What is the name given to Indian food cooked over charcoal in a clay oven?

The story behind the answer

Tandoori is correct because it refers to food cooked in a tandoor—a cylindrical clay oven fired with charcoal or wood. The tandoor’s searing heat and smoky environment create the signature char and flavor of tandoori dishes like tandoori chicken, naan, and kebabs; meats are often marinated in yogurt and spices to stay tender.

Originating in the Punjab region and spread widely across South and Central Asia, the tandoor has ancient roots but gained global fame through the Indian diaspora. Remember it this way: tandoor (the oven) produces tandoori (the style). By contrast, biryani is a layered rice dish, pani puri is a street snack, and “tikka masala” is a sauce-based curry, not an oven method.