Naan (The Best Recipe!)

Naan Bread

This quick naan bread recipe is done in a hot cast-iron skillet, so you can enjoy it fresh and warm right out of your kitchen. Whether you’re dipping it in curry or just enjoying it on its own, it does a great job of satisfying your Indian food cravings.

Care for more flavor? Make my Garlic Naan and Cheesy Garlic Naan recipes instead!

What is Naan?

Naan is a type of flatbread staple in many South Asian and Middle Eastern countries. Although it’s associated with Indian cuisine, it actually originated in Persia (now known as Iran).

It is soft, doughy, and light with gorgeous brown spots, perfect for mopping up sauces and curries such as Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala. It’s one of those dishes that you should never skip when eating at an Indian restaurant.

Different countries have their own versions of this flatbread. But the basic ingredients remain the same: all-purpose flour, water, and yeast. In some cases, people add plain yogurt, ghee, milk, or egg for extra texture and flavor.

The traditional method of cooking naan involves using a hot clay tandoor oven with charcoal or wood fire. The way they are slapped against the walls of the oven (see picture above) gives them that signature charred look. Meanwhile, the high heat (up to 900°F) creates pockets of air inside the flatbread, making it soft, airy, and chewy all at once.

What is the Difference between Naan and Roti?

Both are popular Indian flatbreads, but they are made with different ingredients. Hence, they also have distinct textures.

Plain naan is made with all-purpose flour, yeast, and yogurt, giving it a soft and pillowy texture. Roti or chapati, on the other hand, is an unleavened bread made only with whole wheat flour and water, making it tender yet slightly flaky like a flour tortilla.Traditional naan is also cooked in a tandoor oven, while roti is typically heated in a flat pan, skillet, or griddle called tawa or tava.

Ingredients

• all-purpose flour – gives the bread its structure. Depending on the humidity in your kitchen, you might need more or less flour to make a smooth and elastic dough.
• yeast – helps the dough rise to get a nice, fluffy texture. I’m using active dry yeast in this recipe, but you can also use instant yeast.
• warm water and sugar – these two ingredients are crucial to activate the yeast.
• plain yogurt – the secret ingredient in this cast iron naan recipe. It keeps the dough soft and moist while adding a hint of tanginess to the bread.

How to Make Naan at Home?

Unlike a traditional naan recipe, I only used a hot cast-iron skillet in my recipe. And trust me, making naan at home is easier than you think!

It turned out delicious, soft, and puffy with beautiful golden brown spots on the surface. It’s super close to an authentic naan that you get in restaurants. This is probably the best naan recipe you can find online!

1. In a small bowl, add the sugar, warm water, and yeast together. Stir to combine well. The yeast should be activated when it becomes foamy, about 10 minutes. Transfer the flour to a flat surface and make a well in the middle.
   
   
2. Add the yeast mixture, yogurt, salt, and oil, and knead the dough until the surface becomes smooth and shiny, about 10 minutes. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rise in a warm place (for example: beside the stove top or warm oven). The dough should double in size in about 1 hour.
   
   
3. Divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Roll the dough to an 8” (230g) circle using a rolling pin.
   
   
4. Heat up a skillet (cast-iron preferred) over high heat and lightly grease the surface with some oil to avoid the dough from sticking to the skillet. Place the dough on the skillet. When it puffs up and bubbles, and burnt spots appear, flip it over and cook the other side. Repeat the same until all the dough is done.
   
   
5. Brush with melted butter, and serve warm.

Tips on How to Make Naan

• If the dough is sticky, add 2 more tablespoons of flour to bind the dough.
• Knead the dough with your hands until it becomes smooth and elastic, or use a stand mixer to speed up the process. Then, let it rest until it doubles in size.
• Make sure to use a very hot skillet to cook the flatbread. The high heat puffs up the bread for that iconic airy appearance. It’s done when burnt brown “blisters” or spots appear (see photo above).
• Brush the fresh-off-the-skillet bread with some melted salted butter and top them with fresh cilantro.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Calories per Serving?

This naan bread yogurt recipe has only 295 calories per serving.

What to Serve with Naan

Naan bread is great with Indian curries and sauces like Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala. For a wholesome Indian dinner, I recommend the following recipes:

Butter Chicken

Tandoori Chicken

Chicken Tikka Masala

Tandoori Shrimp

I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please share your photo in the Comments section and consider giving it a 5-star rating. I cannot wait to see your creations. You may also try my Chapati and Pita Bread next!