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 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.
HOW TO COOK NAAN BREAD
- Cut the dough into eight pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a circle about 6″ across.
- Heat a skillet to medium hot. Add a little bit of vegetable oil or olive oil.
- 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.
- Flip it over and cook the other side for 2-3 minutes or till golden brown.
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.
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.
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:
- Bacon Cheddar Biscuits
- No Knead Artisan Bread
- Pull Apart Garlic Bread
- One Hour Dinner Rolls
HOMEMADE NAAN BREAD RECIPE
Yield: 8 servings
Easy Naan Bread
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
- 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.
- Add enough flour to make a soft dough. Knead a few times on a floured counter until smooth.
- Place dough in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 30-60 minutes.
- Cut dough into eight pieces. On a floured surface, roll out each piece into a 6" circle.
- Preheat a skillet to medium heat.
- 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.
- 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:
8Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 232Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 184mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 6g
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!
