How to Build a Pueblo Bread Oven

How to Build a Pueblo Bread Oven

First, you are going to want to learn how to make adobe mud. This is going to be a dirt, clay, straw and water mixture. The important thing here is you want a consistency you can work with. Once you have the mud you are going to need some type of mold to shape the bricks. A wooden brick mold is a popular choice in this area.

Adobe Bricks

Second, you are going to start and build your base. This is going to be a base of mortar (a combination of cement and sand) and coarse stones. It will be personal preference if you want to make the base round or square. Eventually the base is going to be plastered for a clean finished look.

Base to the Bread Oven

The oven, finished on outside left unfinished in the inside

Third, you are going to start building the oven. Remember you are going to want a big stone pad for the floor of the entrance, as well as a large slab that will cover the opening during cooking. You are going to build the oven using those adobe bricks and mortar. When you have the oven built you are going to put a 1" thick cover of plaster (mixture of dirt and clay) over the oven and base.

View of oven construction

Top view of inner oven.

Dimensions of finished oven

Last, bake some bread and enjoy. Next time we will share with you a recipe and how to heat your oven.

Bread with butter & jelly