The roots of the tandoor can be traced back over 5,000 years to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, one of the oldest known civilizations. The standard heating element of a tandoor is an internal charcoal or wood fire, which cooks food with direct heat and smoke. Tandoors can be fully above ground, or partially buried below ground, often reaching over a meter in height/depth. Temperatures in a tandoor can reach 480 °C (900 °F; 750 K), and they are routinely kept lit for extended periods. Therefore, traditional tandoors are usually found in restaurant kitchens. Modern tandoors are often made of metal. Variations, such as tandoors with gas or electric heating elements, are more common for at-home use.
The English word comes from the Hindustanitandūr, which came from Persian tanūr (تَنور) and ultimately from the Akkadian word tinūru (𒋾𒂟), which consists of the parts tin'mud' and nuro/nura'fire' and is mentioned as early as in the Akkadian Epic of Gilgamesh, cf. or Avestantanûra and Middle Persiantanûr. In Sanskrit, the tandoor was referred to as kandu.[1][2]
Charcoal-fired stainless-steel tandoor, with ash tray and thermometer
The first time a tandoor is used, the temperature must be gradually increased to condition the oven's interior. This step is crucial in ensuring the longevity of the tandoor. Conditioning can be done by starting a very small fire and slowly adding fuel to increase the amount of heat inside the tandoor gradually.
Hairline cracks might form during conditioning; this is normal and will not interfere with the performance of the tandoor oven. When the oven cools off, the hairline cracks will barely be noticeable. They are essential in allowing the clay body of the tandoor to breathe (thermal expansion and contraction).
The slower the temperature inside the tandoor increases during its first use, the fewer hairline cracks will develop.[3]
The Afghan tandoor sits above the ground and is made of bricks.[citation needed]
Punjabi tandoor
A Pakistani Tandoor
The Punjabi tandoor from South Asia is traditionally made of clay and is a bell-shaped oven, which can either be set into the earth or rest above the ground and is fired with wood or charcoal, reaching temperatures of about 480 °C (900 °F; 750 K).[4] Tandoor cooking is a traditional aspect of Punjabi cuisine in undivided Punjab.[5]
In India and Pakistan, tandoori cooking was traditionally associated with the Punjab,[6] as Punjabis embraced the tandoor on a regional level,[7] and became popular in the mainstream after the 1947 partition when Punjabi Sikhs and Hindus resettled in places such as Delhi.[8] In rural Punjab, it was common to have communal tandoors.[5]
Some villages[9] still have a communal tandoor, a common sight before 1947.[10]
Armenian tonir
In ancient times, the tonir was worshiped by the Armenians as a symbol of the sun in the ground. Armenians made tonirs resembling the setting sun "going into the ground" (the Sun being the main deity). The underground tonir, made of clay, is one of the first tools in Armenian cuisine as an oven and thermal treatment tool. Armenians are said to have originated underground tonirs.[11][unreliable source?]
Azerbaijani tandir
Azerbaijani tendir
In ancient times, people used it to cook bread and various dishes.[12]
Tandir bread (təndir çörəyi, tandoori bread) is a widespread bread type in Azerbaijan. Tandir bread is baked from the heat of the tandir's walls, which ensures very fast baking.[13][14]
One of the world's biggest tandoors was built in Azerbaijan's southern city of Astara in 2015. The height of the tandoor is 6.5 m (21 feet) and the diameter is 12 m (39 feet). The tandoor consists of 3 parts.[15]
Turkmen tamdyr
Baking çörek and somsa in the Turkmen tamdyr
The baking of a traditional, white bread called çörek in Turkmen is an ancient and honored culinary ritual in Turkmenistan. It is made in the traditional clay oven, known as tamdyr in Turkmenistan.[16]
Baking çorek in a Turkmen tamdyr
Most Turkmen families living in the rural area have tamdyrs in their households. Occasionally, housewives get together and bake çörek for several families. One of the most famous kinds of çörek baked in the Turkmen tamdyr is etli çörek (bread with meat), made during traditional holidays. Turkmens bake not only bread in the tamdyr but also several dishes, the most famous of which is somsa (an independent dish, similar to a pie, of any shape with a filling, usually beef).
Various spices can be added to the Turkmen bread: cumin, cinnamon, olives, mustard, sunflower seeds and other flavoring ingredients.[17] To prepare tamdyr for baking; first, fire is made directly inside the tamdyr, usually using dried cotton stalks. The bread-maker then watches the color of the tamdyr's inner walls. When they turn white, the ashes are shoveled into the center of the tamdyr, and the lower ash-pit is closed.[16]
The bread must be thrown into the oven carefully but deftly so that it does not lose shape and neatly sticks to the wall.[17]
Dishes
Yemeni modern tandoor (tannour) used for making flatbread known as MulawahChicken khorovats, onions and potato slices with pork fat in between roasted in tonir in Armenia.
Peshawari Khar are roasted cashews and cottage cheese paste marinated in spiced thick cream grilled in a tandoor.
Balochs and aloos are potatoes stuffed with cottage cheese, vegetables, and cashew nuts, roasted in a tandoor.
Tandoori chicken is a roasted chicken delicacy that originated in Punjab region of South Asia.[18][19] The chicken is marinated in yogurt seasoned with garam masala, garlic, ginger, cumin, cayenne pepper, and other spices depending on the recipe. In hot versions of the dish, cayenne, red chili powder, or other spices give the typical red color; in milder versions, food coloring is used.[20]Turmeric produces a yellow-orange color. It is traditionally cooked at high temperatures in a tandoor but can also be prepared on a traditional grill.
Chicken tikka is a dish from Mughlai cuisine that originated in Punjab region. It is made by grilling small pieces of boneless chicken which have been marinated in spices and yogurt. It is traditionally cooked on skewers in a tandoor and is usually boneless. It is normally served and eaten with a green corianderchutney or used in preparing the curry chicken tikka masala.
Tangdi kabab, a popular snack in cuisine from the Indian subcontinent, is made by marinating chicken drumsticks and placing them in a tandoor. Various freshly ground spices are added to the yogurt to form a marinade for the chicken. Traditionally, the marinaded chicken is given 12 hours at the least. When prepared, the drumsticks are usually garnished with mint leaves and served with laccha (finely sliced half moons, with a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of salt) onions.
Samosa is a stuffed snack consisting of a fried or baked triangular, semilunar, or tetrahedral pastry shell with a savory filling, which may include spiced potatoes, onions, peas, coriander, and lentils, or ground lamb or chicken. The size and shape of a samosa and the consistency of the pastry used can vary considerably. In some regions of Central Asia (i.e., Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan), samosas are typically baked in a tandoor, while they are usually fried elsewhere.
Certification
To operate a commercial tandoor with safety, it is critical to verify that the equipment satisfies the necessary safety and quality standards. Several certifications are important in ensuring the dependability and compliance of commercial tandoors.[21]NSF (National Sanitation Foundation), ETL (Electrical Testing Laboratories), and CSA (Canadian Standards Association) are three notable certifications in this area. Incorporating these certifications not only shows a dedication to quality and safety but also assists operators in avoiding any legal and regulatory concerns. The CSA Group warns of tandoors sold with unauthorized CSA certification marks,[22] since counterfeit ovens illicitly available on the North American market pose a risk of explosion.[23]
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