Adventures With an Earth Oven
By Peter G • Aug 12th, 2008 • Category: Recipes
I was visiting my brother and his family in my hometown of Melbourne last week and had the chance to stay with them for a few days. They live on the outskirts of the city and pretty much try to maintain a self sustaining lifestyle. They grow everything in their back garden. Broccoli, garlic, herbs, tomatoes (when in season) etc… Everything! You get the idea…leaves my own farmers market to shame! They have their own compost and even their own water tank. But the thing that got my attention was this earth oven located in the rear of the property. As a “foodie” I was screaming with inner delight when I noticed it. My brother John explained that he had been experimenting with baking his own bread and making pizzas in it and cooking the odd roast as well.. It’s not something they use everyday (could you imagine?) but they were still working out getting certain elements right, namely the temperature. His inspiration to make this earth oven or Cob oven as its otherwise known, comes from a gentleman by the name of Kiko Denzer. He’s a bit of a clay master and has produced his own book as a sort of “how to” guide. And all for less than $200.
So we set out one morning to light the oven (well he did!…I took all the photos) and battled the mad Melbourne weather and a barking Airedale terrier (long story!). This oven takes about 4 hours to heat up properly and when it was ready it had reached a maximum temperature of 600 deg Fahrenheit. (measured using a trusty oven thermometer). This oven doesn’t bullshit around. It’s bloody HOT! Pizzas and bread were on the baking menu and I’ve tried to capture it all for you to enjoy.
I’ve never seen pizzas cook so fast! Literally a couple of minutes. In and out. My sister in law makes pizzas that could rival any of the pizza makers in Napoli. They were delicious! There’s something about wood fired freshly baked dough dripping with cheese that just screams “YUM”. I couldn’t keep up between bites and taking photos!
And next came the main event. Everyone knows about my love of carbs and to have them delivered in this manner was truly unforgettable. We baked three loaves and they took about half an hour to cook. By this time the oven temperature had dropped to about 400 deg Fahrenheit so it was comparable to a “normal” oven. They were crispy with slightly burnt edges. After resting them for another half hour we ate them hungrily drizzled with extra virgin olive oil or Danish butter. Warm, wood fired bread is truly a treat.
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Peter G is a passionate foodie of Greek descent living in Australia. You'll usually find him cooking up a storm in the kitchen and photographing all his exploits.
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Peter - I wanted to scream NAAN from here
What a wonderful experience Peter, i wish i was there to share o=it with you. All your pics have such a rustic n earthy feel to it, i want to get my hands dirty n make a pizza now
Great little story Peter… The pizza and the bread both look amazing! I am certain the wood-fired taste was just wonderful. Good for your brother and his wife that they have gone the self-sustaining route; but the true litmus test is: do they have a computer with an Internet connection?
Wow, How cool is that!!! The food and photo’s look fabulous!
Great post! As a fellow carb lover, I’d be in big trouble with this oven nearby. Wood fired bread has an amazing and distinctive taste. Thanks for sharing - I’m quite jealous:)
That is some awesome looking bread and pizza Peter! WOW! I am like you - a carb addict! Did you eat a whole loaf!
Oh and I have to mention that I think your brother’s place sounds like a dream come true! I have dreams of a place like this someday!
What luck to have place like that to visit!
OMG………..that is truly over the top. I can only imagine the other food you ate while you were there.
I’m so jealous! Wood-fired carbs are definetly a treat. Hopefully, you were lucky enough to snag a loaf of bread to take home with you. I’ve been watching Jamie Oliver’s series where he cooks in a similar oven, all sorts of meats and amazing roasted vegetables. You’ll have to visit your brother again soon
Oh my gosh, this looks so delicious! I am dying over here. Does your brother have a guest house he wants to rent out?
how stunningly lucky you are.
All I can say is WOW.
Wood ovens are tricky.
Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. I would give a limb for one of those ovens.
I think this is my most favorite post of yours. I really want to give your brother a hug. Did you know about this oven? I am so jealous. My parents have been talking about building one - will let you know if they do.
I can only imagine how delicious the pizza and bread were.
Oh my god looking at that bread is absolutely KILLING me! I am so jealous of that oven - maybe I oculd build on eon my balcony?
nothing beats an earth oven!! my inlaws have one in the garden..but it’s been a decade they have not used it…too bad!! great shots!!
My Dad just built a wood fired oven and he and my mom have been making bread and pizza. I can’t wait to get home to give it a shot.
When I was in Greece on the island of kea they had a mini vertsion of this where they baked bread, etc…not something I could have on my condo patio but I love the concept and the idea behind it:D
The mouth of that oven is stunning; the real sign of a well-loved, well-used piece of kit.
The bread is amazing! The mess that kind of crust makes when you saw through it is so worth it, isn’t it?
There really is something about country livin’. That’s the dream, he’s living it. Maybe I should build an oven around our pig roaster.
Gorgeous photos as always, luv.
that earth oven is one thing we will build alongside the swimming pool later on! this is what a country lifestyle offering, P, lots of space, you can build and have anything you want unlimited (you know what city councils are fretting about regulations) things (unless it is illegal hehehe). i love to read your adventure on this, love it a lot! the photos are lovely as always. cheers, p!
As Jenn said, this is my dream house: a house with a garden and an earth oven. It’s strange because although you can find these in a lot of houses in Cyprus I never thought about how difficult it would be to bake in one of these ovens. I can imagine the taste and smell of that bread.
My grandma had one like that in her back yard. Like you said, there’s nothing compared to food baked in this type of rustic ovens. I want one now
Wow! Your lovely photos make that bread look like it would be so delicious fresh from the oven and torn apart by hand!
Lucky you, esp your brother. They looked really lovely and I’m sure the food taste really nice too.
I’m lying in bed reading this, having just woken up, and my stomach is now growling so hard I have to get up and eat before I finish reading my favorite blogs. Your gorgeous pictures have just made me WAY too hungry. This is a wonderful article in every way. Thank you for posting it. Now I really want one of those ovens.
And all this in Australia? Oh the joys of the expat life!
excellent post - fantastic photos
a little bit of real greece in melbourne - well done!
and i must say, i wouldnt mind a slice of that bread…