A cylindrical clay oven used in Indian cooking, heated by a fire inside to very high temperatures for baking bread and roasting meat. Creates distinctive smoky flavors.
From Hindi तंदूर (tandūr) and Persian تنور (tanūr), ultimately from Akkadian tinūru meaning 'oven'. The word entered English in the 19th century as British colonials encountered this distinctive cooking method in Indian kitchens and restaurants.
The tandoor oven can reach temperatures of over 900°F - hot enough to cook naan bread in just 2-3 minutes! This ancient cooking method actually originated in Mesopotamia over 5,000 years ago and traveled along trade routes to become central to Indian cuisine.
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