Nan Recipes

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.

EASY NAAN

Steps:

• Combine water, yeast, and sugar in a large bowl. Let stand until bubbly and frothy, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in milk, egg, salt, and enough flour to make a soft dough. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth, 6 to 8 minutes. Place dough into a well oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and set aside to rise until the dough has doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Punch down dough and knead well. For garlic naan, knead in garlic at this point.
• Pinch off small handfuls of dough about the size of golf balls. Roll into balls, cover with a clean cloth, and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
• Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Roll out 2 balls of dough into elongated ovals. Place on an ungreased baking sheet and cook under the broiler until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Brush butter on both sides and flip. Continue broiling until the second side is firm and golden, 2 minutes more. Repeat with remaining dough.

NAAN BREAD (THE BEST RECIPE)

Steps:

• In a small bowl, add the sugar, warm water, and yeast together. Stir to combine well. The yeast should be activated when it becomes foamy, about 10 minutes. Transfer the flour to a flat surface and make a well in the middle. Add the yeast mixture, yoghurt, salt and oil, knead the dough until the surface becomes smooth and shiny, about 10 minutes. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rise in a warm place (for example: beside the stovetop or warm oven). The dough should double in size, about 1 hour.
• Divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Roll the dough to a 8" circle using a rolling spin.
• Heat up a skillet (cast-iron preferred) over high heat and lightly grease the surface with some oil to avoid the dough from sticking to the skillet. Place the dough on the skillet. When it puffs up and bubbles and burnt spots appear, flip it over and cook the other side. Repeat the same until all dough are done.
• Brush the naan with the melted butter, serve warm.

NAAN

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand about 10 minutes, until frothy. Stir in sugar, milk, egg, salt, and enough flour to make a soft dough. Knead for 6 to 8 minutes on a lightly floured surface, or until smooth. Place dough in a well oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and set aside to rise. Let it rise 1 hour, until the dough has doubled in volume.
• Punch down dough, and knead in garlic. Pinch off small handfuls of dough about the size of a golf ball. Roll into balls, and place on a tray. Cover with a towel, and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
• During the second rising, preheat grill to high heat.
• At grill side, roll one ball of dough out into a thin circle. Lightly oil grill. Place dough on grill, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until puffy and lightly browned. Brush uncooked side with butter, and turn over. Brush cooked side with butter, and cook until browned, another 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from grill, and continue the process until all the naan has been prepared.

NAAN RECIPE

Steps:

• Measure 3/4 cups warm water in a measuring cup.
• Add sugar and yeast.
• Allow yeast to soften and stir until yeast is dissolved.
• Cover measuring cup with towel and allow yeast and water to froth for 5 to 10 minutes.
• In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour and salt.
• Add yeast water, yogurt, and ghee (or vegetable shortening ) and begin to knead for 5 to 10 minutes until a dough forms.
• Place dough in bowl coated with oil and turn dough around to evenly coat.
• Cover bowl with towel and allow to rise in a warm area for about 1 hour or until the dough has doubled.
• Preheat oven to 400 F. Divide dough into 10 to 12 pieces and roll out on floured surface into circles.
• Place rolled out dough on greased cookie sheet or baking stone and brush with melted butter.
• Cook in oven for 8 minutes or until lightly browned and puffed up. Serve naan immediately or store in pantry or freezer.

NAAN

Steps:

• Sift the flour with the baking powder, salt and baking soda into a large bowl three times; stir in the sugar. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the yogurt; mix until wet clumps form. Slowly add the milk and, using your hands, work the milk into the flour mixture until a smooth dough forms. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let rest 2 to 3 hours, or wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight (the longer the dough rests, the softer the naan will be).
• Heat a griddle or large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Divide the dough into 8 pieces and form into balls. Flatten each ball into a disk and dust with flour. Using a rolling pin, roll each disk into a 1/4-inch-thick oval. Brush the tops with water. Transfer the disks to the griddle, water-side down (do this in batches, if necessary). Using foil or an upside-down stainless-steel bowl, cover the naan and cook until bubbles appear on the surface, about 2 minutes.
• Using tongs, hold each piece of naan over the flame of a gas burner, turning and rotating often, until cooked through and charred in spots, about 20 seconds per side. (If you don't have a gas stove, char the naan under the broiler.) Wrap in a kitchen towel to keep warm.

