years. Here’s how to maintain it:

1. Clean the Oven Regularly: Remove any ash or food debris after each use. This helps keep the oven functioning properly and prevents the buildup of residue.
2. Repair Cracks: Over time, the clay may develop small cracks due to the high heat. You can fix these by using a clay or mud mixture to fill the cracks.
3. Protect the Oven from Moisture: Keep the oven covered when not in use to prevent moisture from damaging the clay.
4. Check Fuel Supply: If you’re using a charcoal or gas oven, make sure you have enough fuel before you start cooking.

Using a Tandoori Clay Oven for Healthier Meals

One of the best things about a tandoori clay oven is that it allows you to cook with less oil. Because the high heat cooks food quickly, you don’t need to add much fat to achieve tender and flavorful results.

For example, chicken tikka cooked in a tandoori clay oven requires very little oil or ghee. The yogurt marinade keeps the chicken moist, and the oven’s intense heat does the rest. This makes tandoori cooking a good option for people who want to reduce their calorie intake.

You can also cook vegetables without adding much oil. The natural sweetness of grilled bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes shines through when cooked in a tandoori clay oven, making for a healthier, tasty meal.

Bringing the Tandoori Clay Oven Experience Home

While tandoori clay ovens are a staple in Indian and Middle Eastern restaurants, you don’t have to visit a restaurant to enjoy tandoori dishes. With smaller, portable models now available, you can bring the tandoori clay oven experience to your backyard. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Choose the Right Oven: Look for a model that fits your space and cooking needs. If you plan to use it regularly, invest in a durable oven that can handle high heat over time.
2. Get the Right Accessories: Purchase metal skewers, heat-resistant gloves, and a good set of tongs to help you handle the food and work safely around the oven.
3. Try Different Recipes: Don’t limit yourself to just chicken tikka or naan. Experiment with different marinades, breads, and vegetarian dishes to fully enjoy what your tandoori clay oven can do.
4. Enjoy Outdoor Cooking: Cooking with a tandoori clay oven in your backyard can be a fun activity for gatherings. It’s not only about the food but also about the experience of cooking outdoors.

Popular Dishes to Try in a Tandoori Clay Oven

If you’re wondering where to start, here are some popular dishes that you can easily prepare in a tandoori clay oven:

1. Butter Chicken: Although butter chicken is usually finished in a pan, the chicken itself is first cooked in a tandoori clay oven. Marinate the chicken pieces in yogurt and spices, then cook them until slightly charred.
2. Lamb Seekh Kebabs: Made from minced lamb mixed with spices, these kebabs are shaped around metal skewers and cooked until they are juicy and flavorful.
3. Garlic Naan: A classic side dish, garlic naan is easy to make in a tandoori clay oven. Just brush the dough with garlic butter before slapping it onto the oven walls.
4. Malai Paneer Tikka: Marinate paneer cubes in a creamy mixture of yogurt, cream, and spices, then cook them in the oven until they get a nice char.
5. Vegetable Skewers: Make a healthy snack by grilling a mix of bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and mushrooms.

Why a Tandoori Clay Oven is Different from Other Ovens

Unlike regular ovens, the tandoori clay oven is made from clay, which gives it a unique ability to reach and maintain very high temperatures. The shape of the oven directs the heat upward, creating a cooking environment that’s hard to replicate with other methods. The result is a smoky flavor and crispy texture that you can’t get from a regular oven or grill.

The tandoori clay oven cooks food quickly, sealing in moisture and flavors. The thick clay walls hold the heat, while the open top allows some of the smoke to escape, infusing the food with a rich, earthy taste. This combination of high heat and clay cooking makes the tandoori clay oven a truly special tool for anyone who loves authentic, flavorful dishes.

Conclusion

Cooking in a tandoori clay oven is an experience that brings out the best in every dish. From meats and bread to vegetables and cheese, the oven’s intense heat and clay walls add a special touch that makes tandoori dishes stand out. With a bit of practice, you can master the art of cooking with a tandoori clay oven and enjoy restaurant-quality meals at home.

Try different techniques, experiment with new recipes, and bring the rich flavors of tandoori cooking into your kitchen or backyard. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll discover that the tandoori clay oven is more than just a cooking tool—it’s a way to explore a world of bold flavors and time-honored traditions.

About Tandoor Morni

Tandoor Morni, in business since 1992, is a trusted name in premium Tandoori Clay Ovens, known for crafting high-quality traditional and commercial tandoors. With a commitment to excellence, Tandoor Morni offers a wide range of tandoors, including commercial, residential, catering, and copper models. Our tandoors are built with durable materials and designed for efficient heat distribution, ensuring authentic flavors and fast cooking. Each oven features customizable options like gas, wood fire, or charcoal compatibility, making them suitable for various cooking needs. For more information or to place an order, contact us at Phone Number: +1(727) 251 6924 or email us at info@tandoormorni.com. Visit our website at www.tandoormorni.com to explore our full range of products.