Naan Flatbread Recipes

NAAN (INDIAN FLATBREAD)

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the yeast, sugar and 1/4 cup warm water (110 to 115 degrees). Let stand until foamy, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Place 4 1/2 cups flour, the salt and baking powder in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a dough blade or in mixer with a dough hook. Mix to blend. Add yeast mixture, milk, yogurt, egg, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil and 3/4 cup warm water. Knead dough until smooth and elastic, 2 to 3 minutes in a processor, 5 to 8 minutes in a mixer, 8 to 10 minutes by hand. Dough should be soft but not too sticky. Add flour as needed.
• Place dough in a large, lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat all sides. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, then a kitchen towel. Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Punch down the dough and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll them into balls, place them on a lightly floured baking sheet and cover with a slightly damp kitchen towel. Let rise until doubled in size, 40 to 60 minutes.
• If using a tandoor, heat it to about 450 degrees. If using the oven, place a pizza stone on the bottom rack and heat oven to 450 degrees. If using a barbecue grill, set it up for direct grilling and heat to medium-high.
• Roll out a dough ball on a lightly floured work surface into a disk about 6 inches in diameter. Roll and stretch one end to make a teardrop shape. Brush off any excess flour. Repeat with remaining dough.
• If using a tandoor, drape one piece of dough over the round cloth pillow called a gadhi. Press the bread onto the hot clay wall. Cook the naan until the top is puffed, blistered and browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a skewer, gently pry the bread off the tandoor wall, taking care not to scratch the clay. Brush the top of the bread with ghee or melted butter, then place in a cloth-lined basket for serving. Repeat with remaining dough.
• If using an oven, turn on the broiler. Lay 1 or 2 pieces of dough on the pizza stone. Cook until the bottoms are browned and the tops blister, puff and are lightly toasted, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from oven, brush tops with ghee or melted butter, and place in a cloth-lined basket for serving. Repeat with remaining dough.
• If using the grill, brush and oil the grate. Lightly brush top of dough with butter and place butter-side down on grate a few at a time (do not crowd the grate). Grill until the bottoms are browned and the tops start to puff and blister, 1 to 2 minutes. Lightly brush the tops with a little butter. Invert bread, and grill the other side until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a cloth-lined basket, brushing tops of each with any remaining butter.

NAAN

Steps:

• In a large glass, dissolve the dry yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar with 3/4 cup warm water (about 100 degrees F). Let it sit on your counter until it's frothy, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, sift the flour, salt, remaining 1 teaspoon of sugar and baking powder into a large, deep bowl.
• Once the yeast is frothy, add the yogurt and the olive oil into the glass, and stir to combine. Pour the yogurt mixture into the dry ingredients and add the kalonji and fennel seeds, if using, and gently mix the ingredients together with a fork. When the dough is about to come together, use your hands to mix. It will feel like there isn't enough flour at first, but keep going until it transforms into a soft, slightly sticky and pliable dough. As soon as it comes together, stop kneading. Cover the dough with plastic wrap or a damp tea towel and let it sit in a warm, draft-free place for 2 to 4 hours.
• When you're ready to roll, make sure you have two bowls on your counter: one with extra flour in it, and one with water. The dough will be extremely soft and sticky-this is good! Separate the dough into 6 equal portions and lightly roll each one in the bowl of extra flour to keep them from sticking to each other.
• Shape the naan. Using a rolling pin, roll each piece of dough into a teardrop shape, narrower at the top than at the bottom. It should be 8 to 9-inches long, 4-inches wide at its widest point and about 1/4-inch thick. Once you've formed the general shape, you can also pick it up by one end and wiggle it; the dough's own weight will stretch it out a little. Repeat this method with the rest of the dough. (If you're making the gluten-free version, you'll have better luck pressing the dough out with your fingertips, than rolling.)
• Warm a large cast-iron skillet over high heat until it's nearly smoking. Make sure you have a lid large enough to fit the skillet and have a bowl of melted butter at the ready.
• Dampen your hands in the bowl of water and pick up one of your naans, flip-flopping it from one hand to the other to lightly dampen it. Gently lay it in the skillet and set your timer for 1 minute. The dough should start to bubble.
• After about 1 minute, flip the naan. It should be blistered and somewhat blackened, don't worry - that's typical of traditional naan! Cover the skillet with the lid and cook 30 seconds to 1 minute more.
• Remove the naan from the skillet, brush with a bit of butter and sprinkle with a little coarse sea salt. Place the naan in a tea towel-lined dish. Repeat with the rest of the naans and serve.

NAAN-LIKE EASY FLATBREAD

Steps:

• Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cumin seeds, and sugar together in a large bowl.
• Combine milk and 1 tablespoon oil in a small saucepan; heat over medium heat until warm, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir into flour mixture until small clumps form. Knead dough, adding more flour by the tablespoon if needed, until it is soft and smooth. Let dough rest, about 3 minutes.
• Divide dough into 4 equal pieces. Pressed into flat circles on a floured work surface.
• Brush a large skillet with remaining 1 tablespoon oil; heat over medium-high heat. Cook circles of dough one at a time until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side.

NAAN-STYLE FLATBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
• Remove pizza crust from can and unroll onto baking sheet. Using your hands, press out the dough until it is approximately 1/4-inch thick. Brush the dough with melted butter and sprinkle with seeds.
• Bake until lightly golden, about 10 to 12 minutes. Cut into serving size pieces.

SIMPLE NAAN / FLATBREAD (PLAIN)

Steps:

• In a medium-sized bowl, combine flour, baking powder, olive oil and enough water to bind (add it slowly to be sure, but you can always add a bit more flour if it's too sticky).
• Take half the mixture (a quarter if you'd prefer smaller naans) and roll into a ball.
• Dust a chopping board with flour and roll out flat into a naan shape (or the shape of your choosing!).
• Cook on a hot skillet / frying pan for 1-2 minutes on each side (I use a few squirts of 1 cal cooking spray and a frying pan).
• Once cooked brush naan with a little melted butter if desired.
• Repeat process with remaining naan mixture.

NAAN FLATBREAD PIZZA

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In skillet, add olive oil, onion and bell pepper and saute for about 10 minutes on medium low heat stirring frequently.
• Add garlic and saute for an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Place naan flat bread on a cookie sheet lined with baker's parchment paper.
• Slather on the ranch salad dressing to top side of naan.
• Then sprinkle cheese over top, then sprinkle bell pepper mixture from skillet on top of the cheese.
• Bake in oven for 15 minutes or until cheese is gooey melted.
• Remove and enjoy!

SAVORY APPLE NAAN FLATBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp and browned, about 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel to drain. Reserve the bacon grease in the skillet.
• Add apple and onion to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally until soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove skillet from the heat and stir in the bacon. Sprinkle thyme over the apple mixture, and stir in balsamic vinegar. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
• Place naan on the prepared baking sheet and brush with olive oil. Spread the apple mixture evenly on top. Cover with Gruyere cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until naan is golden brown and cheese is melted, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven, scatter a handful of arugula over the top, and serve immediately.