Naan Indian Flat Bread Recipes

Steps:

• Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together into a nice sized bowl.
• Stir in the beaten egg, yogurt and 2 tablespoons of the butter/ghee.
• Gradually stir in enough milk to make a soft dough.
• Knead dough very well.
• Lightly grease bowl and cover the dough with a damp cloth and place in a warm place for 2 hours.
• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
• Knead dough on a floured surface for 2 or 3 minutes until smooth.
• Divide into 8 pieces.
• Roll each piece into a ball, and then into ovals about 6 to 8 inches long.
• Grease a baking sheet with oil and brush both the sides of the rolled out Naan with oil.
• Sprinkle one side with poppy seeds if you wish to use them.
• Place the Naan on a baking sheet.
• Bake for 6 to 10 minutes until puffy and lightly golden brown.
• The bread puffs slightly, and will lightly brown on the sides.
• You can enjoy these Naan's plain or with your favorite Indian dish, such as a curry dish!

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.

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.

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.

Steps:

• Grease a large bowl lightly with ghee.
• In a small bowl, stir the yeast and a pinch of the sugar into the water. Set aside for 3 to 5 minutes, at which point the mixture should look foamy. If it isn't, wait for another minute, and if it is still without activity, start again with fresh yeast.
• In a bowl, whisk together the flours, salt, and remaining sugar. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, as if making a small volcano. Whisk the yogurt into the yeast mixture, then pour the yeast-water mixture into the middle of the dry ingredients (or crater, to continue the metaphor). With a fork, slowly bring the walls of the well into the liquid a little at a time, until all the liquid is incorporated but some loose flour remains. Turn the whole bowl out onto a clean work surface. Knead the dough until it is a satiny lump, 5 to 8 minutes. If the dough is too sticky to handle at any point, dust with flour.
• Place the dough in the ghee-slicked bowl and cover with a damp, lint-free kitchen towel to rest at room temperature until doubled in bulk, 3 to 4 hours. (At this point, the dough can be covered in plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Take chilled dough out of the fridge 30 minutes before using.)
• Preheat an oven to 200°F (95°C) with an ovenproof serving dish on the rack set in the middle.
• Turn the dough out onto a work surface. Divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Shape each piece into a tight ball by rolling between your cupped hand and a work surface. Re-cover with your towel and leave the dough to relax, at least 5 and up to 10 minutes.
• Preheat a large cast-iron skillet or nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Take one piece of dough and place in the center of a lightly floured work surface, keeping the rest of the balls covered. Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough into a round approximately 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick. If desired, pull on one side of the circle to form the traditional teardrop shape. If ever the dough resists rolling and springs back, move on and shape another ball of dough, then return to the first when finished. Once shaped, brush the dough with water and, if using, press any desired seasonings into the surface. Set the dough into the hot pan, wet side down, and brush the now-exposed dry side of the dough with a little water. Cover and cook, undisturbed, until bubbles form on the top of the dough, and the underside is speckled and brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the naan and press with a folded kitchen towel to flatten any large bubbles. Replace the lid and cook until the underside is as browned as the top, 1 to 2 minutes more, then flip back over and brush with melted ghee.
• Keep the naan warm in the oven as the remaining dough is shaped and cooked. The naan are best eaten right away but can be stored at room temperature for 1 day. Rewarm in a low oven, wrapped in foil. Garnish with the cilantro.
• Omit the yeast. Stir 3/4 cup (175 ml) milk with the yogurt instead of using water. Whisk together the flours, salt, and sugar as above, adding 1 teaspoon baking powder and a generous 3/4 teaspoon baking soda to the mix. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients to form a dough. Knead, cover with a damp kitchen towel, and let rest at room temperature for 1 hour before shaping and cooking as above.

Steps:

• In a bowl mix tepid milk with 1 teaspoon sugar and the yeast, then sit bowl in warm place for 4-5 minutes.
• Sift the flours, Xanthan gum, salt, baking powder into a bowl or food mixer. Add remaining sugar, oil, yogurt, egg and mix until smooth.
• Preheat oven to the highest setting. Make dough into 6 equal sized balls. Roll out balls into a tear shape that is ¼ inch thick (use rice flour if necessary to prevent sticking).
• Preheat a heavy baking tray in oven. Remove tray and put the naan on it. Return to the oven for 3 minutes or until the naan puffs up and turns light brown. Place tray under the broiler 30 seconds to 1 minute for extra browning.
• Brush with ghee or olive oil before serving.

