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Naan recipe – chewy & fluffy!

Naan recipe – chewy & fluffy!

This naan recipe yields fluffy, bubbly, and chewy bread, perfect for enjoying with Indian curries.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Dough rising 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Course Breads, Sides
Cuisine Indian
Servings 6 naans
Calories 223 kcal

Equipment

  • Cast Iron Skillet
  • Mixing bowl
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • Rolling pin
  • tea towel

Ingredients
  

  • 1 teaspoon instant / rapid rise yeast (Note 1)
  • ½ cup warm tap water (~40°C/105°F in temperature)
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • 2 tablespoon milk full fat (low fat ok too)
  • 1 ½ tablespoon whisked egg at room temp (around ½ an egg, Note 2)
  • ½ teaspoon salt cooking / kosher
  • 1 ¾ cups bread flour or all-purpose/plain (Note 3)
  • 30 g ghee or unsalted butter melted (Note 4)

Finishes

  • 30 g ghee or butter melted (Note 4)
  • 1 small garlic clove for Garlic Butter option (Note 5)
  • Nigella seeds
  • Coriander/cilantro finely chopped

Cheese Naan

  • Shredded cheese (for cheese naan) – Monterey Jack, cheddar, tasty, colby, anything that melts (Note 6)

Instructions
 

  • Bloom yeast: Mix yeast with warm water and sugar in a small bowl. Cover with cling wrap, leave for 10 minutes until foamy.
  • Egg and milk: Whisk milk and egg together.
  • Flour: Sift flour and salt into a separate bowl.
  • Add wet ingredients: Make a well in the flour, add yeast mixture, and butter and egg mixture. Mix together with a spatula. Once the flour is mostly incorporated, switch to your hands and bring it together into a ball. No kneading is required.
  • Proof 1: Cover the bowl with cling-wrap, then leave in a warm place for 1 – 1.5 hrs until it doubles in size.
  • Cut into 6 pieces: Place the dough on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 6 equal pieces, then shape into balls into spheres with a smooth surface by stretching the surface and tucking it under.
  • Proof 2: Place balls on a lightly-floured tray or plate. Sprinkle lightly with flour, cover loosely with a lightweight tea towel. Put in a warm place to rise for 15 minutes until it increases in size by about 50%.
  • Roll out: Place a round on a lightly-floured work surface, flatten with your hand. Roll out into 3 – 4mm / 0.12 – 0.16" thick rounds (about 16cm / 6.5" wide).
  • Heat skillet: Rub a cast iron skillet with a very light coat of oil using ½ teaspoon oil on a paper towel. Set over high heat until you see wisps of smoke.
  • Cook naan: Place a naan dough in the skillet and cook for 1 to 1 ½ 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.
  • Cook remaining naan: Remove, set aside, and repeat with remaining naan, taking care to regulate the heat of the skillet so it doesn't get too hot.
  • Finishing: Brush freshly cooked naan with melted butter or ghee (or garlic butter, Note 5). Sprinkle with nigella seeds and coriander. Serve hot!

Cheese Naan

  • Roll out a naan per above directions. Brush with plain butter or garlic butter. Place a mound of cheese in the middle – about ¼ cup, lightly-packed. Bundle it up, money bag-style, then twist to seal.
  • Turn upside down so the smooth side is up. Roll out to 6-7mm / ¼" thick rounds.
  • Heat a well-seasoned cast iron skillet preheated over high heat, but not until the skillet is smoking. Cook naan for around 1 ½ minutes on the first side until golden – it will puff up! Turn and cook the other side for around 45 seconds.

Notes

This naan recipe replicates restaurant naan closely. Make ahead options available.

Nutrition

Serving: 1naanCalories: 223kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 5gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 277mgPotassium: 53mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 287IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg
Keyword bread, bubbly, chewy, Fluffy, Indian bread, Naan recipe
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