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 this outdoor cooker 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.
You’ll need these 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
And this tool:
- Old All-purpose Saw
Click on any image to start the lightbox display. Use your Esc key to close the lightbox. You can also view the images as a slideshow if you prefer
This video will be a great help when you start making your own tandoor!
Now that you know how to make your own tandoori oven, you can start gathering the needed materials and be ready to cook some delicious Indian food! This cooking style is a great way to add flavour and spice to your meals, and with your own DIY oven, you’ll be able to cook like a pro! So what are you waiting for? Start gathering your materials and get cooking!
Thanks to Nick Collins for this great project. You can get step-by-step instructions here…
Footnote – member Philip Searle made his tandoor the day we first posted this. He reports:
“I have used this a lot and I LOVE cooking this way, you get the best flavour! It does take some getting used to however. Tonight I cooked Cajun chicken drumsticks, turned out great. Thanks for the tips.”
Here are a couple of pics of his results. Hungry?
We’re trying to get Philip to write a post for us on his making and cooking experiences 🙂