Everything You Need to Know About Tandoori Chicken

Everything You Need to Know About Tandoori Chicken

People have become more adventurous with food with the advent of social media and technology. Perhaps different dishes have captured your attention while scrolling on your phone or while watching TV. Tandoori chicken is a famous dish that has made its way from Pakistan to all over the world. Tandoori chicken is nutritious, flavorful, and memorable. You will never taste a Tandoori chicken once and forget it. Have you ever wondered about the history of this flavorful dish? Let’s look back on its history to get a taste of the tandoori chicken’s origins and why it became so popular across the globe.

What Are the Origins of Tandoori Chicken?

First of all, let’s establish what Tandoori chicken is. It is a dish of chicken roasted in a special clay oven called tandoor. The word Tandoor means “round clay ovens” in Persian. The Tandoor oven has a large urn-like shape and is buried in the earth. The meat of the chicken is made with a yogurt marinade and spiced to give it its signature crimson color. 

Cooking using the Tandoor oven is believed to have originated in Persia and spread throughout Central Asia. This ancient method of cooking food was developed by merchants along the borders of India and Pakistan in the northwest. 

What Are the Secrets of Tandoori Chicken?

Tandoori chicken actually has the potential to be healthy because of the different ingredients used to make it, as well as its cooking method. The yogurt used to marinate the chicken, for example, contains nutrients such as zinc, potassium, and vitamin B2. Tandoori chicken is also cooked with a lot of spices, which are known to promote a healthy metabolism.

You will also notice that Tandoori chicken usually does not have skin when served. This is because the fatty skin is trimmed, keeping the dish low-fat. Chicken in itself is a nutritious protein with nutrients that have been proven to support the formation of muscles, as well as promote healthy functioning of the body.

What Makes Tandoori Chicken Special

The spices that serve as the signature of Tandoori chicken are commonly garam masala, ginger, and garlic. While this combination is often found in Pakistani Cuisine, Tandoori chicken becomes memorable once combined with its unique method of cooking. Because it is roasted on an open flame using charcoal, the meat of the Tandoori chicken often has a unique smoky flavor. 

What’s more, Tandoori chicken can be enjoyed either with rice or with naan bread. It also goes well with different yogurt-based sauces and drinks to complement its spiciness. It’s something you can enjoy with other dishes or by itself. It’s great for people for all ages, too, whether new or well-versed to the cuisine the world has to offer.

Conclusion

We hope that this article has given you a taste of the origins of Tandoori chicken. It is a truly unique dish that has its origins in ancient techniques from Central Asia. It is a dish that is favored by many across the globe because of its complex flavor profile and distinctive aroma. With the right mix of spices combined with rice or bread, it makes for a very satisfying meal.

Are you looking for authentic Tandoor chicken in Vancouver? Karakoram Restaurant combines the flavor of traditional Pakistani cuisine with a fine dining experience. Browse our menu and order online today!

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