Afghani Naan Flatbread Recipes

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together 1/2 cup warm water and sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the top, and let stand for about 10 minutes, until foamy.
• Place flour in a large bowl, and stir in salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the corn oil and yeast mixture. Add the remaining water in small amounts until you have a soft moist dough that can be handled. Turn out onto a floured surface, and knead for at least 5 minutes. Return to the bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Deflate the risen dough, and divide into 8 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll each ball with a rolling pin so it is oval shaped, about 6 inches long, and 1/2 inch thick. Use a fork or dull knife to draw three lines on the top of each loaf. Place the loaves on a baking sheet. Mix together the egg and remaining tablespoon of water; brush the tops of the loaves with the mixture. Sprinkle caraway seeds over the tops, if using.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until the loaves are shiny and golden brown.

Steps:

• Sift the flour with the salt into a large bowl; stir in the yeast.
• Add the vegetable oil, if using, and rub it in wih your hands.
• Gradually add in the warm water and mix with your hands to form a smooth, round, soft dough.
• Knead for 7 to 10 minutes until dough is elastic and smooth.
• Roll dough into several round balls, cover with a damp cloth, and let rest in a warm spot until dough has doubled in size.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degreesF; line a baking tray with aluminum foil and place in the oven to get hot.
• Once the dough has risen, divided into about 4 equal portions; on a lightly floured surface, shape or roll the dough out into an oval 1/2 inch thick.
• Wet your hands and use your fingertips to make deep grooves down the center of each oval; sprinkle with your chosen seeds, if desired.
• Remove the hot tray from the oven and place a prepared dough on it and bake until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes (the bread should be fairly crisp on the outside) being careful not to over cook or burn it.
• Repeat with remaining dough.
• Wrap each bread with a clean tea towel or tin foil to prevent them from drying out.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine yeast, sugar, and 1/4 cup warm (110 to 115 degrees F) water; let stand until foamy, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Into the bowl of your food processor, place 4 1/2 cups flour, salt, and baking powder; fit with the dough blade (or use a stand mixer with the dough hook) and mix to combine.
• Add in the yeast mixture, milk, yogurt, egg, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, and 3/4 cups warm water and knead until smooth and elastic (2 to 3 minutes - food processor; 5 to 8 minutes - mixer; 8 to 10 minutes - by hand); dough should be soft, but not too sticky, so add flour as needed.
• Lightly oil a large bowl, add dough, turning to coat, then cover bowl with plastic wrap, then a clean kitchen towel; let dough rise, in a warm place, until doubled, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Punch dough down and divide into 8 equal pieces, which you will roll into a ball and place on a lightly floured baking sheet; cover with a damp kitchen towel, and let rise until doubled, about 40 to 60 minutes more.
• If using a tandoor, heat it to 450 degrees F (if using your oven, place a pizza stone on bottom rack and heat to 450; or the grill should be st for direct heating at medium-high heat).
• On a lightly floured work surface, roll each dough ball into a disk about 5 inches in diameter; roll and stretch one end to form a teardrop shape.
• If using a tandoor, drape a piece of dough over the round cloth gadhi, then press bread onto the hot clay wall; cook until the top puffs, gets blishtered and browned, 1 to 2 minutes; gently pry off clay wall and spread with ghee.
• If using the oven, turn on the broiler, lay 1 or 2 pieces of dough on the pizza stone, and cook until the bottoms are browned and the tops blister and puff and are lightly toasted, 2 to 4 minutes; remove from oven and spread with ghee.
• If using the grill, oil the grate lightly, then lightly brush the dough with butter, place buttered side on grill and cook until the bottom is browned and the top is puffed 1 to 2 minutes; lightly butter the top of the dough, then flip and grill the other side until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes.