Last Updated on September 3, 2024 by teamobn
Tandoori cooking is a popular cooking method from India that has gained popularity around the world. Tandoori foods are typically cooked in a tandoor, a cylindrical clay oven that is used to produce high heat for cooking. Tandoori chicken is a popular tandoori dish that is often served with naan bread.
The tandoori cooking style is believed to have originated in the Caucus region, before spreading to Turkey, the Middle East, and finally South Asia. This cooking method allows for the food to be cooked quickly and evenly, resulting in juicy, flavourful dishes. Common tandoori items include chicken, lamb, and pieces of bread such as naan.
The secret to Tandoors is the very high temperatures achieved. Using charcoal or wood, burning inside the tandoor, temperatures can reach 450C (850F)! The food is directly exposed to the flames and heat resulting in simultaneous radiant heat cooking, hot-air, convection cooking and smoking from the oils, fats and food juices that drip down onto the charcoal.
This type of oven, powered by charcoal or wood, cooks food through radiant heat produced within the oven itself. If built properly, your tandoori oven can cook at 480 degrees Celsius or higher, making it an excellent choice for cooking meats and other dishes that require high temperatures.
What’s great about a tandoor oven is that you can maintain desired cooking temperature even when you have some strong wind blowing. This is perfect for those who want to cook outdoors, but don’t want to be at the mercy of the weather.
You can make a dolly for your tandoori oven out of a few simple materials, such as plywood and caster wheels. This will make it easier to move around when needed, and will also protect your oven from scratches and scuffs.
When it comes to DIY ovens, you have the option to buy smaller pots that are perfect for when you’re travelling by land. These ovens are mobile, like a grill, and conserve their heat and fire, making them perfect for cooking while on the go.
Contents
Building a Tandoor Oven
Materials
- 1 pc 15cm Flower Pot
- 2 pcs 30cm Flower Pot
- 1 pc 43cm Flower Pot
- 1 set of Pot Stands
- 1 bag of General Purpose Gravel
- Grill
- Marker/Tape
Tool
- Old All-purpose Saw
Instructions
Step 1: Gather Your Materials and Tools
First, ensure you have all the necessary materials and tools listed. Arrange your flower pots, pot stands, gravel, grill, marker or tape, and an old all-purpose saw in your workspace.
Step 2: Prepare the Largest Flower Pot
Take the 43cm flower pot, which will serve as the outer shell of your tandoor oven. Use the marker to draw a circle around the base of the pot, approximately 5cm from the edge. This marking is where you will later place gravel for insulation.
Step 3: Create Airflow and Drainage
Using the old all-purpose saw, carefully cut a small hole (around 5cm in diameter) in the side of the 43cm pot near the base. This hole will allow for airflow, which is crucial for maintaining the heat inside the tandoor.
Step 4: Layer the Gravel
Fill the bottom of the 43cm flower pot with a layer of general-purpose gravel. The gravel should cover the entire base up to the line you marked earlier. This layer will help in insulation and drainage.
Step 5: Position the Medium Flower Pots
Place one of the 30cm flower pots inside the larger pot, centered over the gravel. This pot will act as the primary cooking chamber of your tandoor. Ensure it is stable and level.
Step 6: Add Insulation Between Pots
Fill the space between the 43cm and 30cm pots with more gravel. This not only adds further insulation but also stabilizes the inner pot. Fill up to just below the rim of the inner pot.
Step 7: Prepare the Smallest Flower Pot
Take the 15cm flower pot, and cut a larger hole at the base. This will be placed upside down in the 30cm pot and serves to concentrate the heat at the top of the tandoor, where you’ll be cooking.
Step 8: Assemble the Internal Structure
Place the smallest flower pot upside down inside the medium pot. Adjust it so that it sits centrally and forms a smooth internal cooking surface together with the walls of the 30cm pot.
Step 9: Set Up the Grill
Place the grill on top of the 30cm pot. This will be your cooking surface for skewered meats, vegetables, or bread like naan. Make sure it is secure and provides sufficient space for placing and removing food.
Step 10: Final Setup and Safety Check
Position your tandoor oven on the pot stands to ensure it is not in direct contact with any flammable surfaces. Double-check that the structure is stable and that there are no loose parts.
