With its pillowy soft texture and enticing aroma, this naan bread stands as a testament to the culinary heritage of South Asia and the Middle East. We have an amazingly soft and moist recipe, with a delicious garlic butter spread!
This post is a recipe for fluffy naan bread. The recipe calls for instant yeast, honey, yogurt, all-purpose flour, and more. It is fluffy, chewy, and soft.
Naan bread comes in various forms, each offering a unique sensory experience. The classic plain naan, with its simple yet satisfying taste, serves as the perfect accompaniment to a wide array of dishes, from creamy curries to smoky tandoori meats. Its slightly charred exterior and soft, chewy interior create a delightful contrast that leaves taste buds craving for more.
Culinary Versatility
One of the most remarkable aspects of naan bread is its culinary versatility. While it shines as a side dish or accompaniment to main courses, it also serves as a canvas for creativity in the kitchen.
We love making this naan bread with shawarma chicken. It is the best combination and truly, it is one of our favourite meals and we eat it once a week!
Other ways of eating it are:
- Naan pizza - Transform naan bread into individual-sized pizzas by topping it with tomato sauce, cheese, vegetables, and your choice of protein. Bake in the oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Naan chips - Turn leftover naan bread into crispy chips by cutting it into strips or triangles, brushing it with olive oil, and seasoning it with your favourite herbs and spices. Bake in the oven until golden brown and crispy.
- Curry - Use the bread to pick up the curry. It's a great alternative if you're tired of rice.
- Naan chicken shawarma with Caesar salad wraps - filled with pan-seared shawarma chicken, crispy romaine lettuce, and delicious Caesar dressing.
Ingredients
Instant yeast
Instant yeast is commonly used in naan bread recipes because it doesn't require proofing or activation before adding it to the dough. This saves time and simplifies the bread-making process
Honey
Giving a slight sweetness always helps balance the taste of bread. If honey is not available, a tsp of regular sugar is also fine.
Whole milk
Adding milk will give it that chewy and soft texture. Whole milk cannot be replaced with low-fat milk.
Plain yogurt
Yogurt is another key ingredient that contributes to the soft texture of naan bread as it cooks on the griddle. Without protein in the dough, the bread may end up hard, but adding yogurt helps keep it soft and tender.
All-purpose flour
For this recipe, we are using all-purpose flour. It can be replaced with whole wheat if it is a preference of yours.
This post is a recipe for fluffy naan bread. The recipe calls for instant yeast, honey, yogurt, all-purpose flour, and more. It is fluffy, chewy, and soft.
Fluffy Naan Bread
Equipment
- stand mixer
Ingredients
Naam Bread
- ¼ cup warm water
- 1 tbsp honey
- ¾ tsp instant yeast
- ¾ cup warm whole milk
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp sea salt
Butter Garlic
- 8 tbsp butter melted
- 2-4 garlic clove grated
- ¾ cup chopped mix fresh herbs (cilantro, oregano, thyme, rosemary, chive, parsley, dill)
- ¼ tsp sea salt
Instructions
- In a large heat proof bowl, mix together the warm water, honey, and instant yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until the liquid is slightly frothy on the surface.
- In the stand mixer with the dough hook attachment, combine warm whole milk, plain yogurt, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. While the machine is mixing on medium speed, add the bowl of instant yeast liquid. knead together for 3 minutes.
- Once the dough comes together (it will look sticky), cover with a plastic wrap and let it sit for 1 hour or until it double in size.
- Meanwhile, make the garlic butter. Melt the butter in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds. Stir in the mix of fresh herbs and salt. Set it on the side.
- Preheat the griddle over medium-high heat. Deflate the dough and knead it briefly. Pinch off a golf ball-sized piece of dough and roll it out into a thin round using a rolling pin. Lightly spread garlic butter over the dough. Carefully place the dough on the griddle, buttered side down. Spread more garlic butter over the top while the first side cooks, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook for another 2 minutes. Repeat with the remaining dough.
