Trials and Tribulations of a Steel Tandoor

[Onions]

Wot you really need to do is invite someone round to the tandoor's christening to make cretinous remarks  lol

[Stu-pot]

There's nothing like the flavour from a Tandoor!   If you can imagine making one of Chewy's Jhal Frezi's to perfection using pre-cooked Chicken, then using Tandoori Chicken Tikka and also cooking to perfection....  Well...  Its another world again.

You would say that, wouldn't you! Anyone who has invested

[Unclefrank]

Got it from one of my local pubs i use got it for 100 GBP, it has 70 serving capacity, converted to lpg from natural gas.
Had a 4 ft x 4 ft x 4 ft wooden box made, like it's own little shed, then i will insulate that so i can leave outside for the time being until i get some kind of "lean to" built off the back of the house to store it in for the winter time.
Will post pictures when it arrives and insulated.

It's the same as this one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tandoor-Oven-Tandoori-Grill-Chip-Shop-Restaurant-Catering-Commercial-/171747751758?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27fcf6b74e

[Gav Iscon]

Look forward to your photos UF

Anyway I had a go at naans today. I made the dough yesterday and i knew from the onset the dough wasn't up to scratch but as a trial it would do. Having a steel liner I thought that this might lend it self to naans for sticking and how right I was (for a change). 

Fired up both burners and let it heat up for about 10 mins. It was hitting nearly 400 degrees C so I turned the burners down a bit and off set the lid. Made a 1/2 size naan and wet it once on the cushion. Straight in and it stuck straight away.



Waited till it looked cooked and removed it with my bbq tongs and big bbq knife. Bottom was burnt a bit due to it being to hot and it wasn't great due to the poor dough, but the main thing was it cooked.

Had a bit of a soot build up due to the bottom burner being to hot and some crap burning of the stones. A quick wipe with a damp cloth sorted that but I still need to do other side once cool.

Next one, I turned both burners down waited a bit then in with the naan.



This one came out much better although still biscuity due to the poor dough I made. Heres a photo of the base although it looked a bit different in colour wise in real life.



Overall happy with the results that it can be done, now just have to make some dough without rushing it    and have a bit play with the gas knobs and the temperature gun.

[fried]

That all looks like good fun ;D

[Naga]

Good effort, Gav. Better stock up on the flour lol!

I know its no comfort, but I could use my naans as frisbees (well, not quite)! They are tasty enough, but nowhere near as fluffy and chewy as the 'proper' ones from a restaurant or T/A.

Won't take you long to get them the way you like them, I'm sure.

[Stu-pot]

Hello Metal Mickey.  ;D ;D ;D

Good to know I wasn't the only one in the garden this afternoon.  I can see you will be out there quite a bit over next few months...  Good luck with your journey.

If you need something to hang up your Tandoor rods, then I found the following this morning in Lidl's.  I paid

[Gav Iscon]

Hmmmhp Boys and their toys...Looks great Stu. How you finding the gas?

And the hanger idea is good. I need to make some of the rods for when i have a big batch to cook.

[Naga]

Smashing-looking chicken, Stu!

Hmmmhp Boys and their toys...

[Stu-pot]

I find using gas with a clay Tandoor is not getting as hot as charcoal.  Those Chicken pieces on the skewers are large, half of a large (trimmed) breast cut down the middle.  They took 22 mins to cook.   If I had used charcoal they would have cooked in 16 mins BUT by the time I would have put the second or third patch in, the coals would be cooling off too much so I'd have had to wait an hour for the next batch of coals to be ready to cook on unless I drip feed with new coals but I don't like to do that!

All in all I'm happy with the consistency & speed of using gas.

Please note: THE FLAVOUR WHEN USING GAS IS NO DIFFERENT TO USING CHARCOAL!  ALSO: THE FLAVOUR OF THE TIKKA IS BETTER IN THE TANDOOR THAN WHEN I GRILL OR OVEN COOK IT!