Many breads and dishes in traditional North Indian cuisine were created expressly for the tandoor oven. Tandoori oven chops, chicken tikka, tandoori chicken, seekh kabab, tandoori prawns, reshmi kabab, and many other meals; paratha, naan, kulcha, roti, and other fascinating breads. In modern times, however, only a select few can afford to have their own tandoor in the home. In this post, we’ll look at the various tandoori cooking techniques.
The Flavor of Tandoori Cuisine Without the Effort
The distinctive smokiness of tandoori food is due to the construction of the clay oven. Tandoors (which resemble pot-belly stoves) get their heat from a bed of lit embers at the bottom of the oven. The smoke produced by the tandoor when the juices from the food inside trickle down onto the hot coals below is what gives the food its distinctive flavor.
Finding an alternative to a tandoor is challenging, but we do have some choices. Using a grill that permits fat and liquids to drop directly onto the heat source is key to making delicious barbecue. In terms of flavor, this technique is very close to that achieved in a tandoor.
Tandoori cuisine can also be prepared in a conventional oven. Both the oven and the tandoor are enclosed spaces that trap heat, but the oven does not create the distinctive smokey flavor of authentic tandoori cooking. If you’re craving tandoori breads like naan, roti, kulcha, etc. but don’t have access to a tandoor, this is the next best thing.
Lamb chops and chicken tikka can be prepared on the grill, despite the fact that this method of cooking is diametrically opposed to tandoori. Grilling is done using items that are hung above the food. Nonetheless, delicious meals are still possible. When you need something cooked quickly (and the barbeque isn’t an option), the grill comes in handy.
Conclusion
When you want to prepare North Indian food, a coal-fueled grill is the best alternative to a tandoor. However, tandoors are now much simpler to get in the West, so if tandoori-style food is a regular feature on your menu, it may be well worth the expense.
