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    Home » Recipes » Bread Recipes

    Homemade Naan Bread Recipe

    Published: Mar 11, 2023 by Chef Dennis Littley

    50 shares
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    • Yummly
    5 from 31 votes
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pinterest image for Naan bread.

    My Homemade Naan Bread Recipe is easy to make and is so much better than the store-bought variety. Tender, soft, and buttery, my naan bread is as good as your favorite Indian restaurant.

    Stack of Naan Bread.

    I was surprised by how easy it was to make Naan Bread and how much I enjoyed the chewy texture of the cooked naan. I thought it would be the same as pita bread, and while there are similarities, I think my naan bread recipe makes a much better flatbread.

    Naan bread with chicken tikka masala.

    My Indian Naan Bread recipe is the perfect accompaniement to Butter Chicken or my Chicken Tikka Masala.

    Traditionally, naan bread is cooked in a tandoor oven (cylindrical clay oven) fired by wood or charcoal at a very high temperature. Using this method the high temps cause the flatbread to cook quickly, only taking 2-3 minutes to achieve a golden brown color with charred spots.

    These days naan bread is usually made stovetop using a cast iron pan to replicate the appearance you get from the authentic tandoor cooking process.

    Ingredients to make Naan Bread

    ingredients to make recipe.

    Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Naan Bread. In Chef Speak, this is called the “Mise en Place,” which translates to “Everything in its Place.”

    Not only does setting up your ingredients ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

    Simple Pantry Ingredients

    • all-purpose flour
    • active dry yeast
    • granulated sugar
    • water
    • olive oil (or vegetable oil)
    • Greek yogurt
    • salt
    • butter

    How to make Naan Bread

    collage showing how to make recipe.
    • Add the sugar, warm water, and yeast to a small mixing bowl.
    • Stir to combine. Let the mixture set for 10 minutes to activate the yeast. It will be foamy when activated.
    • Place the flour on a clean flat surface and make a well in the middle.
    • Add the yeast mixture, yogurt, salt, and oil to the center of the flour.

    *If you want to make Garlic Naan, add two teaspoons of minced garlic to the wet ingredients before mixing it into the dough.

    collage how to finish dough.

    Knead the dough until the surface becomes smooth and shiny, about 10 minutes. Then cover the dough with a damp cloth and let the dough rise in a warm place for one hour. The dough should double in size.

    • Dump the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
    • Divide the dough into 8 equal portions.
    rolled out dough, with rolling pin.

    Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to make an 8” circle.

    collage of how to cook recipe.
    • Place a cast iron skillet ( or regular skillet) over high heat and lightly grease the surface with an oiled paper towel, to keep the dough from sticking.
    • When the skillet is hot, place the dough on the skillet. The dough will puff up as it cooks, and air bubbles will form along with blackened spots, on the golden brown first side.
    • At this point flip over the naan and let the other side cook.
    buttering naan bread with blue silicone brush.

    Brush the naan with the melted butter and serve warm. Naan bread goes well with curries, hummus, kebabs, grilled vegetables, soups, stews, and rice dishes.

    For Garlic Naan, add one tablespoon of finely minced garlic to the melted butter and let it cook for one minute over medium heat. Brush the naan with the garlic butter.

    Stack of Naan Bread.

    This buttery homemade naan is extremely versatile and makes a delicious addition to your dinner table.

    Wouldn’t you love to surprise your family with delicious homemade naan bread? I know they’re going to love it, and it’s a good way to introduce Indian dishes to your friends and family.

    Recipe FAQ’s

    Is naan bread a healthy bread option?

    According to experts, naan bread is more nutrient-dense than pita or white bread. Although it may contain more carbs and sugars, it earns its reputation as a healthy alternative with its high amounts of protein and fiber compared to bread or pita.

    What’s the difference between naan and pita?

    Naan is more tender and moist than pita bread, and this is due to the oil and butter used to make the bread. The fat content of naan is twice that of pita, which makes a big difference in the flavor and tenderness of the bread.

    How do I make Garlic Naan?

    If you want to make Garlic Naan, add two teaspoons of minced garlic to the wet ingredients before mixing it into the dough.
    After baking, add one tablespoon of finely minced garlic to the butter and let it cook for one minute over medium heat. Brush the naan with the garlic butter.

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    Stack of Naan Bread.
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    5 from 31 votes

    Naan Bread

    My Naan Bread Recipe is easy to make and is so much better than the store bought variety. Tender, soft and buttery my naan bread is as good your favorite Indian restaurant.
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Rise Time1 hr
    Total Time1 hr 30 mins
    Course: Bread
    Cuisine: Indian
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 193kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Equipment

    • Cast Iron Skillet

    Ingredients

    • 1 teaspoon sugar
    • ½ cup warm water
    • 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast
    • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
    • ½ cup Greek yogurt plain
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil
    • olive oil for the skillet
    • 3 tbsp melted butter
    US Customary – Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Add the sugar, warm water, and yeast to a small mixing bowl. Stir to combine.
      Let the mixture set for 10 minutes to active the yeast. It will be foamy when activated.
    • Place the flour on a clean flat surface and make a well in the middle.
    • Add the yeast mixture, yogurt, salt, and oil to the center of the flour.
    • 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 one hour.
      The dough should double in size.
    • Divide the dough into 8 equal portions.
    • Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to make an 8” circle.
    • Place a cast iron skillet ( or regular skillet) over high heat and lightly grease the surface with an oiled paper towel, to keep the dough from sticking.
    • When the skillet is hot, place the dough on the skillet. The dough will puff up as it cooks, and air bubbles will form along with blackened spots on the surface of the naan bread.
    • At this point flip over the naan bread and cook the other side.
    • Brush the naan with the melted butter and serve warm.

    Notes

    For Garlic Naan: 
    Add two teaspoons of minced garlic to the wet ingredients before mixing it into the dough.
    After baking, add one tablespoon of finely minced garlic to the butter and let it cook for one minute over medium heat. Brush the naan with the garlic butter.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 186mg | Potassium: 65mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 132IU | Vitamin C: 0.003mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

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    1. Irv

      March 25, 2023 at 8:44 am

      We really enjoy your recipes and website. I have made many of your dishes and am going to try the Naan.
      Quick question, if we wanted garlic naan would we simply add minced fresh garlic to the dough?
      Thank you

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        March 25, 2023 at 10:04 am

        Good Question, Irv. I’ve added it to the post.

        If you want to make Garlic Naan, add two teaspoons of minced garlic to the wet ingredients before mixing it into the dough.
        After baking, add one tablespoon of finely minced garlic to the butter and let it cook for one minute over medium heat. Brush the naan with the garlic butter.

        Reply
    2. Emily

      March 24, 2023 at 12:37 am

      5 stars
      We really enjoyed this recipe! It was so easy to follow!

      Reply

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