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Naan

User Rating 4.5 Star Rating (6 Reviews) Write a review

By , About.com Guide

Naan
Naan is a flatbread found in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and other surrounding countries. Naan is served for dipping or stuffed with a variety of meats and vegetables. Topping can also be placed on top of the bread.

Naan is like pita, yet softer and most of the time larger. It can be frozen in freezer bags for up to 30 days.

10-12 servings.

Ingredients:

  • 1 package active dry yeast
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 3/4 cup warm water
  • 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup ghee (see recipe below) or vegetable shortening
  • 3 tablespoons plain yogurt
  • melted butter for brushing

Preparation:

Measure 3/4 cups warm water in a measuring cup. Add sugar and yeast. Allow yeast to soften and stir until yeast is dissolved. Cover measuring cup with towel and allow yeast and water to froth for 5-10 minutes.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour and salt. Add yeast water, yogurt, and ghee (or vegetable shortening)and begin to knead for 5-10 minutes until a dough forms.

Place dough in bowl coated with oil and turn dough around to evenly coat. Cover bowl with towel and allow to rise in a warm area for about 1 hour or until the dough has doubled.

Preheat oven to 400. Divide dough into 10-12 pieces and roll out on floured surface into circles. Place rolled out dough on greased cookie sheet or baking stone and brush with melted butter.

Cook in oven for 8 minutes or until lightly browned and puffed up.

Serve naan immediately or store in pantry or freezer.

User Reviews

 5 out of 5
Delicious & easy, Member amerytom

I have never been much of a baker (always seem to make breads tough and too firm). I tried this recipe and substituted Crisco for the ghee, and all I had was vanilla yogurt so I used that. The naan turned out so good I wrote the recipe in my collection. The dough was really sticky and I thought it was lacking body, but I resisted the urge to add more flour to stiffen it up (perhaps this is my problem with other bread recipes - adding too much flour and expecting a stiff dough to bake up tender!) and patted it out in forms by hand rather than rolling it and it worked fine. Also, I was out of butter so I sprayed with Pam and it turned out well! I added kosher salt, pepper and dried parsley to one batch and it was superb. This recipe is easy to adjust and very tasty.

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