Naan
(Nan, Khamiri, नान)
Naan is a unique and popular flatbread with a chewy texture that has its roots in India. The first documented traces of naan are found in the 1300 AD notes of Amir Kushrau, an Indo-Persian poet. Its name comes from the Persian word for bread. Naan was originally made in two versions at the Imperial Court in Delhi - naan-e-tunuk (light bread) and naan-e-tanuri (baked on the stone walls of a tandoor oven).
It consists of white flour, yeast, eggs, milk, salt, and sugar, baked in a tandoor oven. Its typical tear-drop shape is achieved by the way the dough droops as it cooks on the tandoor walls. Many Indian villages had a communal tandoor, placed in the middle of the village so that all the locals could bake naan.
There are also many varieties of naan, such as kulcha (the flatbread is stuffed with a filling of nuts and raisins, potatoes, or onions) and garlic naan, topped with butter and crushed garlic. Traditionally, naan is served hot from the oven, slightly charred, brushed with ghee - Indian clarified butter, and it is usually consumed as an accompaniment to a variety of dishes.
Types of Naan
Part of
Nan-e-kabab
Iranian nan-e-kabab is a term used for a variety of dishes that combine kebabs and traditional Iranian bread. Kebabs are usually prepared with lamb, beef, or chicken meat,... Read more
Murgh karahi
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Serve with
Dhingri matar
Dhingri mutter or dhingri matar is a traditional dish. Although there are many variations, it's usually made with a combination of button mushrooms, peas, tomato puré... Read more
Mutta roast
Egg roast or nadan mutta roast is a traditional dish originating from Kerala. The dish is usually made with a combination of eggs, ginger-garlic paste, onions, oil, mustard ... Read more
Murgh makhani
Probably the best known of all Indian dishes, murgh makhani, internationally referred to as butter chicken, is a staple dish at most Indian restaurants. The dish originated ... Read more
Ghee
Ghee is a type of clarified butter that is considered a superfood by many people. It is cooked for a long time so that nearly all of the milk and moisture ... Read more
Recipe variations
Naan
READY IN 1h 10minThe following is the traditional naan recipe, requiring just wheat flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and water.
Naan with Yogurt
READY IN 6h 40minApart from all the traditional ingredients, this recipe also calls for yogurt, which makes the naan super soft and fluffy.
Butter Garlic Naan
READY IN 2hThe following recipe shows how to prepare a classic butter garlic naan. As with regular naan, the recipe is pretty much the same, except here, the dough is enriched with yogurt, which relaxes gluten, making for a more soft and supple dough. The baked naans should be brushed with melted ghee and garlic and kept warm to stay tender until consumption.
Paneer Naan
READY IN 4h 45minThis is a type of filled naan. In this case, the filling is a fresh acid-set cheese paneer. The dough is made with yogurt, which makes for an extra pillowy and fluffy bread.
Peshwari Naan
READY IN 2h 46minPeshwari naan is a type of sweet naan, usually filled with coconut, almonds, and raisins. This recipe calls for a filling of pistachio, coconut, and raisins and makes for six naans, equaling three portions.
Naan Authentic recipe
The following is the traditional naan recipe, requiring just wheat flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and water.
WHERE TO EAT The best Naan in the world (according to food experts)
