Is A Tandoor A Clay Oven?
We all have heard about clay oven and we also know that tandoors are made of clay. Different types of clay are used in building one tandoor like red clay, black clay, and yellow clay but the variety of clay might differ depending on the regions a tandoor is being manufactured at.
Now since we are on this subject and know what kind of clay is used in the manufacturing of the product, then why don’t we learn to build a tandoor from scratch which will eventually be beneficial to all the people out there who are indulged in this business.
Benefits you get using a clay tandoor
- Clay helps to add flavor to the food being cooked in the tandoor.
- A clay quickly gets heated up and retains heat for a longer period of time
- A clay can also be seasoned to enhance the quality of the material cooked in it.
- It helps to cook more breads before you need to reheat it
- Clay tandoors are light in weight as compared to other cooking equipment
- It efficiently cooks bread evenly from the back too.
How do you cure an oven?
You might be wondering what does the title mean and what is the use of it. But let me tell you that this is one of the major steps a person should follow and keep in mind before they buy a tandoor as it may also be like the tandoor has already been cured.
So curing a clay tandoor means to prepare the oven portion before you start to use it and we do this so that your oven has an extended life. And it is recommended that you should repeat the same steps which will be mentioned below every 2 to 3 months to have a sustainable and reliable tandoor.
Ingredients to be used:
- 1.5 liters mustard oil
- 1 kg jaggery
- 1 kg spinach
- 10 tsp of salt
- Turmeric powder
Steps to be followed:
- Grind all the ingredients together in a bowl until and unless it takes a liquid texture so that all of these are mixed well.
- Take a cloth, dip it in the mixture and rub it on the clay portion of the tandoor.
- Let the tandoor soak in the mixture, this will take about 30 minutes.
- Continue to repeat step number 2 and step number 3 for 2 to 3 times.
- As your next step, light up the tandoor on low heat for 4 hours.
- And then switch it to medium heat for 4 hours.
- After you are done with all the steps, leave it to cool down for hours.
- When the tandoor is warm, clean the insides with the help of a moist cloth.
- And you are done with all the steps, now your tandoor is all cured up.
What happens when you cure a tandoor?
- When you cure a tandoor, the raw dough does not fall off the clay wall and when your naan is prepared it comes off very easily.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why should a clay tandoor be seasoned?
It is important to season a clay tandoor so that it adds flavor to the breads cooked in it and also other food that is prepared in it.
- What is tandoori seasoning made of?
It’s a mix of flavors like coriander, cumin, garlic powder, ginger, cloves,fenugreek, cinnamon, black pepper,
cardamom and nutmeg.
- What is the need to cure a tandoor?
The need to cure a tandoor is to prepare it for its first use.
- Can a clay tandoor be made at home?
Yes you can definitely make a tandoor at home, for instance check our other blogs and you will find the answer to your question.
- Is cooking in tandoor food for health?
Definitely cooking in tandoor is good for health as it retains all the nutrients and minerals and also uses less oil or no oil at all in its preparation.