Take a look at any Indian restaurant, and you will see a large, drum-like tandoor oven. Here’s what you should know about this classic Indian cooking appliance.  

What is a Tandoor Oven?

Tandoor Design 

The oven is made from clay and shaped like a pot. It’s typically designed to be built into the ground. The clay can reach anywhere from 450-900 degrees, and its vertical design makes cooking unique. The tandoor cooks food using convection, smoking, and radiant heat. Foods are cooked very quickly and can look a bit charred on the outside. However, the inside is cooked evenly and to perfection. Even though the oven doesn't require any oil, the foods stay moist. Nowadays, your typical Indian restaurant uses a tandoor unit that uses charcoal or runs on gas and is made from clay and covered with stainless steel.  

Cooking Food

Indian restaurants use skewers to lower meat like lamb, chicken, and fish into the center of the oven. Firm seafood is used so that the skewers don’t rip apart the pieces. Breads like roti and naan are cooked while stuck to the side of the clay oven. The bread is able to stick to the side because the walls are made of clay. 

Classic Dishes

In an Indian restaurant, you can find chicken tikka masala. After cooking in a tandoor, chicken tikka is served in a creamy, tomato curry sauce. Lamb, chicken, shrimp and fish kabobs that are marinated in Indian spices are also cooked in this clay oven. Tandoori vegetables (Subji Tandoori) are also cooked in a Tandoor oven.  

For an authentic Indian restaurant experience, try Coromandel Cuisine of India in New Haven County, CT. The restaurant serves tandoori cooked dishes that the whole family can enjoy. View the menu online or call (203) 795-9055 to place a pickup or delivery order.