Freshly made bread… I love everything about it – the smell, the pillowy texture, the fantastic taste. I even love the process of making bread. It’s almost therapeutic in its ritualistic-like process; the kneading, seeing it double in size, punching it down (my favorite part), rolling, shaping, and then watching it turn a beautiful golden-brown as it bakes. One could meditate on baking bread – total zen.
One of my favorite breads, has a bit of different cooking process. Naan, an Indian leavened flatbread, is traditionally cooked in a tandoor – a large cylindrical clay oven (if you haven’t seen one, it kind of looks like a very large vase or jug). I wish I could get one of these things… they’re pretty freaking cool! Wood or charcoal is burned in the bottom of the tandoor, exposing the food to open flames. Convection cooking circulates air based on the shaped of the of tandoor, and radiant heat from the clay walls also aids in the cooking process. Not to mention, temperatures can reach an incredible 900 degrees F! Naan, and other such flatbreads get slapped along the interior walls and cook very quickly. Once done, they are peeled off of the tandoor and enjoyed.
If you happen to have a tandoor (you lucky duck!), then by all means, please use it! But for those of us who don’t, a grill, broiler, or stovetop will do just fine. For this recipe, I have used the latter method. Simply heat a large heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat, throw the dough into the pan, watch it bubble up, flip, quickly cook the other side, done.
Personally I like to dip my naan into tzatziki (or other similar yogurt dip). But feel free to use whatever dip you like: curry butter, hummus, or even just slathered with some butter or ghee (clarified butter). It’s even great with kabobs of all types. What’s you’re favorite way to eat naan?
- 1 envelope yeast (1/4 ounce / 21 gram)
- ¼ cup warm water (110 - 115 degrees F)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 4½ cups flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- ¾ cup milk, plus a few tablespoons if needed
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- melted butter for brushing
- 4 tablespoons fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
- In a small bowl, combine the yeast, water, and sugar. Allow to sit for 10 -15 minutes, until foamy.
- In the bowl of a standing mixer (or large mixing bowl if kneading by hand), add the flour, salt, and baking powder. To the dry ingredients, add the yeast mixture, yogurt, and ¾ cups of milk. Knead on low until soft and elastic, about 6-8 minutes using a standing mixer and 8 - 10 minutes if you're kneading by hand. Add a tablespoon of milk at a time if the dough is too dry (I needed just 1 extra tablespoon).
- Oil a large bowl with 1 tablespoon of oil. Roll the dough around the bowl to coat. Cover with a clean tea towel, and allow to rest undisturbed in a warm place for 1.5 to 2 hours. The dough should double in size.
- Punch down the dough and divide into 8 equal pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into balls. Place the rolled balls under a damp tea towel (make sure they're not too close together, as they will rise and expand). Allow to rise for 45 minutes.
- Roll each ball of dough into a ¼-inch thick oval.
- Heat a large cast iron pan (or other heavy-bottomed pan) over medium-high heat. Working with one piece of dough at a time, cook the first side for 1 - 2 minutes. Once bubbles appear, flip and cook for another 1 - 2 minutes. Place the naan on a plate and brush with the melted butter and sprinkle with cilantro. Serve hot and enjoy!
I love bread so much!!! Fresh, warm and homemade! But never even tried to make naan at home! Need to try your recipe, love the step by step pictures! Pinned!
Homemade bread is the best! Naan is super easy to make and so pillowy, you could sleep on it! 😉 I hope you enjoy, Mira 🙂
I’ve made my own tortillas, bread, croissants, etc…..but never naan!! Now I must and your recipe looks perfect!
Aw… thanks, Marissa 🙂 I’ve never made my own croissants, but it’s been on my to-do list forever! Omg… now I’m craving a nice buttery croissant!
Homemade naan? Meaning I can eat it whenever I want and don’t have to care about looking like a fatty and asking for 3 orders and pretending to share them? You make this look so easy!!
Lol! You’re cracking me up, Melissa! I too start to feel a bit embarrassed when I keeping asking for refills – I just can’t help myself! 😉
I have to challenge you – I think I love bread more than you!! Totally Carb Queen, right here!
Homemade naan bread has been on my list of things to try for ages 🙂 Looking forward to making this!
Oh no, no, no… I’ll have to take you on that challenge, Nagi. I would probably die of starvation if I didn’t have carbs in my life 😉
I hope you enjoy the naan as much as I do 😛
Must make naan!! Thank you for posting instructions for doing it by hand (the only way I do bread) – I don’t own a stand mixer and don’t want, or have room, for one. If you don’t mind mixing cultures, sprinkling the naan with za’atar is another possibility…
Yes, there is certainly something therapeutic about kneading by hand – I love the feel of it when you get that perfect soft and elastic texture!
I’m a hapa girl, so I’m all about mixing cultures 😉 A sprinkling of Za’atar sounds fantastic – get a little lemony/citrus taste in there from the blend with sumac! Ooo… I’m going to try that! Great idea, Susan!
I love to make Indian dishes, it’s my favorite cuisine because of growing up in England. I have never made my own naan and I have to say yours looks so authentic and good, you’ve inspired me. My dream is to have a tandoor 🙂
We certainly share that same dream, Janette. I want a brick oven pizza maker too. Perhaps if I win the lottery one day 😉 Indian cuisine is one of my favorites too – such wonderfully assertive spices!
I don’t know how you were able to make me crave naan, but you were able to do it. Great photos, Kathleen.
Is it really that hard to get anyone to crave freshly baked bread? 😉 Thanks so much, Thao!