Naan

Indian bread plays an important role in our everyday meals. There is no meal which is complete without a Phulka, especially in North Indian households.

Not only Phulka, there are many more Indian breads that are popular in North India and is found on the menu of every restaurant.

One of my favourites among them is Naan.

Easy to make and delicious to eat, Naan is made with all purpose flour and has a soft texture which tastes so good with spicy Indian curries and dals.

This is also my go to Indian bread to serve, whenever I make a special meal, either for my house parties or for any special occasions.

While the regular Naan is favourite at home, I sometimes also flavour them up to give an extra taste.

Add a big slice of butter while serving, and this Butter Naan will do its magic.

Learn how to make this soft Naan Recipe, which will be your new favourite to serve with festive meals, as it is very easy to make at home.

Here is the recipe of Naan.

What is Naan?

Naan is a soft, fermented flatbread which is made with all purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, sugar, yogurt, milk and kalonji seeds.

You can also add some whole wheat flour to this homemade Naan to make it healthier, but the texture of the bread won’t be as soft as the all purpose one.

Usually, we eat Naan in restaurants and avoid it making it at home, thinking that it is difficult to make.

But with this recipe, you will see that it is so easy and can be made even for your everyday meals using only a basic stove top and a griddle (Tava).

Traditionally, Naan is made in Tandoor, but here we will prepare it on Tava making it easy to make at home.

But let me tell you, you can also experiment with this delicious plain Naan and flavour them up to make it even more delicious and interesting.

Here, I am sharing some of my favourites with you,

• Garlic Naan : Add some finely chopped Garlic on top and brush the Naan with some melted butter. I make this version very often, as I love the flavour that garlic adds to this simple bread.
• Mint Naan: Just like Garlic, brush the naan with dried mint and melted butter. You can also sprinkle some fresh mint on top.
• Cheese Naan: Kids love this one, and even I am a fan of this one. Melted cheese on the top of soft bread, its delicious.
• Pesto Naan:  If you want to give it a little Continental twist, then add little pesto, seal the naan and then roll it again. Brush it with melted butter and one you take a bite, you will get that beautiful flavour of Pesto. So we can call it an Italian Naan, may be?

Well, you got it right? Experiment with your Naans and share with me how you made it. Even I will try your recipe!

What is the difference between Naan and Pita Bread?

Both the breads, Naan and Pita Bread is made of all purpose flour, but other ingredients differentiates from each other.

While Pita Bread is made of flour, yeast, oil, salt and water, Naan is made of flour, baking soda, baking powder, yogurt, milk, sugar, salt and kalonji seeds.

Also Naan, is an Indian bread, whereas Pita Bread is used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine.

What to serve Naan with?

My favourite way to serve Naan is along with creamy and delicious Dal Makhani or Butter Chicken and thinly sliced onions.

You can try both Restaurant Style Dal Makhani and Jain Dal Makhani, they taste delicious.

You can also serve it along with luscious curries such as Mughlai Paneer Korma, Malai Kofta, Paneer Masala, Restaurant Style Kadai Paneer, Mushroom Masala, Restaurant Style Paneer Butter Masala, Chicken Keema Masala and other divine curries that you can make at home.

How to make Naan in Oven?

While I find it easy to make Naan on stove, you can make it in oven too. Firstly, pre-heat oven to 500 F degrees.

Arrange rolled naan on a baking tray and then bake for 4-5 minutes or until it turns golden brown from both the sides.

Remove naan from oven, apply the butter and serve hot. If you want a charred texture, you can place the naan in the oven under broiler.