Easy Homemade Naan Bread Recipe - Creations by Kara (2024)

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Easy Homemade Naan Bread Recipe – this soft and chewy bread can be made at home with simple ingredients. It is so easy you will want to make it all the time!

Easy Homemade Naan Bread Recipe - Creations by Kara (1)

Easy Naan Bread

One of my favorite things to bake is homemade bread. I make everything from dinner rolls to pizza crust. I wish I would have tried making naan bread years ago. It is so easy to make, cooks up quickly, and is absolutely delicious!

Yogurt in the dough not only makes the naan soft and tender, it adds great flavor. Everyone in my family goes crazy for this bread! It is a perfect accompaniment to any Indian or curry dish, but is also great served with soup.

Truth be told, we like it enough that sometimes I serve it all on its own. My kids love it for an after school snack, and my youngest even likes the leftovers for breakfast.

What is the difference between pita bread and naan bread?

Naan usually has yogurt in it making it a softer texture that is great for wrapping around sandwich fillings. Pita bread puffs up when cooked, leaving a more hollow interior that is great for filling. Both are flatbreads, but have different flavors and textures.

HOW TO MAKE NAAN BREAD

Ingredients needed:

  • warm water
  • instant yeast (I use SAF brand)
  • sugar
  • olive oil (vegetable or canola oil will work in a pinch)
  • plain yogurt (sour cream or greek yogurt can be used as a substitute)
  • egg
  • salt
  • all purpose flour
  • butter
  • garlic (optional)

You start by making a basic yeast dough. Combine warm water, yeast and sugar in a large bowl and let it sit for a few minutes.

Then add oil, yogurt, egg, salt, and enough flour to form a soft dough. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it and let it raise till doubled in size.

Easy Homemade Naan Bread Recipe - Creations by Kara (2)

HOW TO COOK NAAN BREAD

  1. Cut the dough into eight pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a circle about 6″ across.
  2. Heat a skillet to medium hot. Add a little bit of vegetable oil or olive oil.
  3. Place a circle of dough in the middle of the skillet and cook till bubbly and golden brown on the bottom. It takes 2-3 minutes.
  4. Flip it over and cook the other side for 2-3 minutes or till golden brown.

Easy Homemade Naan Bread Recipe - Creations by Kara (3)

Brush hot naan bread with melted butter. I added minced garlic to my butter and it was incredible! We even topped ours off with chopped fresh parsley, and it was the perfect addition to this easy naan bread.

Note: If you will be immediately be using the naan as flatbread for sandwiches, you can omit the melted butter so it isn’t quite so messy when you fold it in half and eat it.

Can I add garlic to the dough?

Of course! If you love garlic, feel free to add some fresh minced garlic to your naan dough. Stir it in with the oil and yogurt. You could even use garlic powder if you prefer.

Easy Homemade Naan Bread Recipe - Creations by Kara (4)

How many calories in naan bread?

If you prepare as directed, each piece is about 230 calories. If you omit the melted butter on top, they are about 207 calories each. If you need to add more than 2 1/2 cups of flour, you will of course increase the calorie count.

How long does Naan Bread last?

At room temp, naan bread should last 3-4 days on the counter if stored in an airtight container (like a ziplock bag). If you store it in the refrigerator it will last for about a week.

Can you freeze naan bread?

Yes, you can freeze naan. It’s best to freeze it before brushing it with melted butter. Let it cool completely, then wrap in plastic wrap and place in large freezer Ziplock bags. It will last up to 3 months.

How to reheat leftover naan:

Microwave: reheat in the microwave oven for about 15- 20 seconds, more if it is frozen.

Oven: Spread the naan bread in a 9×13″ pan and sprinkle lightly with water. Cover the pan with aluminum foil. Bake at 250° for about 8-10 minutes or till heated through.

Skillet: Heat a non-stick skillet to medium low. Cook each naan for about 2 minutes on each side, moving often to make sure it doesn’t burn.

When it is warm, brush it with the melted butter.

Easy Homemade Naan Bread Recipe - Creations by Kara (5)

What to serve with naan bread?

Naan is typically best with Asian and Indian foods, but you can really serve it with just about anything. We love it with soup! You can also dip it in hummus, use it to make wraps, or even as a crust for personal pizzas.

SOUPS TO SERVE WITH THIS NAAN BREAD RECIPE:

  • Tuscan Ravioli Soup
  • Mexican Chicken Corn Soup
  • Mexican Chicken Chili

FOR MORE EASY BREAD RECIPES, CHECK OUT:

Easy Homemade Naan Bread Recipe - Creations by Kara (6)

HOMEMADE NAAN BREAD RECIPE

Yield: 8 servings

Easy Naan Bread

Easy Homemade Naan Bread Recipe - Creations by Kara (7)

Soft and flavorful flatbread made with yogurt and topped with melted butter and garlic.

Prep Time20 minutes

Cook Time6 minutes

Additional Time1 hour

Total Time1 hour 26 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • 2 tsp instant yeast
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 3 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 cup plain yogurt
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour (more or less)
  • 2 Tbsp melted butter
  • 2 tsp garlic, minced (optional)

Instructions

  1. Combine warm water, yeast, and sugar in a large bowl; let sit for five minutes or till bubbly. Add olive oil, yogurt, egg, salt and 2 cups of flour. Stir till smooth.
  2. Add enough flour to make a soft dough. Knead a few times on a floured counter until smooth.
  3. Place dough in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 30-60 minutes.
  4. Cut dough into eight pieces. On a floured surface, roll out each piece into a 6" circle.
  5. Preheat a skillet to medium heat.
  6. Add a little oil or non-stick spray to the skillet. Cook each circle for 2-3 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown on the bottom. Flip over and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
  7. Brush the top of each naan with melted butter. I added garlic to my butter, but that is optional.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 232Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 184mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 6g

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a comment below and pin the recipe to Pinterest!

