Homemade Soft and Chewy Naan

Ingredients

• 0.5 cup warm water
• 0.333 cup plain full fat yogurt
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp instant yeast
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter (melted and cooled; or 2 tbsp neutral oil)
• 2 cup bread flour
• 0.75 tsp salt
• neutral oil (for greasing the bowl)
• garlic butter (melted, for brushing)
• parsley or cilantro (chopped, optional garnish)

Steps

1. 1

   In a mixing bowl, combine the warm water, yogurt, sugar, instant yeast, and melted butter. Ensure the butter has cooled completely before adding to avoid killing the yeast.

2. 2

   Add the bread flour and salt to the wet mixture.

3. 3

   Mix everything together and knead by hand or use a stand mixer until combined. The dough does not need to be perfectly smooth at this stage.

4. 4

   Lightly oil a bowl and place the dough inside. Cover and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.

5. 5

   Once doubled, gently stretch out the dough. It should be smoother and less sticky. Transfer to a work surface and divide into 6 equal pieces for medium naans (or 4 for larger ones).

6. 6

   Shape each piece into a ball and let them rest for 15 to 20 minutes to relax the gluten.

7. 7

   Start heating a pan over medium-high heat until it is really hot. Roll each dough ball into a circle or oval shape.

8. 8

   Place the dough on the hot pan and cook for about 2 minutes until lots of bubbles appear on the surface.

9. 9

   Flip the naan and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes on the other side.

10. 10

    Transfer the finished naan to a plate and cover with a clean kitchen towel to keep it soft.

11. 11

    While the naan is still hot, brush generously with melted butter or garlic butter and sprinkle with chopped parsley or cilantro if desired.

Notes

Ensure the melted butter is cooled completely before mixing with yeast. You can double or triple this recipe for larger batches. Covering the cooked naan with a towel is essential for maintaining its soft texture.

Nutrition per serving

• naan
• bread
• side dish
• vegetarian
• pan-cooked
• indian-inspired