What is naan bread?
Naan bread is a soft, moist, textured flatbread created by mixing flour, sugar, yogurt, yeast, water, and salt. It traditionally comes from Indian cuisine and is typically served hot with a generous layer of ghee or butter. In addition to being eating alone, this bread is delicious when paired with dips like yogurt or hummus! Traditional naan is cooked in a tandoori oven. For our purposes, we will be using a cast iron skillet or a heavy-bottomed pan over medium to high heat. This recipe will require just 1 hour and 35 minutes, which includes time spent letting the dough rise. Fun fact: “Naan” itself means bread. By calling it “naan bread,” you’re actually calling it “bread bread!”
Ingredients required to make naan
There’s nothing better than an easy, low ingredient recipe. To make this bread, there are only six things that you’ll need.
Water: For the dough, you will need warm water. Make sure that it isn’t hot. Dry Yeast: The yeast will be used to help the dough rise. Sugar: A bit of sugar is used to give the naan a slight flavor. We’ll be using just 1 tsp. All-Purpose Flour: We’ll be using flour to create the bulk of the dough. Salt: I find that for this recipe, 1 tsp of salt is the perfect amount. Yogurt: Yogurt is a staple ingredient in naan bread and will help to give this dish its signature flavor and tenderness.
Is naan vegan?
Traditional naan is not a vegan dish, as it requires the use of yogurt. However, that’s the only animal product. To make your batch of naan bread vegan-friendly, simply swap regular yogurt with a dairy-free version of your choice!
How to make naan
Step 1: Proof the yeastCombine warm water (about 105 degrees F) with yeast and sugar. This is going to activate the yeast while also helping you to see if the yeast is alive. After 5 to 10 minutes, the mixture should be frothy (if not, discard and try again with fresher yeast). Step 2: Combine with flour In a large bowl (or the bowl of your Kitchen Aid), combine flour and salt. Add yeast mixture and yogurt. You’ll know the mixture is ready when it forms a solid ball shape and has a stretchy, doughy texture. Step 3: Knead the doughKnead by hand (8 minutes) or with the bread hook of a standing mixer (5 minutes at medium speed), until dough is smooth. The dough will be sticky, but if it is too sticky to handle, add flour 1 tablespoon at a time. Step 4: Give the dough time to risePlace dough in a lightly greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Set in a warm place and let rise for 1 to 2 hours, or until dough has doubled in size. (I recommend setting your dough in a warm place because in warmth, yeast cells are more active and therefore can effectively rise). Step 5: Divide the doughOn a well-floured surface, flatten dough into a disk, then cut that disk into 8 pieces. For equal-sized naan bread, slice the dough as evenly as possible. We’ll be pulling these apart to cook individually. Step 6: Cook the doughHeat a cast iron skillet or heavy-bottomed pan over medium/high heat. Working one at a time, roll each piece of naan on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick (it’s fine if the shape isn’t perfect). Cook in the skillet, about 2 minutes per side (until golden brown with slightly charred spots). Cover with a towel to keep warm while you finish the rest.
A fun twist: cheese naan!
If you’ve read through this recipe and found yourself wondering how to make cheese naan, keep reading. Cheese naan is a fun and absolutely delicious twist on the traditional style. The best part is that it’s very simple! How to make cheese naan:
How to enjoy naan
These flatbreads can be enjoyed in a number of ways. I love to pair this bread with dishes like Chickpea Tikka Masala, Chana Dal, Vegetable Biryani, and Tofu Tikka Masala. You may also love it paired with various curry dishes! Here are some options that you may want to try:
As a pizza dough Thai Vegetarian Coconut Curry Coconut Kidney Bean Curry Banana Thai Curry Thai Red Curry Mulligatawny Soup
