Paul Hollywood's Naan Bread Recipe w/ American Measurements (2024)

FAQs

Is yeast or baking powder better for naan? ›

I also found the baking soda doughs burned more easily. The baking powder-yeast dough compared to the yeast-only dough were nearly identical — similar air bubbles in the pan, similar dough texture, similar flavor — so, in the end, I stuck with yeast alone as a leaven.

Naan doesn't get bubbles – Pan not hot enough, dough not moist enough or improper leavening. Naan turns hard – Toasting for too long, not enough moisture in the dough, toasting on low heat or not kneading the dough enough.

Though they're flatbreads, naans traditionally get their bubbly texture from yeast (and, very traditionally, from wild yeasts). Some more modern variations, such as that in Vivek Singh's Curry, use baking powder instead, with Jaffrey also adding extra bicarbonate of soda.

Butter naan is indulgence personified. After cooking the plain naan, a generous amount of butter is brushed over the surface, imparting a rich yet buttery flavour. The butter also gives the naan a glossy finish, making it irresistible to resist.

The extra protein from the yogurt eliminates the importance of advanced gluten development. The yogurt also adds some fat. The fat keeps the dough nice and soft and prevents the naan from hardening too much during the cooking process.

In baked goods, you can replace yeast with an equal amount of baking powder. Just keep in mind that the leavening effects of baking powder will not be as distinct as those of yeast. Baking powder causes baked goods to rise rapidly, but not to the same extent as yeast.

And a cast iron skillet or large nonstick pan. 6) The longer the naan dough rises (up to 4 hours), the better the flavor. But honestly I think that the best result was to let the dough rise for 2 hours, then knead and make the dough balls, and let them rise 30 minutes. Then roll and cook.

As such, you should avoid filling up on naan if you're watching your saturated fat intake. Moreover, store-bought plain naan has a relatively high sodium content, accounting for around 18% of the DV. Eating too much sodium may increase blood pressure and your risk for heart disease and stroke ( 7 ).

Place the rolled-out dough onto the hot pan and cook until the bottom is golden brown and large bubbles have formed on the surface, about one minute. Flip the dough and cook the other side for another minute, or until golden brown.

My husband and I are obsessed with this Naan bread! I use active dry yeast, so I always mix it with warm water to let it activate before adding it to the rest of the recipe. It works for me every time! Sometimes, depending on my flour, I need to add a bit more to be able to work with the dough.

What is the difference between Afghan naan and Indian naan? ›

Afghan naan is different in shape, texture, and taste from Indian varieties. While the main ingredient – wheat flour – is the same, Afghan bakers hand-shape the dough, rather than rolling it out, and their use of a tandoor results in large, pillowy rounds.

It is your wish whether you want to add egg or not. Both the recipes for naan came well for me. Tandoori naan goes well with butter chicken, paneer pasanda, butter paneer, and other curries. Naan can be used to serve fast food like kebab roll with salad.

Butter Garlic Naan or Butter Naan are the most famous naan bread variety.

Whole wheat flour. I replaced a portion of all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour to make the naan healthier and little less of a guilty-pleasure. It can be enjoyed more frequently than the indulgent pure all-purpose flour version.

Naan and pita are similar in that they are both flatbreads, but naan contains butter and yogurt, whereas pita does not. As stated earlier, naan is high in fat, and specifically high in saturated fats. Pita on the other hand is considered to be a low fat food.

Yeast is my go-to for bread, pizza dough, and sweet rolls like cinnamon buns. These items benefit from its slow fermentation, which adds depth to both flavor and texture. On the other hand, baking powder should be your choice for quick breads, cookies, and cakes.

Cook the naan on the flat hot surface, until the bottom is a nice brown color and the top is puffy and just about cooked (at which point it should be quite dry). If you don't see the dough puffing up, you should turn up the heat under the griddle.

The trick with baking soda in recipes is that the reaction that creates the bubbles is immediate, so you want to get the batter or dough into the oven quickly, before all the bubbles dissipate. That's why baking soda is used for “quick” recipes for biscuits or breads.