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4 Secrets to Authentic Indian Cooking
Tips, tricks, and recipes for perfect Indian dishes
FREE EMAIL BONUS:
4 Secrets to Authentic Indian Cooking
Tips, tricks, and recipes for perfect Indian dishes
Naan Bread
Naan is an Indian recipe; it’s a type of flat bread.
Traditionally they are baked inside a very hot clay tandoor oven, with charcoal or wood fire.
The naan bread 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.
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, or bake in the oven.
My naan recipe is made on a stove top, using a very hot cast-iron skillet.
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!
Frequently Asked Questions about Naan:
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!
Does It Have Eggs?
There is no eggs in the recipe. Vegan can’t eat them as this recipe calls for yogurt, which is not vegan-friendly.
The Origin of Naan
It originated from Iranian. However, different countries have its own version of the bread.
It’s a staple in Iran, many middle eastern countries, the Indian subcontinent countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, etc.
The Difference between Naan and Roti
They are both flat breads but different because of the ingredients used. Roti, for example, chapati is made with whole wheat flour and there is no yeast.
Tips on How to Make Naan
- 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.
How Many Calories per Serving?
This recipe is only 295 calories per serving.
What to Serve with Naan
They are great with Indian curries with sauce, for example: chicken tikka masala or butter chicken.
For a wholesome Indian dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
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 can’t wait to see your creations! Want more easy and delicious recipes? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
Naan Bread (The Best Recipe!)
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1/4 oz. (10g) active dry yeast ((2 1/4 teaspoons) )
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon oil
- some oil (for greasing the skillet)
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- Divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Roll the dough to an 8” (230g) circle using a rolling pin.
- 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.
- Brush with melted butter, and serve warm.
Video
Notes
- 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.
- Use a very hot skillet to cook the flatbread. It’s done when burnt brown “blisters” or spots appear.
- Watch the cooking video on this page for a step-by-step guide.
Great, but I smoked out the kitchen and set off the fire alarms, I wont be making this again
Hi Aniell, sorry to hear that. Please have the vent on or windows open, just in case!
Hi, the recipe was easy to follow and turned out wonderful just like what we get at the mamaks here in Malaysia :) How do you store leftover dough for the next day and how long can I keep it for?
This recipe was easy and absolutely delicious! I am dairy free and used coconut milk yogurt and there was no difference. Naan was light and fluffy and melt in your mouth. I will definitely make this again. Yum!
Hi Jodi, that’s awesome. Please try more recipes on my site: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/
This was the first flatbread recipe that really worked for me! I couldn’t knead the dough until it was shiny and smooth, but it still came out great! Thanks
Hi Chris, awesome. Please try more recipes on my site: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/
Here in the UK, we have a ‘world buffet’ chain called ‘Jimmy spice’. I love going there. The naans are cooked in front of you in a tandoor while you wait, and they are just fantastic!
This recipe and method has allowed me to replicate the taste of ‘ jimmys’ at home during our ‘lockdown’. It truly is the best naan recipe I have ever tried.
If you have looked at the recipe and are thinking of trying it, just do it! You wont regret it.
Thank you.
Peter
Hi Peter, thanks for your sweet comment.
Hi I’ve just made the dough but really only want to use half and my freezer is full , can I store the fresh dough in the fridge or freezer before cooking ? And how long for ?
Also o don’t need to use it for 6 hours should I cool it and keep in the fridge or keep it out warm until I do use it later please ?
I think it’s fine.
Great recipe! Worked perfectly! :-)
This recipe was great! I added a little bit of garlic to the dough and brushed with garlic cilantro butter. Came out amazing!
I am on sailboat in the south pacific. I came across your naan receipe 6 months ago and became addicted ! I have no yoghurt but kefir and the result is stunning. I love it and we very often do it with dahl or sindhi biryani, !! Thk you for such an easy and delicious receipe.!
Hi Nathalie, it must be nice to be in the South Pacific now. Thanks for trying my naan recipe please try more recipes on my site: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/
Tried it out and it was delicious with lentil curry
Awesome!
It was great but we forgot the salt as it is in the ingredients list but not on the cooking instructions. I assume you mix it a t the beginning with the sugar and water?
Made these to go with Red Lentil Curry and rice with peas. Made a home-cooked meal feel like take out at a fraction of the cost. Thanks!
Thanks for trying my naan recipe please try more recipes on my site: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/
Great recipe, I had my husband make them, he loves making bread, they were so tasty and went really great with my beef & quince tajine. A neat thing to make during our enforced lockdown in NZ.
Thanks for a fab recipe.
Thanks Janine, please try more recipes on my site: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/