People who love grilled food won’t be disappointed when they go to Indian Restaurants in Washington DC. Grilling provides a tasty flavor and a healthy method of cooking for fewer calories and less fat than frying or sauteing in butter or oil. With Indian cuisine, the grilling technique is different than what is typical of American barbecuing. The food is cooked swiftly in a very hot oven known as a tandoor.
What is a Tandoor?
A tandoor is made of clay and contains a fire fueled with wood or charcoal. That fire makes the interior of the oven at least 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and it can reach 900 degrees. This indicates how different the style of cooking is from using a normal oven.
Traditionally, residents of India used a tandoor to bake bread and to cook meals with meat and vegetables. The practice continues today in that country and at Indian Restaurants in Washington DC.
Tandoori Cooking
This cooking method may be considered somewhat similar to barbecuing over charcoal with the top of the grill placed over the food. However, that style of barbecuing typically is intended to add a smoky flavor, whereas that is not the intention with tandoori cooking. Because the fire is so hot, there is little time for smoke to develop.
Tandoori dishes are usually made with a yogurt-based marinade or with cottage cheese or cream cheese, or a combination of these ingredients. A variety of spices may be included, although these are not generally the curry blends that people commonly associate with Indian cuisine.
The meat may be allowed to marinate for an hour, or more so it soaks up the flavor before being placed in the oven. The meals often are quite colorful and are always delicious with their luscious blend of components.
Examples of Menu Items
At a restaurant such as Heritage India, customers can try numerous meals cooked in a tandoor. Chicken, salmon, and prawns are examples of main ingredients. Depending on the dish ordered, the customer may enjoy flavors of garlic, mint, cilantro, ginger and other spices. Rice is the standard accompaniment. Different rice options are available, including basmati and lemon rice.
