Naan bread has become crazy popular around the world. Also known as “Butter Naan” amongst real foodies! The soft, chewy flatbread originally came from Central Asia before making its way to India and Nepal, where it’s usually eaten with curries and stews. Naan has a distinct teardrop shape and is traditionally cooked in a tandoor, a super-hot clay oven. The smoky, charred flavor from the tandoor gives naan bread its signature taste.
Naan bread is such an integral part of Nepalese and Indian cuisine that any restaurant worth its salt provides this tasty treat. At New Everest Cuisine, an inventive Nepalese restaurant, we make traditional naan in an authentic tandoor oven using the freshest, locally-sourced ingredients. Our passion for crafting incredible naan bread and other traditional Nepalese specialties offers traditional foodies a memorable culinary experience during every visit.
Now, whether homemade or from an artisanal restaurant like our New Everest Cuisine, naan bread is a delicious treasure meant to be shared with friends and loved ones. While naan is traditionally made in a tandoor, you can easily make it at home using a skillet or griddle and your oven. The real secret to a killer naan is using high-quality, fresh ingredients and the right technique. It’s surprisingly easy to make naan at home. You’ll just knead to get your hands in the dough. Pun intended!!
Let’s dive in! Naan dough is usually made by mixing together all-purpose flour, yogurt, warm milk, sugar, salt, and yeast. The yogurt helps give naan its soft, chewy texture. You may need to add more warm water or milk to get that sticky consistency of the dough just right. Practice makes perfect! Now make sure to rest the final dough for a minimum of 30-45 minutes to help it rise. This process helps the naan puff up while cooking. Once the dough ball has puffed up nicely after setting, give it a firm poke with your fist to release the air bubbles. Kneading it for another minute or so allows the gluten to relax before rolling out the dough.
If you want an oval naan, you can roll and stretch each ball into an oblong shape, roughly 8 inches long and 6 inches wide. Make sure to use a sprinkling of flour on the rolling board to help the naan come free. As you roll out each piece, you brush the surface generously with melted ghee, garlic butter, or fruity olive oil. Toss on some chopped fresh cilantro, toasted sesame seeds, and minced garlic on top before cooking. As the naan is cooked the spices are slowly soaked up and the herbs become one with the buttery layers.
Let’s jump into finally getting that Naan to puff right up!! Heat your skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat and start adding your naan one at a time. You can add two if your pan is big or if the dough is smaller. Add them buttered side down. Let them cook for 2 to 3 minutes until you see the bread start to puff up and you start seeing brown spots. Brush the top with more oil or ghee and flip. Lightly brown the flipped side for around 2 more minutes.
Remove the naan from the skillet and stick them in a preheated 450 F oven for 2 minutes. Feel free to add more butter or ghee as you wish! Just like a pizza but much quicker! This helps the naan puff up even more. You can skip this step if you think the naan is already quite well done.
Your homemade naan is ready to serve! Enjoy with creamy butter chicken, hearty lamb curry, or delicious chana masala. There’s nothing quite like tearing into a hot and crispy butter naan, the flaky exterior giving way to chewy pockets of bread, infused with vibrant green, nutty, and savory flavors.
Naan has a rich history and lineage in both India and Nepal. As the cuisine spread to other parts of the world, naan morphed into different versions based on local tastes and available ingredients. No matter the variations, naan is the perfect comfort food and just requires a few basic ingredients to make at home.
It is finally time to give this recipe and your idea of making bread at home a try! Filling your kitchen with the irresistible and mouth-watering aroma of fresh-made naan. We all know that Food is meant to be shared, so call some friends over and embark on a culinary adventure together. And don’t forget to make an extra batch…butter naan never lasts long!