This easy naan bread is an Indian flatbread that is soft and puffy. It can be served savory or sweet and is very versatile. My favorite is the cinnamon sugar naan dippers!
Ingredients
- Flour, All Purpose 3 lb
- Salt, Iodized 1 tablespoon
- Sugar, Granulated 1 tablespoon
- Egg – Room Temperature 1 each
- Milk – Room Temperature 1/2 cup
- Yogurt, Plain – Room Temp. 1/2 cup
- Olive Oil 1/4 cup
- Yeast, Active Dry 1 1/2 teaspoon
- Water 1 1/2 lbs
- Oil, For cooking bread 1/4 cup
Instructions
How to Make the Dough
- Gather all of your ingredients to make your flatbread.
- Mix the flour, salt, sugar, eggs, milk, yogurt, olive oil and active dry yeast together in a mixing bowl. You can use a flat paddle or a dough hook.
- Add the water and mix about 2 minutes, to make a smooth dough.
- Grease a large bowl. Place the dough into the bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a towel.
- Let the dough ferment/rise for 2 hours in a warm place. The dough should be about double in size.
- Using a scale, divide the dough into 4 oz portions.
- Pre-shape the dough into round tennis sized balls. Place balls onto a lightly floured surface, brush a little oil on the top of each. Cover with a cloth for at least 30 minutes.
- Starting with the first dough ball, flatten like a pancake by tossing, slapping and gently stretching with both hands. You want them to be about 6-7 inches round.
- Continue shaping the rest of the dough balls until you have done them all.
How to Cook Naan
- There are several ways to cook your naan recipe.
- Use a deck oven and place dough rounds directly onto the oven floor. Cook until done and golden brown. Remove with a wooden peel paddle.
- Using a convention oven, place the dough, in a single layer, on a sheet pan and bake until the bread is browned. Bake approximately 10 to 12 minutes. To prevent a soggy crust, you can open the oven door during the last 2 minutes to help remove excess steam that may build up in the oven.
- I cooked my homemade naan in a large non-stick sauté pan on medium low heat with a little bit of grease. Brown both sides until done. This took about 1 ½ to 2 minutes on each side. Continue cooking until all of the dough rounds are done.
Cooking Naan on the Griddle
- If you have an outdoor griddle, this is my preferred method of cooking the easy naan recipe. A large cooking surface, the Blackstone griddle is perfect for cooking up several of the dough rounds.
- After heating my Blackstone 36-inch griddle on medium heat until hot, I place a layer of olive oil onto the flat-top.
- Shape the naan dough.
- Line as many of the pre-shaped dough rounds onto the Blackstone griddle as you can.
- Once the naan bread is golden brown on one side then flip over and brown the other side.
- Remove from heat once both sides are golden brown.
Notes
How to Make Garlic Naan
Combine 4 tablespoons of melted butter, ½ teaspoon of minced garlic and 1 teaspoon of freshly chopped parsley in a bowl. After the flatbread has been cooked and is still warm, spread the garlic butter on top with a pastry brush. Rip the garlic naan into pieces and dip into a saucy main dish or spicy hummus. Or top the bread with pizza toppings and heat under the broiler or in a hot oven.
How to Make Cinnamon Sugar Naan Dippers
Cinnamon sugar naan bread is my favorite. After making these at culinary school and bringing some home for my family, I had to make more. Melt some butter in a bowl. With a pastry brush, apply the butter to the naan bread. Combine a cup of sugar with 1 tablespoons of cinnamon in a plastic baggy. Place the buttered bread (one or two at a time) into the baggy with the cinnamon sugar mixture and toss to coat. You can dip the bread into a yogurt dip or eat plain.
Naan Pizza
Naan bread pizza is easy to make. After the flatbread has been cooked, top with pizza sauce, add your favorite toppings and finish it off with a layer of mozzarella cheese. Place in a preheated oven and bake until the toppings are golden brown. Serve the flatbread pizza piping hot!!
How Long Does Naan Bread Last?
Store in a Ziplock bag or wrap in plastic wrap at room temperature. Naan bread will last 5-7 days. To refresh the bread, sprinkle with a little bit of water and warm up. The water helps the bread say soft and flexible instead of becoming hard and crunchy.
Can You Freeze Naan?
This batch makes 20 naan breads. If you have leftovers, then you can freeze them. Place parchment or wax paper in between each piece. Wrap all in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. You can freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to use, defrost and warm in a low oven or in the microwave. Serve right away.
Nutrition Information
Yield 20
Serving Size 1
Amount Per ServingCalories295Total Fat5gSaturated Fat1gTrans Fat0gUnsaturated Fat3gCholesterol10mgSodium338mgCarbohydrates54gFiber2gSugar1gProtein8g
Note: For exact nutritional information, consult your dietitian. All nutritional information is simply a guideline.
