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A stack of garlic Naan bread on a plate.
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Garlic Naan Bread

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time2 minutes
rising time1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time1 hour 27 minutes
Servings: 6 Naan
Author: Aleksandra

Ingredients

for the Naan:

  • 1/2 cup (120g) milk
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 tablespoon instant yeast (6g)
  • 2 cups (250g) flour spooned and leveled, not scooped
  • 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons (30g) butter melted and cooled
  • 1/3 cup (80g) plain full-fat yogurt

garlic butter:

  • 5 tablespoons butter
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 2 teaspoons chopped parsley
  • big pinch of salt

Instructions

  • Make the dough:
  • Proof yeast (not entirely necessary if using instant yeast but it helps to be sure that yeast is working and the dough is rising faster): Heat milk to 100-105°F (38-40°C) - it should be pleasantly warm to the touch, it can't be too hot. Add sugar, and yeast, and set aside for 5-10 minutes. After this time the mixture should be foamy - a sign that yeast is working. If it's not - you need to start over.
    1/2 cup (120g) milk, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 tablespoon instant yeast (6g)
  • In a medium/large mixing bowl, stir together flour and salt.
    2 cups (250g) flour, 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • Add the yeast-milk mixture, melted and cooled butter, and yogurt.
    2 tablespoons (30g) butter, 1/3 cup (80g) plain full-fat yogurt
  • Stir with a wooden spoon until roughly combined.
  • Knead by hand or with a mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment. The dough will be very sticky so it will be difficult to knead by hand. Add more flour if you must, but try to avoid it. If using a mixer, knead the dough for about 5 minutes or until it pulls away from the edges of the bowl.
  • Coat your hands in a small amount of vegetable oil and take the dough out of the bowl on a counter or a rolling mat. Grease the bowl with a small amount of oil. Knead the dough briefly until it forms a smooth ball that is not sticky anymore.
  • First rise: Put the dough back in the bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and set aside until doubled in volume, for about 1 hour (I'm putting it in a turned-off oven with a light on).
  • Shape the flatbreads: Place the dough on a counter/silicone rolling mat and divide it into 6 parts.
  • Lightly flour your hands and stretch the dough into rounds, about 1/3 inch (8mm) thick (you can shape them any way you prefer). It's best not to roll out the dough with a rolling pin, but rather to either stretch it in your hands or press it flat with your fingers (avoid using your palms). This method creates an uneven surface for the Naan, resulting in parts that are thicker and super fluffy, alongside parts that are thinner and more crunchy – we love this contrast of textures. I also find that rolled-out Naan tends to be denser compared to Naan that is stretched or gently pressed with fingers.
  • Since the dough is rather loose, transferring it to the pan can sometimes be a bit difficult. If you anticipate having trouble with this step, you can stretch each portion of the dough onto a piece of parchment paper. After the resting time, place the flatbread on the pan with the parchment paper facing up, and simply remove the paper from the flatbread. This is the easiest way to move the bread onto the pan without changing its shape. Alternatively, you simply transfer the dough with floured hands. Try for yourself, which method works best for you.
  • Second rise: After you have shaped your flatbreads, leave them to rest for about 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, make garlic butter: melt the butter in a small pot, add garlic (pressed through a garlic press) and cook for 20 seconds (to reduce the harsh flavor of the raw garlic, but don't cook it longer so it doesn't go away completely). Take off the heat and add parsley and salt.
    5 tablespoons butter, 4 cloves garlic, 2 teaspoons chopped parsley, big pinch of salt
  • Cook Naan: Heat a thick-bottomed pan (cast iron works great) over medium-high heat.
  • When hot, add the first flatbread to the pan. When the flatbread is browned, turn it over and cook on the other side until well-browned (cook it for about 1-2 minutes per side).
  • Transfer to a plate and brush with garlic butter.
  • Repeat with the remaining flatbreads.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

  • You can add baking powder and baking soda to the recipe if you want your Naan bread to be even more soft and fluffier. I find it not necessary. When using just yeast, most of the Naan bread is soft and fluffy and the thinner parts in the middle are crunchy. When using both the yeast and baking powder with baking soda, I find the Naan too fluffy but still very very good. I just prefer to use just yeast.
  • Calories = 1 flatbread (1/6 of the recipe). This is only an estimate!

Nutrition

Calories: 284kcal