Chapter 1
The sourdough guardians of Paris
Chapter 2
The pastry rebels who rewrote the rules
Chapter 3
The ancient flatbreads and clay ovens of the East
Chapter 4
The sweet panaderías and panettone masters
YOUR GOAL
Master of The secret life of master bakers
Ch 3 · The ancient flatbreads and clay ovens of the East
alicecooks Ancient Clay Oven Flatbreads
Slap the clay! Slap the clay! Five thousand years, we bake it today!
alicecooks This staple unleavened flatbread is made from stoneground atta flour and cooked on a heavy, concave iron tawa
alicecooks Flour-dusted hands knead dough beside golden croissants and scored baguettes on stone.
Fun Fact
Tandoor temperature: A traditional clay tandoor oven can easily reach 480 degrees Celsius, which is nearly twice as hot as a standard home oven.
Glossary
tandoor (noun)
A cylindrical clay oven used for baking and roasting at high temperatures. Excavations in Kalibangan, India, uncovered early mud-plastered versions of the oven dating to 2600 BCE.
A cylindrical clay oven used for baking and roasting at high temperatures. Excavations in Kalibangan, India, uncovered early mud-plastered versions of the oven dating to 2600 BCE.
Quiz
Approximately how far back does archaeological evidence of clay tandoor ovens in the Indus Valley date?
Quiz
What type of heavy concave iron pan is traditionally used to cook Indian rotis before puffing them over a flame?
Quiz
What is the name of the padded cloth cushion that tandoor bakers use to slap dough onto clay walls?
Quiz
How does a traditional Moroccan neighborhood baker identify which bread belongs to which family?
Quiz
What is the name of the traditional communal wood-fired oven found in Moroccan neighborhoods?
Quiz
What temperature can a traditional clay tandoor oven reach during peak baking hours?
Quiz
What is the traditional name of the stoneground wholemeal wheat flour used to make authentic Indian rotis?
Quiz
What physical process creates the signature interior pocket inside a baking pita bread?