A gracious thank you to our friends who have forwarded on many pleasant tandoori chicken recipes over the past couple of months. After shabbat services tonight we enjoyed a quick Indian meal. The centerpiece of my dinner was a tandoori chicken; which after our experience last Sunday in Artesia and Lisa's work this week in the kitchen has me feeling a bit empty since I've learned this dish is a relatively new invention and not too traditional.
Like many well known Indian dishes in the states this one originated with Kundan Lal Gurjal who started Moti Mahal in Peshawer (G. Ramsey takes a trip there in his Great escape to the new location which I believe is in Daryaganji). Tandoori chicken is nothing but chicken cooked in bell-shaped earthen ware ovens generally used to cook bread (fired by wood or charcoal). This dish is reported to be a favourite of Neru's (the first prime minister of India) and I have read Nixon as well. So, that may be the only connection we have to Neru and Nixon. Many folks without a tandoori oven looking for a comparable cooking experience use a very large stock pot and heat it on a grill or fire pit. I have also read of folks using outdoor pizza ovens to make the chicken.
On Saturday Lisa and I will be going to vegetarian restaurant in Culver City which we hear is amazing. More to come then.
Cheers and Chicken.
