Naan bread, a flat bread originating in India and Pakistan, is popular with various curries. Restaurant or pre-packaged naan may taste great, but it's often loaded with fats, cheese, and salt. Try making naan at home without the added additives and fats. The following naan recipe takes up to forty-five minutes, just enough time for a batch of homemade curry to simmer.
Ingredients for Fast Naan Bread Recipe (serves 4)
Prepare for the recipe with a clean mixing bowl to blend ingredients and an iron skillet or pizza stone for cooking the naan.
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp active dry yeast
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- pinch baking soda
- pinch baking powder
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 1/2 Tbsp yogurt (curd or dahi is traditional, but plain Dannon or Yoplait works just fine)
- 3/4 cup lukewarm water
- 1 tsp virgin olive oil (optional)
- 1/4 cup flour for rolling
Note that the recipe may take longer than forty-five minutes with a skillet, as it may be difficult to cook more than one or two naan at a time.
How to Make Fast Naan Bread at Home
Forming the naan can be a fun activity for children or others who don't usually spend time in the kitchen. Encourage children to wash hands thoroughly before beginning, and give them a model naan to copy. Begin the naan dough at least forty five minutes before serving time, as forming and cooking the bread will take some time.
1. Dissolve active dry yeast in lukewarm water and let it sit for five to ten minutes.
2. Add salt, sugar, baking soda, and baking powder to the flour and mix well.
3. Add the oil, yogurt, and water. Make into a soft dough.
4. Knead until dough is smooth. Let sit for ten minutes. (For naan without time constraints, omit the baking powder in step 2 and let the dough double in three to four hours).
5. Meanwhile, heat the oven with a pizza stone to 500 degrees. If using a skillet, heat the skillet on high heat. The longer and hotter the surface of the naan, the better it will taste.
6. Turn oven to broil when ready to bake naan.
7. Knead the dough for several minutes. Divide into eight pieces.
8. Roll each piece of dough into an oval. Flatten the naan with the palms of the hands against the countertop, or stretch with the fingers gently as though making a small pizza . The ideal naan will be more than a 1/2 inch thick, as making the naan too thin will cause undesired crunchiness. Form three naan at a time and place on a clean plate or platter.
9. Wet hands slightly. Pick up the first naan and flip it in the hands, so that the water lightly covers it. Place it on the baking stone or skillet, and repeat with the others until the stone or skillet is full.
10. Cook naan for two minutes, or until up side is turning golden brown and/ or forming bubbles. Flip the naan and cook the second side in a similar manner.
11. Continue steps 8-10 until all of the naan is cooked. Drizzled each naan with olive oil before serving, if desired.
Serving Suggestions for Fast Naan Bread Recipe
Dip the naan into a curry and chutney for a tasty meal to remember. Experiment with adding small amounts of various spices, such as chili and curry powders to the naan, as well as longer or shorter cooking times so that naan achieves desired texture.
Fast Naan Bread will compliment Low-Fat Tandoori Chicken Curry with Carrots or any other curry nicely.
Melissa Roberts - A trained hospital chaplain, Melissa is a freelance writer, teacher, retreat leader, and spiritual director.