Steps:

• 1. Combine the yeast, 1 tablespoon of the sugar and 1/4 cup of the water in a large bowl and let stand until foamy, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in the remaining sugar, the remaining water, the egg, milk, and salt. Add 4 cups of the flour and stir to form a dough that is soft and pliable, but not sticky. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic either by hand on a floured work surface, in a food processor, or a in mixer fitted with the dough hook; add more flour, if necessary. It should take 6 to 8 minutes.
• 2. Use 1/2 tablespoon of the oil to lightly oil a large bowl. Place the dough in the bowl, brush the top with the remaining oil, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let rise in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled in bulk, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Punch down the dough and pinch off 2-inch pieces. Roll them between your palms into smooth balls. You should have 14 to 16 balls. Place the balls on a lightly floured baking sheet and cover with a lightly dampened clean kitchen towel. Let rise again until puffy, about 30 minutes.
• 3. Preheat the grill to high.
• 4. When ready to cook, place a rolling pin, cutting board, bowl of flour, and the melted butter near the grill. (This is incredibly theatrical; your guests will be amazed.) Roll out a dough ball on a lightly floured cutting board to form a disk about 5 inches in diameter. Gently slap the disk from one hand to the other to stretch it into an elongated 7- to 8-inch circle. (The motion is rather like the "patty cake, patty cake" motion in the nursery rhyme.) Stretch the circle into a traditional teardrop shape and immediately lay it on the hot grate.
• 5. Cook the bread until the bottom is crusty and browned and the top is puffed and blistered, 2 to 4 minutes. Brush with butter. Invert the naan and grill the other side until lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes. Prepare the remaining naan the same way. Brush each naan with more butter as it comes off the grill and serve while piping hot. Serve whole, or cut each naan into 3 wedges to serve the traditional way.

Steps:

• Combine 1 c flour, yeast, and salt, in a mixing bowl. Stir in water, buttermilk, egg, oil and honey one at a time. Beat until smooth in mixer.
• Stir in enough flour to form a soft sticky dough.
• Turn onto floured surface continuing to knead in flour to make dough smooth and elastic (this may require more than the 3-1/2 c listed)3-5 minute.
• Place in an oiled bowl turning once to coat.
• Cover and let rise till doubled - about 45 minutes.
• Punch down and shape into 16 equal balls.
• Roll out each to 1/4 inch thickness,place on greased cookie sheet (I used my fingers and just pulled them like pizza dough), brush with butter and sprinkle with one of the seed toppings.
• Cook 450 for 5-8 minutes.

Steps:

• Stir the butter into the warm water until it melts (this should take about 1 minute at the most).
• Stir the yeast and salt in the water/butter mixture until dissolves; then allow the yeast to bloom (10 minutes).
• Stir in honey.
• Gradually work in enough flour to make a soft, workable dough.
• Turn out on a floured board and knead until elastic and smooth.
• Let rise until doubled in bulk (30 minutes).
• Preheat oven to 500°F.
• Turn out on a floured board and knead briefly.
• Form into 12 balls.
• Roll each ball out to 1/4-inch thick, and let rise for 15 minutes.
• Turn over onto a greased baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes (watch closely so they don't brown too much).

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve the dry yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar with 3/4 cup warm water. Let it sit on your counter until it's frothy, about 10 minutes.
• Using a large, deep bowl, combine the flour, salt, remaining 1 teaspoon of sugar and baking powder.
• Once the yeast is frothy, add the yogurt and the olive oil into the small bowl and stir to combine. Pour the yogurt mixture into the large bowl with the flour, fenugreek leaves, and dill (use fenugreek leaves instead of oregano if available, but not both). Note: the oregano, fenugreek, and dill aren't traditional ingredients in Naan bread, but they add a spectacular burst of flavor that I think you'll enjoy. Add them at this point if desired.
• Gently mix the ingredients together with a wooden spoon. When the dry ingredients are blended, knead the dough by hand. It should feel slightly sticky. Resist the urge to add more flour, as this is exactly how it should feel. As soon as it comes together, stop kneading. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it sit in a warm, draft-free place for 2 to 4 hours. NOTE: Pita bread recipes will have you "punch down" the dough after it rises, but don't do that here!
• If you plan to finish the bread later, seal the large bowl securely with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Return to room temperature before continuing the preparation.
• Dust the work area with flour. Separate the dough into 4 equal portions. The dough should be extremely soft and sticky; again, resist the urge to blend in extra flour, since this is perfect. Flatten the dough by hand, using flour on the work space to keep it from sticking, and stretch out the dough. Use a rolling pin to roll each piece of dough into a teardrop shape that's about 1/4-inch thick. Once you've formed the general shape, pick up the dough and stretch it out by hand using your fingertips.
• Warm a large cast-iron skillet over high heat until it's nearly smoking. Reduce heat to medium-high. Make sure you have a lid large enough to fit the skillet.
• Combine garam masala and garlic salt in a small bowl. Have sesame seeds ready separately.
• Fill a small bowl with warm water and have it handy near the skillet. 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. Dry hands, and sprinkle the naan with garam masala/garlic salt mix, then sprinkle on sesame seeds.
• The dough should start to bubble. After about 1 minute, flip the naan. It should be blistered and somewhat blackened. Cover the skillet with the lid and cook 30 seconds to 1 minute more.
• Remove the naan from the skillet. Place the naan in a bowl and cover with a kitchen towel. Repeat with the rest of the naans and serve.