I hope you’ll give this naan recipe a try. Not only is it super easy, I think it rivals any naan you will find at an Indian restaurant. And it’s definitely better than store bought!

Easy Homemade Naan Bread Recipe - Creations by Kara (2024)

FAQs

Why do you put yogurt in naan bread? ›

Plain yogurt gives the dough a pillowy, stretchy crumb, and cooking it over high heat gives naan bread its signature glossy, blistered surface, which is finished by brushing with ghee or butter.

Why is my naan bread not fluffy? ›

Naan doesn't get bubbles – Pan not hot enough, dough not moist enough or improper leavening.

Why does naan need yeast? ›

Raising agent. Though they're flatbreads, naans traditionally get their bubbly texture from yeast (and, very traditionally, from wild yeasts).

Why isn't my naan bread puffing up? ›

If you roll out your naan too thinly, it can fully cook through or dry out before bubbles start appearing. Make sure that you don't roll it any thinner than about ⅛ inch (4mm). It's too thick. If your naan is too thick, it won't puff up and it can also end up underbaked in the centre.

Can I use milk instead of yogurt in naan bread? ›

2% milk works well, but I do not recommend using fat-free or skim milk. Full-fat Greek yogurt. The full-fat dairy in this naan recipe gives it a soft texture and rich taste. You can use a 2% or fat-free Greek yogurt, your bread may just not be as pillowy soft.

Can I replace milk with yogurt in bread? ›

Yogurt is a great option as a milk substitute, especially because of its ability to add moisture and enhance the texture of baked goods. Use an even cup for cup substitution, but be sure to consider the type of yogurt you're using.

How can I make my bread fluffier instead of dense? ›

Potato Flakes or Potato Water

Starch helps the dough by trapping the gas from the yeast in the dough and makes the bubbles stronger. This helps the bread to rise and be lighter and fluffier. If you are boiling potatoes, you can use the unsalted water in place of the water in your bread recipe to help out the yeast.

How do you make naan dough rise faster? ›

Let your dough proof at a high temperature (80–90°F or 27–32°C) and high humidity (about 75%) for at least 1 to 3 hours, as heat and moisture will make your dough rise faster. Add more yeast, blend in the starter, or knead in more flour to help initiate rising.

What ingredient makes bread more fluffy? ›

Add Sugar

Adding sugar weakens the gluten structure, absorbs water, and eventually makes the bread lighter and softer. As a result, sugar improves the bread's taste, structure and texture. Yeast also eats up sugar to produce carbon dioxide, which raises the dough and makes bread fluffy.

Why is naan unhealthy? ›

Skip: Naan

And like those fluffy spuds, this soft flatbread has little nutritional value. Most naan recipes call for Greek yogurt to give it that airy texture. But that's more than offset by less healthy ingredients like white flour, sugar, and oil.

What are the disadvantages of naan bread? ›

As such, you should avoid filling up on naan if you're watching your saturated fat intake. Moreover, store-bought plain naan has a relatively high sodium content, accounting for around 18% of the DV. Eating too much sodium may increase blood pressure and your risk for heart disease and stroke ( 7 ).

Can I let my naan dough rise overnight? ›

Place into a greased bowl and cover with a damp towel, leave to rise for 1-1.5 hours or until doubled in size (or refrigerate overnight for best results – see blog post for information on cold rising) Once risen, turn out onto a floured surface and gently press down into a circle.

What are the black dots in naan bread? ›

Its just the heat that creats the black spots after been cooked. Yeah, if its stale and you find those spots its a big no no. otherwise its only the heat that makes roti naan paratha etc indian bread look like black or brown or red spots on these edibles. Completely edible …

Why does naan need yogurt? ›

The extra protein from the yogurt eliminates the importance of advanced gluten development. The yogurt also adds some fat. The fat keeps the dough nice and soft and prevents the naan from hardening too much during the cooking process.

How to get big bubbles in naan? ›

Cook naan: Place a naan dough in the skillet and cook for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes until the underside is deep golden / slightly charred – the surface should get bubbly. Flip then cook the other side for 1 minute until the bubbles become deep golden brown.

Why does Indian food use yogurt? ›

What Type of Yogurt do We Use in Indian Cooking? Commonly, Indian people use yogurt in cooking. This type is called 'Dahi,' which uses Indian cuisine. It adds a creamy and light texture to the dishes without weighing them down.

What does yoghurt do in bread making? ›

Adding yogurt to any bread will result in a softer, fluffier crumb because you are adding milk fats to the dough. Yogurt will also make the dough rise faster. You can add yogurt to most bread doughs, however you may need adjust the other liquids in the bread to ensure you do not end up with a wet, sloppy dough.

How do you keep naan bread moist? ›

Damp Cloth: For larger breads like baguettes or naan, you can wrap them in a lightly dampened cloth or kitchen towel before placing them in the oven. The damp cloth will create steam during the reheating process, ensuring the bread stays soft and moist.

Why do you put yogurt over milk? ›

You will be astonished to know that as per the USDA, 100 grams of yoghurt contains 106 mg of calcium. Regular yoghurt has about 15 to 17 grams of carbs while Greek yoghurt has 8 to 9 grams. Yoghurt has more protein, lactose, calcium as well as many vitamins than milk, so it is considered the best.

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