To make naan, follow these general steps based on popular recipes:
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Yeast (active dry or instant)
- Sugar
- Salt
- Yogurt
- Oil (such as vegetable or olive oil)
- Warm water or milk
- Optional: garlic, kalonji seeds, coriander leaves, melted butter or ghee for brushing
Instructions
1. Activate the yeast:
Mix sugar, warm water, and yeast in a small bowl. Let it sit about 10 minutes
until foamy, indicating the yeast is active
. 2. Make the dough:
In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, and optionally baking powder or baking
soda. Add yogurt, oil, and the yeast mixture (or warm milk if using baking
powder/soda). Mix and knead until you get a soft, elastic dough that dents
easily when pressed
. 3. Let the dough rise:
Cover the dough and let it rest in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours until it
doubles in size
. 4. Divide and shape:
Divide the dough into 6 to 8 equal parts. Roll each piece into an oval or
round shape about 1/8 inch thick, roughly 8 to 9 inches long
. 5. Cook the naan:
Heat a cast iron or heavy skillet over medium-high heat until very hot.
Lightly grease the pan. Place the rolled dough on the skillet. Cook until
bubbles form and the bottom has golden brown spots, about 1-2 minutes. Flip
and cook the other side similarly
. 6. Optional finishing touches:
Brush the hot naan with melted butter or ghee. You can also press garlic,
kalonji seeds, or coriander leaves onto the dough before cooking for extra
flavor
. 7. Serve warm:
Naan is best served fresh and warm, often alongside dishes like butter chicken
or dal makhani
. This method produces soft, chewy, and fluffy naan bread similar to restaurant style without needing a tandoor oven
. This summary combines steps from several trusted recipes for a reliable homemade naan method