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Naan

Soft and pillowy flatbread cooked in a blisteringly hot skillet to produce golden charred spots and brushed with rich melted ghee.

87 minMediumServes 6230 cal/serving

IndianSideStovetopVegetarianHalal-friendlyKosher-styleNut-FreeEgg-FreeSoy-FreeShellfish-FreeSesame-FreePork-FreeAlcohol-FreeNightshade-FreeCorn-FreeLow-Sodium

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp active dry yeast
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp fine salt
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 3 tbsp ghee, melted

Instructions

  1. 1

    Combine 1/2 cup warm water, 1 tsp granulated sugar, and 2 tsp active dry yeast in a bowl and let rest for 5 minutes until foamy.

  2. 2

    Whisk 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt into the yeast mixture until smooth.

  3. 3

    Stir in 3 cups all-purpose flour and 1 tsp fine salt to form a soft dough ball.

  4. 4

    Knead dough on a floured surface for 5 minutes, then cover and rise in a warm spot for 1 hour.

  5. 5

    Divide dough into 6 pieces and roll each into a thin oval teardrop shape.

  6. 6

    Heat a dry skillet over high heat until very hot, then cook each dough piece for 1 to 2 minutes per side until puffed and charred.

  7. 7

    Brush hot flatbreads with 3 tbsp melted ghee and serve warm.

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Questions

How much time should I plan for Naan?

As written, 87 minutes: 75 of prep and 12 of cooking. The longest single stretch is the hands-off wait in step 4, 1 hour.

What should Naan look like when it is ready?

Go by the cues in the method rather than the clock. Step 6: cook until puffed and charred.

What if the yeast does not foam in Naan?

Step 1 reads: "Combine 1/2 cup warm water, 1 tsp granulated sugar, and 2 tsp active dry yeast in a bowl and let rest for 5 minutes until foamy." Then it is dead or the liquid was too hot. Step 1 is the test: no foam after ten minutes means start again with fresh yeast and liquid that feels barely warm, about 105 F.

Is there a substitute for ghee in Naan?

The entry for Naan calls for 3 tbsp ghee, melted. In its place: Use unsalted butter where the heat is moderate, or a neutral oil where it is high. Clarifying butter yourself takes about ten minutes.

Can I make Naan dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in Naan is 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, 3 tbsp ghee, melted. Swap the yogurt for an unsweetened coconut or soy yogurt; the butter for olive oil where it melts, or a plant-based block butter where it is creamed. The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

How many calories are in Naan?

One serving (the recipe makes 6) is about 230 calories, with 6 g protein, 38 g carbohydrate and 6 g fat, plus 1 g fiber and 390 mg sodium. The figures are estimates computed from the ingredient list.

Which part of Naan can be done ahead?

Everything up to step 4. Step 4 is a built-in pause of 1 hour: "Knead dough on a floured surface for 5 minutes, then cover and rise in a warm spot for 1 hour." Do everything up to that point ahead of time and pick up at step 5 when you are ready to finish.

Serve it with

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