Tandoori cooking involves grilling meat, vegetables, and bread in a cylindrical clay oven called a tandoor.

Yogurt is the base of most tandoori marinades, providing a tenderizing effect and a tangy flavor to the food.

Tandoori marinades typically include a blend of spices such as garam masala, cumin, turmeric, coriander, and chili powder.

Tandoori dishes are known for their vibrant red color, which comes from the use of red chili powder and paprika in the marinade.

Chicken is the most widely used meat in tandoori cooking, particularly in dishes like tandoori chicken and chicken tikka.

The tandoor's unique design allows for even heat distribution, imparts a smoky flavor to the food, and cooks food quickly due to its high temperatures.

Naan is the most common bread served with tandoori dishes. It is a soft, leavened flatbread that is cooked in the tandoor.

Onion is frequently used as a skewer in tandoori dishes, adding flavor and texture to the grilled vegetables.

Modern tandoori cooking often involves incorporating global flavors and ingredients, creating fusion dishes that combine traditional Indian spices with international cuisines.

Atul Kochhar is a renowned Indian chef who has gained recognition for his creative and modern take on tandoori cooking.

Tandoori cooking techniques can be applied to non-traditional ingredients by using a tandoor oven, marinating them in yogurt and spices, and grilling them over charcoal.

Modern tandoori cooking has led to the creation of innovative dishes like tandoori pizza, tandoori tacos, and even tandoori sushi.

Modern tandoori cooking reflects the evolving culinary landscape by showcasing the versatility of tandoori techniques, promoting cultural fusion and experimentation, and emphasizing the importance of fresh, local ingredients.

Chefs adapting tandoori cooking to modern cuisine face challenges such as balancing traditional flavors with contemporary tastes, maintaining the authenticity of tandoori dishes, and adapting tandoori techniques to non-traditional ingredients.

Home cooks can incorporate tandoori cooking into their own kitchens by using a tandoor oven, creating tandoori marinades and grilling food, or using a regular oven to simulate tandoori cooking.