Best Naan Recipe (Without Yeast & With Yogurt)

Naan recipe with step by step photos. Soft and slightly chewy are these delicious naan made without yeast. For some folks using yeast can be a daunting affair and so this recipe fits in as it is incredibly easy to make.

You can make naan on a griddle (tawa) or a skillet on a stovetop. Alternatively, you can grill them in a tandoor or oven.

In the recipe post, with step by step pictures, I have explained two methods of roasting naan. First one is a stove-top method which uses direct flame and the second one is the griddle method.

What is Naan?

Naan is a leavened flatbread made in some countries in asia. These bread are baked in a tandoor ( a cylindrical oven made of clay). It is also popular in India and is served in almost all restaurants.

Though naan is not made in Indian homes as a staple. It is Roti or chapati (unleavened flatbread made from whole wheat flour) that is made on a regular basis. For the leavening of naan dough, yeast is used or a mixture of curd+baking powder is used. This naan bread recipe uses baking powder and curd for the leavening.

What is Naan Bread?

Both naan and naan bread are the same. In Asia, we call these delicious bread as naan and in the United States, these are called as naan bread.

Variations in naan recipe

There are many ways a basic naan recipe can be modified to suit your tastes.

1. Whole wheat flour – in this recipe post, I have used all-purpose flour to make them. You can even use whole wheat flour or a combination of whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour. Sometimes I make this naan bread with a 2:1 proportion of whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour, but you can use 1:1 or even 3:1 of whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour respectively.

If you are very conscious about eating whole wheat flour naan only, then you can check these two naan bread recipes made with whole wheat flour.

1. Wheat naan
2. Butter naan

2. Herbs & spices – to make the naan more flavorful, you can add one to two herbs or a mix of herbs in the dough. Some spices or spice powders will also make naan taste more better.

3. Cheese naan – stuff some grated cheese in a rolled dough. Seal, roll and roast the naan.

4. Butter naan – add some butter in the dough instead of oil. After roasting the naan, brush with some softened or melted butter.

5. With yeast – naan is also made with yeast and I also make these on occasions. I have one more recipe of Naan where they have really puffed up like Pita bread but they are made with all-purpose flour (maida) and yeast.

Can you freeze naan?

This naan dough can be frozen for up to four to five weeks. Since curd is added in the dough, I recommend not freezing it for more than four to five weeks. Place the dough in an airtight box and keep in the freezer. Before making the naan, thaw the dough completely at room temperature. Then begin with rolling and roasting.

What to eat with naan bread?

In Indian cuisine, naan bread is often served with a curry or a dal (lentils). The curry can be of paneer (cottage cheese) or a mix of vegetables. The dal that pairs exceptionally well with naan is dal makhani. Apart from dal makhani, even dal fry or dal tadka can be served with it. I have mentioned some more Indian curries and lentils that can be served with it.

1. Curries – usually a creamy and smooth curries or spicy curries accompany naan bread very well. Some of the curries that come in this category are paneer butter masala, malai kofta, palak paneer, matar paneer, methi matar malai and kadai paneer.

2. Lentils  – some gem of dal recipes make a nice match with naan like – dal makhani, dal tadka, chana masala, rajma recipe and chana dal.

3. Vegetable gravies – both dry vegetables dishes, as well as curries, can be served with naan – bhindi masala gravy, veg kadai, veg Kolhapuri, veg handi, aloo gobi, dum aloo, baingan bharta and matar mushroom.

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Naan Is one such yummy dish that makes you forget about all-purpose flour 🙂  I do make whole wheat naan, but sometimes the family wants soft textured naans made with all-purpose flour, the way they serve in restaurants. So I combine both whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour to make naan – like in this recipe of Garlic naan.

