Tandoori Aloo is a "Tandoori platter" . The word tandoori is the adjective meaning "pertaining to the tandoor" and is used to describe a dish cooked in a tandoor. In India, the tandoor is also known by the name of bhatti. This dish is part of ‘Tandoori Platter’ , which consists of these Tandoori aloo, tandoori paneer, veg seekh kabab, dal makhani, naan, lots of onions , and green chutney. Tandoor is a hindi word which means cooked in oven. Most people seem to think that tandoori is a recipe. Like many of the world’s great dishes this is actually a cooking method that has become synonymous with the food that is prepared. Put simply tandoori is a marinated meat cooked over an intense fire in a tandoor. A tandoor is a clay oven in which a hot fire is build. Marinated meats are lowered into the oven on long metal skewers and cooked in this smoky and extremely hot environment until done.
Typically a tandoor is dug into the ground or built into an enclosure. The real secret is that heat can only escape it through to top. The direct heat of the fire is reflected by the ceramic sides intensifying the heat and creating a cooking environment that easily reaches 500 degrees F. It is buried or enclosed to hold in the heat and to keep anyone from coming in contact with the outside surface.
The marinade used in most any tandoori dish starts with yogurt. As for the spices, tandoori is marinated or rubbed with a great combination of spices. The first thing you will notice is the color. Tandoori dishes are usually very red or very yellow; this depends on the marinade ingredients.In addition to the colors provided by the spices, tandoori is also flavored traditionally with ginger, garlic, coriander powder, cayenne pepper, and garam masala.

The tandoor is used for cooking in Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Transcaucasus, the Balkans, the Middle East, Central Asia as well as India and Bangladesh. You would be surprised to learn , Tandoor type materials were even found in Harappa and Mohen-ja-daro ruins.

The heat for a tandoor was traditionally generated by a charcoal fire or wood fire, burning within the tandoor itself, thus exposing the food to both live-fire, radiant heat cooking, and hot-air, convection cooking. Tandoor is very popular fixture in popular indian restaurants.

Tandoori Aloo is one such recipe and its a punjabi dish. Its a tasty and spicy food which would make one go drool over it.

Ingredients:
250 grams baby potatoes (10-12)
1 tablespoon Red chilli powder
1 tablespoon Coriander powder
1 tablespoon Cumin powder
A pinch of Asafoetida
1 inch piece of ginger
8-10 garlic cloves
1/4 tablespoon of Ajwain (Carrom seeds)
1 teaspoon chat masala
1/4 teaspoon Turmeric powder
Salt to taste
3 tablespoons of Oil
1 tablespoon Chopped Coriander leaves for garnishing.


Method:

1. Choose only Baby potatoes for this recipe. Since it not only looks good but also tastes better and easy to cook as far as this recipe is concerned.
   
2. Wash the potatoes properly and let them dry.
3. Pierce the potatoes 2-3 times with fork. Pierce the potatoes at different parts but 2-3 times. This allows the pototoes to cook from inside too and allows the masala to penetrate inside.
4. Arrange all the potatoes around the bowl on the microwave plate. If you have microwave without glass plate, place the bowl of water in a microwave-safe serving plate and potatoes around it. Those who dont have Ovens, can bake the potatoes in cooker .
5. Cook the potatoes for 5-6 minutes or until they are soft and cooked.
6. Now let the pototoes to cool.
   
7. Meanwhile grind the rest of the masala powders (rest of the ingredients) to a fine paste in a blender by adding 2-3 tablespoons of water.
8. Now heat the oil in a microwave for 1 minute on high. You can also use stove, just use a kadai and heat the oil.
9. Meanwhile cut the potatoes into halves.
10. Mix paste into the oil in a big bowl and heat for 30-40 seconds.
11. Stir and add potatoes into the bowl and cook 2-3 minutes.
12. If you are using stove, then cook it a kadai on low flame with closed lid for 3-4 minutes.
13. Remove and garnish with Coriander leaves. You can also garnish with grated cheese for added taste.
    
14. Serve hot with Tandoori roti or a side dish to jeera rice.

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Serves: 4 persons
Shelflife: 1 day.
Serving suggestion: Serve hot with Tandoori roti or Jeera rice or a platter.


Note:

• Choose only baby potatoes for making the dish intresting.
• Grind all the masalas to fine paste.
• IF not oven , then use a normal stove.

Click here to know more about Punjabi Foods and Cuisines - An Introduction To Punjabi Foods And Cuisines.