Naan is Indian-style flat bread. Traditionally they are baked inside a very hot clay tandoor oven, with charcoal or wood fire.
The naan are stuck to the inside of the oven just like the picture below. The tandoor oven retains very high heat, up to 900°F and hence fills the inside of the flat bread with air pockets and bakes them to perfection.
Image Credit: Best of India Restaurant.
In a modern day kitchen, we do not have a tandoor oven, but you can make naan at home with a hot cast-iron skillet on the stove stop.
My recipe is so easy and the naan turn out extremely delicious, soft, puffy, airy, with the beautiful golden brown spots on the surface. They taste just like the best Indian buffet restaurants.
Is Naan Bread Healthy?
Yes, it is super healthy. My recipe is quick and easy, fail-proof and cooked on a skillet. You do not need a tandoor oven!
It’s also low in calories, with only 182 calories per serving. They are great with chicken tikka masala or butter chicken.
The Difference Between Naan and Roti
They are both Indian flat breads but different because of the ingredients used. Roti, for example, chapati is made with whole wheat flour and there is no yeast.
Naan is made with all purpose flour and you will need yeast to make the dough.
Tips on How to Make Naan
First, you want to make the dough by combining the yeast and flour together. Knead the dough with hand or using a stand mixer and then rest to double the dough in size.
Divide the dough into 8 balls. Heat up a cast-iron skillet on high heat to make naan.
The high heat makes the dough rises and fills the middle part of the bread with an air pocket. It’s done when burnt brown “blisters” or spots appear, just like my pictures.
Brush the fresh-off-the-skillet naan with some melted salted butter and top them with cilantro leaves.
Serve Naan with:
For a wholesome Indian dinner, make the following dishes.
Complete Meal Plan
Butter Chicken
Chicken Tikka Masala
Tandoori Chicken
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Liz
Oh, my gosh, these don’t look hard at all….and so yummy! Cannot wait to make your naan recipe!
Rasa Malaysia
Awesome, please try these naan at home!
Karen @ The Food Charlatan
Oh my, this naan looks perfect! Pass the curry!
Tamara Olsen
The recipe says that the total time is 55 mins. However, the dough rises for an hour?
Rasa Malaysia
I didn’t count the resting time. Anyway, I have updated the recipe card with resting time.
Missy
The recipe calls for plain yogurt. Which is better, Greek or regular yogurt? Or does it matter? Thanks!
Rasa Malaysia
Plain yogurt.
Anu
I loved the naan! It was delicious and restaurant style. It didn’t even get hard after resting. Thank you for the recipe!
Rasa Malaysia
Thanks Anu for trying my naan!
Wilma
What can you use if you don’t have a cast iron skillet
Rasa Malaysia
Cast iron is the best, you can try a non-stick skillet or pan.