Whenever we go to a restaurant then most of the time we end up ordering naan bread with a curry or lentil-based dish. Knowing very well that it will be probably made with all-purpose flour (maida) and not good for health. But what to do. Naan tastes so well with curry dishes that you end up loosening your guard about eating healthy food. Once in a while we all like to relax our guard and relish fried food or other supposed to be unhealthy food.

Preferably naan bread should be eaten hot. as once it cools down then it becomes dense, hard and loses its taste. At least the restaurant ones become like that. Not this recipe. The naan remains soft and slightly chewy even when they become warm or cool.

How to make Naan

Making dough

1. In a mixing bowl take ¼ cup fresh curd or yogurt. For a vegan naan, use almond or cashew yogurt.

2. Add 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1 pinch baking soda. If you do not have baking soda, then skip it.

3. Mix all the ingredients very well till the sugar dissolves.

4. Now add 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon salt or add as required in the bowl.

5. Mix again with a spoon so that the salt is evenly distributed in the flour.

6. Make a well in the center and add 2 tablespoons oil. Note that you can even add butter instead of oil.

7. Add ¼ to ⅓ cup water or add as required.

8. First mix and then begin to knead.

9. Knead to a smooth dough. If the curd is thick, then you may need to add more water. In case the dough looks dry, then add some more water and knead. If it becomes sticky, then sprinkle some flour and knead again. You should get a soft stretchy dough. You can even use a stand mixer to knead the dough.

10. Flatten the dough. You can even spread some oil all over the dough if you want. Place in the same bowl.

11. Place a moist kitchen towel or napkin completely covering on the dough. Cover the bowl with a lid and let the dough leaven for 2 hours.

12. In the below photo, the dough has leavened after two hours.

Rolling naan bread

13. Make medium-sized balls from the dough.

14. Flatten slightly and sprinkle some flour on the dough as well as on the rolling board.

15. Sprinkle some onion seeds (kalonji) or sesame seeds (black or white) or melon seeds (magaz) on the rolled dough. I have added onion seeds. If you do not have these seeds, then simply skip them.

16. Roll to a 6 or 7 inches elongated circle.

17. Roll the top side to get a tapering edge. You can even gently pull the dough with your hands to get this pointed edge. The naan will have a tear-shaped form.

Roasting naan on stove-top

18. Heat a heavy griddle or tawa or skillet and keep on medium-high to high flame. Place the naan bread ready on the hot tawa or skillet or griddle.

19. Keep the flame to medium-high or high and begin to cook the naan bread.

20. Let one side get partly cooked. You will see a few air pockets on the naan.

21. When you start seeing the air-pockets, then flip.

22. Now cook the second side on medium-high to high flame.

23. Again you will see air-pockets appearing on the second side. Flip when you see many air-pockets on the naan. (this photo is for reference only). You will see that the second side has cooked more than the first side. The second side has to be cooked more than the first side.

24. You have to flip it using tongs and place it directly on the stovetop flame.

25. Grill the first side on the flame till you see some charred spots and blisters.

26. Roast the edges too.

27. Turn over and roast the second side too till you see some charred spots. Avoid fire roasting too much as then the naan becomes crispy.

28. Place it on a plate or tray. Spread or brush with some softened butter or melted butter. You can even use ghee (clarified butter) or oil for a vegan version. You can even skip using butter or oil entirely.

Making naan on a tawa or skillet

29. Heat a heavy griddle or skillet on a high flame. Place the naan on the hot tawa.

30. You will see some air pockets on the naan.

31. Flip the naan bread.

32. Cook the second side more than the first side. Please note that on a high flame it will get cooked faster.

33. Press the edges with a spatula so that they are also roasted and cooked properly.

34. Flip again.

35. You can flip again and press the edges for even cooking. Remove and spread some butter or oil. Serve them hot. This way make naan with any of the methods. You can even stack cooked naans in a casserole or roti basket and serve later.

36. Serve the naan bread hot or warm with your favorite curry dish like – malai kofta or palak paneer or matar paneer or dals like dal tadka or dal makhani.

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