Topic: Trials and Tribulations of a Steel Tandoor

[Naga]

Will be getting my Tandoor up and running sometime this week too...

That's a big 'un you've got there, UF!

[Micky Tikka]

Welcome to the gang Gav 
Chicken malai is one of my favourites
Your soon get the hang of it
Tandoori cooking is another level and a new learning curve for me and if you think about it thats why restaurants employ a tandoori chef
I love my tandoor more than my wife and kids 

[Sverige]

Looks good Gav, let us know when you come up with the perfect formula for operating it. Bound to help someone out

[Gav Iscon]

Perhaps charcoal would introduce new flavours but I doubt it with a gas-fired tandoor.

Charcoal doesn't give any flavour. Its the fats and juices smoking on the hot coals the give the smokey taste. The same thing happens in a gas one.

Chicken malai is one of my favourites

I'll be trying a few things in it, chicken malai being one of them. 

I love my tandoor more than my wife and kids 

 ;D ;D

[Madrasandy]

it will be interesting to hear if there are any taste advantages compared to the grill on a domestic oven for chicken tikka (I'm sceptical)

Really?

[Peripatetic Phil]

Charcoal doesn't give any flavour. Its the fats and juices smoking on the hot coals the give the smokey taste. The same thing happens in a gas one.

Remember the very interesting suggestion that I quoted a few days ago :

[George]

Perhaps charcoal would introduce new flavours but I doubt it with a gas-fired tandoor.

Charcoal doesn't give any flavour. Its the fats and juices smoking on the hot coals the give the smokey taste. The same thing happens in a gas one.

You might be right and i know 99% of BIRs probably use gas-fired tandoors. But I'm sure i've read reviews of charcoal vs gas fueled barbecues, where there seems to be a body of opinion suggesting that charcoal produces better flavours.

[chewytikka]

Loving my Tandor and I haven

[Peripatetic Phil]

JB, bit odd, but they use lava stones in gas Tandors, not charcoal.

Probably because lava stone will last "forever" whilst charcoal would require very frequent replenishment.  And if (as Gav suggests) charcoal contributes no flavour itself, whilst (as Laziza suggests) pouring ghee or oil onto a hot coal /does/ contribute flavour, then lava stone is probably as effective as charcoal in creating the desired flavour whilst being a far more economic proposition.

** Phil.

[Gav Iscon]

You might be right and i know 99% of BIRs probably use gas-fired tandoors. But I'm sure i've read reviews of charcoal vs gas fueled barbecues, where there seems to be a body of opinion suggesting that charcoal produces better flavours.

Well the big Seekh Kebab machine in the window at Imrans on Ladypool Road finally laid that argument to rest for me as I sat and commented on the lovely smokey taste they had to find they were cooked over a gas charcoal grill like this one

http://www.rotoquip.co.uk/conveyor-seekh-kebab-grill
and the video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9mVFh4PpfI