Step 11: Initial Heating
Before using the tandoor for cooking, it’s advisable to slowly heat it with a small amount of charcoal to condition the pots. This helps in avoiding any cracking due to sudden changes in temperature.
Step 12: Start Cooking
Once your tandoor is heated and ready, you can begin cooking. Enjoy making traditional tandoori dishes with a genuine taste and flavor.
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You can get more step-by-step instructions here. You can also check out this video for a visual guide.
Footnote – member Philip Searle made his tandoor the day we first posted this. He reports:
Here are a couple of pics of his results. Hungry?
Safety Tips for Handling High Temperatures
Although using a tandoor oven offers a distinctive and delicious method of cooking, the high temperatures involved call for careful handling. These ovens can run up to 480 degrees Celsius (900 degrees Fahrenheit), thus safety becomes quite important. These basic safety guidelines will help you to make sure your tandoor oven experience is both safe and fun.
Use Proper Protective Gear
Always wear high-temperature resistant protective gear when running a tandoor oven. This covers safety goggles, long sleeves and thick gloves. While long sleeves can prevent arm burns and goggles will shield your eyes from any possible sparks or debris, the gloves will help protect your hands when handling the hot cookware or adding coal.
Keep a Safe Distance
Keep a safe distance from the tandoor oven throughout operation. Anyone standing too close runs a danger from the oven’s very heated outside. Children and pets should be kept away from the tandoor oven’s operational area to prevent inadvertent contact.
Secure the Oven Properly
Make sure your tandoor oven sits firmly on a sturdy, heat-resistant surface. The oven should not tilt over or wobble since this could let hot contents spill or damage the oven itself. Especially if the oven is portable and moved often, routinely check its stability.
Monitor Temperature Carefully
Track the temperature within your tandoor oven with a dependable thermometer. Knowing your internal temperature will enable you to control the cooking process more precisely and safely, so preventing overheating and lowering the risk of accidental burns upon oven opening or closing.
Maintenance and Care of Your DIY Tandoor
Ensuring the lifetime and performance of your DIY tandoor oven depends on its maintenance and care. Apart from ensuring the oven’s continued operation, regular maintenance protects against possible hazards related to degradation brought on by strong heat exposure. Here’s how to keep your tandoor oven in perfect shape with good maintenance schedules.
Regular Cleaning
You really should keep your tandoor oven spotless. Remove any food waste or ash once the oven has cooled entirely following every use. To get any stuck-on food particles off of the inside surfaces, gently brush them. Steer clear of using water or cleaning agents inside the oven since moisture might ruin the clay or other materials used in the building of your hand-made tandoor oven.
Inspect for Cracks
Regularly inspect your tandoor oven for any signs of cracks or damage. The intense heat generated within the tandoor can cause materials to expand and contract, potentially leading to cracks over time. If you find small cracks, monitor them closely to ensure they do not expand. For larger cracks, consider repairing or reinforcing the affected area to maintain the structural integrity of the oven.
Proper Storage
Store your tandoor oven dry, covered to guard it from the elements when not in use. Over time, rain, snow, or constant sunlight can cause materials to degrade. If it is not possible to move the oven indoors, think about covering it from weather-related damage using a waterproof cover.
Heat Conditioning
Especially if your tandoor oven has been idle for a long time, it is advisable to progressively reheat it to prevent thermal shock. Starting a small, low-heat fire, gradually raise it to the cooking temperature. This procedure helps the materials to be conditioned, so lowering their risk of cracking from abrupt temperature variations.
Following these maintenance and care guidelines will help you to prolong the life of your homemade tandoor oven and enable many cooking sessions with this unusual cooking utensacle. Regular maintenance guarantees that the oven stays safe to use and keeps creating wonderful tandoori cuisine with the real tastes you enjoy.
Conclusion
Making your tandoor oven will change your outdoor cooking experience and provide a special approach to cook a range of tandoori cuisine. Your hand-made tandoor oven will provide delicious tastes for years to come with careful assembly and correct maintenance. Enter the realm of tandoori cooking and savor the rich, smoky flavors it offers to your cuisine.
