Which Indian dish consists of marinated meat cooked in a clay oven?

The Indian dish consisting of marinated meat cooked in a clay oven is tandoori chicken. Chicken pieces are typically marinated in yogurt, spices, and salt before being roasted at high heat in a tandoor, a cylindrical clay oven.

The marinade helps season and tenderize the meat, while spices such as cumin, coriander, garam masala, and chili contribute flavor and the familiar red color. A charcoal- or wood-fired tandoor produces intense heat and a smoky exterior. The chicken is commonly served with naan, onions, lemon, or chutneys, either as an appetizer or a main course.

Tandoori cooking has older roots in the Indian subcontinent, but the modern restaurant dish was popularized in New Delhi after the 1940s by Moti Mahal. Its founders were Punjabi migrants from Peshawar, and the restaurant helped spread the dish internationally. Tandoori chicken should not be confused with chicken tikka masala: the former is roasted chicken itself, while the latter is generally chicken tikka served in a spiced sauce.