NAAN

Steps:

• Mix together flour, baking powder and salt.
• Stir in the yogurt till the dough is too stiff for a spoon, then knead it in the bowl till it holds together well, adding more flour if necessary.
• Turn it out on a floured surface and continue kneading for about 5 minutes till the dough feels smooth and elastic.
• Form the dough into a ball and put it in an oiled bowl, covered with a towel, to rest for an hour or longer.
• Take the dough out and cut it into 10 equal pieces. Form each into a ball and press the balls flat into round discs.
• Heat a large frying pan or griddle, either seasoned cast iron or a good non-stick finish.
• Heat your oven to about 500 and have the broiler on (this is how the original recipe states it - I know with my oven it's either 500 degree oven OR the broiler, but you get the idea.
• Take 1 piece of dough at a time and roll it out on a floured surface till it is about 8-10 inches across and less than 1/4 inch thick.
• Lay it on the hot griddle and cook it over a medium heat for 4-5 minutes (I don't think mine took that long).
• It will puff up in places or all over, and there will be some blackish-brown spots on the bottom.
• Slide a spatula under the naan and transfer it to the oven, directly onto the rack, for a minute or two, just till it finishes puffing up into a balloon and begins to color lightly on top.
• Remove naan from the oven and brush it lightly with melted butter if you like.
• Continue this way with all the dough, stacking the breads into a napkin-lined basket.
• Serve the breads hot, fresh from the oven, or let them cool and wrap them up.
• To reheat, wrap them in aluminum foil, in packets of 4 or 5 breads and put them in a 400 degree oven for 10-15 minutes.

NAAN BREAD

Steps:

• Put 125ml warm water into a bowl and sprinkle over the yeast and 1 tsp of the sugar. Leave for 10-15 mins or until frothy. In a larger bowl, put the flour, remaining sugar, ½ tsp salt and baking powder. Mix together then make a well in the centre in which to pour the melted butter, yogurt, nigella seeds and yeast mixture. Stir well, then start to bring the mixture together with your hands. If it's very wet add a spoonful of flour but if it's dry add a splash more warm water. It should be a very soft dough but not so wet that it won't come together into a ball.
• When you're happy with the consistency, start kneading, first in the bowl, then transfer the mixture onto a well-floured surface and continue to knead for 10 mins or until smooth and elastic but still soft. Butter a large bowl, then shape the dough into a ball and place in the prepared bowl. Cover and leave in a warm place for about 1 hr or until doubled in size.
• Divide the dough into six balls and put them on a baking tray dusted with flour, then cover the tray with a damp tea towel. Heat a large non-stick frying pan over a high heat. Take one of the balls of dough and roll it out to form a teardrop shape that's approximately 21cm long and around 13cm at the widest part. When the pan is very hot, carefully lay the naan bread into it. Let it dry fry and puff up for about 3 mins, then turn over and cook on the other side for another 3-4 mins or until cooked through and charred in patches.
• Heat the oven to its lowest setting and put the cooked naan bread on a baking sheet. Brush with a little melted butter and cover with foil. Keep warm in the oven and layer up the cooked naans one on top of each other as you make them, brushing each one with melted butter or ghee as you go. Serve warm with curry or dips.

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.

NAN

Steps:

• Combine the water, yeast and 1 teaspoon of sugar in a small bowl and stir until sugar is dissolved. Set aside for 10 minutes, or until the mixture is frothy. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the yogurt, remaining 2 teaspoons of sugar, the egg, 1/4 cup of ghee and salt and stir until smooth. Stir in the yeast mixture.
• Place 2 cups of the flour in a large bowl. Pour in the yogurt-and-yeast mixture and stir until smooth. Gradually stir in more flour. When the dough becomes too difficult to stir, begin kneading, incorporating flour until you have a stiff dough. (You may use slightly more or less than the 3 1/2 cups of flour.) Knead for 10 to 12 minutes more, or until the dough is elastic. Grease a large bowl with ghee. Add the dough, turning to coat it all over with ghee. Cover with a cloth and leave the dough to rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough briefly; shape into 8 balls of equal size. Cover with a cloth and allow to rest 10 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and place 2 ungreased baking sheets inside. Pat the balls into disks that are slightly thinner in the center than at the edges and about 4 inches in diameter. Holding one edge, pull the opposite edge outward, forming a teardrop shape that is 6 to 8 inches long and 3 to 4 inches wide at the wider end. Brush each nan with ghee and sprinkle with poppy seeds. Divide the loaves between the 2 hot baking sheets and bake for 10 minutes, or until the breads are golden and puffy. (If they do not brown quickly enough, run them briefly under a preheated broiler.) Serve warm or at room temperature.