Who invented the tandoor?

Tandoor has been known for more than five thousand years. The exact place of origin of such a furnace has not yet been established. Scientists believe that the nomads of Central Asia were the first to use such devices, presumably in the territory of modern Iran. However, not all so simple.

Tandoor: history of origin

For the first time, prototypes of the stove were stacked around fires in the deserts. The nomads quickly realized that it was difficult to cook a flatbread or a large piece of meat over an open fire. Then they came up with the idea of ​​covering it with stones. But almost immediately it became clear that good stones are not so easy to find (especially in deserts).

Then the ovens were moved into the ground. People dug a hole, made a small air duct nearby and lit a fire at the bottom of a homemade stove. Some coated the walls with clay mixed with grain scraps and wool. These were the first tandoors.

Such braziers were short-lived and soon we had to look for new ideas.

Work by Alla Grigorievna Kozlova

The most ancient types of tandoors were found in the territory of modern India. The finds dated back to 2500 BC. e. At that time, the Harappan civilization was located there. A similar oven is still common among Hindus today. At first, only flatbreads were prepared in it, gluing the dough to the walls of the oven. Later they began to come up with special fasteners and pins to prepare other products.

When tandoor appeared on the territory of modern Pakistan, it was decided to try meat dishes.But the pieces of beef did not stick to the walls of the oven, so I had to come up with fasteners. As a rule, these were ordinary pins in the walls of the brazier.

Over time, the device spread throughout Asia. Further, his move was ordered, since the northern peoples, who always had plenty of firewood, initially used the stoves familiar to us. They were used not only for cooking, but also for heating houses.

Muslims brought it with them to Spain, and from there it spread to what is now the United States. Until now, in remote areas of South America, tandoors are actively used, decorating the lawns of private properties.

How were tandoor stoves made in the old days?

The first stoves were made from large stones, which were not so abundant in desert areas. They were coated with clay from the inside, mixed with the wool of camels or other animals, as well as peelings from grain crops. At first, the stones surrounded the fire, then they were lowered into the ground to a shallow depth.

Later, women cooked in such ovens, but they were more elaborate. An air duct appeared nearby. For meat and vegetables, they came up with spikes on the walls of ancient tandoors.

Then it began to take on modern shape, having a round or jug-shaped shape. Some specimens were made large, motionless, and egg-shaped. In all versions, the oven was coated from the inside with refractory clay so that the device would serve for a long time and delight with delicious dishes.