This homemade naan is pillowy soft on the inside, with those beautiful charred bubbles on the outside. It's easy to make with only 6 ingredients and tastes better than anything you get from the restaurant.
Try serving it with my butter chicken or mung bean curry!
About This Recipe
I think making homemade naan is one of the best ways to elevate Indian food at home. It takes some planning ahead of time (because the dough needs time to rise), but once it's done, you won't regret it. The smell of freshly made naan is to die for.
When I was growing up, my Indian friends told me their families never made naan at home. Their parents always ordered it from the local shops, and someone in the family (usually the dad coming home from work) would pick it up on the way home. It was too much work, in their opinion, but honestly, it's not that difficult.
I loved cooking Indian food as a kid, so naturally, I got into making my own naan. The process is actually quite simple; it just requires some time for the dough to rise. Traditional naan is cooked in a tandoor oven, but for home cooking purposes, you can just use a large nonstick skillet. A pizza oven would actually be the best substitute, but most people I know don't own one of those.
Key Ingredients
Flour: I used all-purpose flour. Make sure you spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level it off with a knife. This will ensure you get the most accurate measurement of flour.
Water: Start with warm water so that the yeast can multiply faster, around 110ยฐF.
Instant yeast: You can use active yeast as well. But I like instant yeast because you do not have to activate it first.
Sugar & salt: For flavoring the dough. The sugar also feeds the yeast.
Olive oil: For flavor and to make the dough softer.
Melted butter: For brushing on after cooking the naan. This protects the naan from drying out.
Instructions
STEP 1: Add the flour to a large mixing bowl. Whisk the warm water, sugar, yeast, salt, yogurt, and olive oil in a liquid measuring cup. Pour into the flour and mix until combined.
STEP 2: Cover with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rest in a warm place for 45-90 minutes.
STEP 3: Sprinkle your work surface with flour and divide the dough into 6 portions.
STEP 4: Coat the dough in a bowl of flour and stretch it with your hands into a thin oval shape.
STEP 5: Heat a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat until hot. Lay the dough flat in the pan and cover with a lid. Cook for 1-2 minutes until bubbly.
STEP 6: Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes until the bottom is lightly brown and charred in some spots. Transfer to a plate and brush with melted butter.
๐ Recipe
Homemade Naan
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and levelled)
- ยพ cup warm water (about 110ยฐF)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Add the flour to a large mixing bowl.
- To a liquid measuring cup, add the warm water, sugar, yeast, salt, yogurt, and olive oil. Whisk until thoroughly combined.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until combined (it's okay if it's not completely smooth- the dough should be fairly wet).
- Cover with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place for 45-90 minutes. For the warm place, I preheat my oven for 30 seconds, turn it off, then place the dough inside with the oven light on.
- Fill a bowl with about ยฝ a cup of flour. Sprinkle flour on your work surface, then divide the dough into 6 pieces.
- Take one piece of dough and roll it in the bowl of flour so it's not sticky. Then stretch it into an oval shape using your hands. If the dough is not stretching, let it rest for 3 minutes to allow the gluten to relax.
- Heat a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat until hot. Lay the dough flat in the pan and cover with a lid. Cook for 1-2 minutes until bubbly, then flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes until the bottom is lightly brown and charred in some spots. Transfer to a plate and brush with melted butter.
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