How to Make Soft Garlic Butter Naan

Naan can be prepared plain, buttered, or stuffed with garlic, potatoes, or minced mutton. It is typically baked with an egg and yogurt foundation that thickens and gives it a different texture after cooking, thus it is the most breadlike of the ordinary flatbreads. However, naan bread-making varies depending on how the culture has modified it.

Western Asia, Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Caribbean are the main culinary regions that use naan.

Difference between naan and chapati

Chapati is unleavened wheat-flour bread rolled out somewhat thinner than naan and fried on a flat pan whereas naan is leavened and can be stuffed with other ingredients

How to make garlic naan

For incredibly soft naan bread, begin by kneading the basic naan dough once the yeast has been activated, combine all of the ingredients until the dough comes together with your hands.

Once the dough is smooth, move it to a basin that has been lightly greased, cover it with plastic wrap, and allow it to double in size.

Make 10 balls of dough, then roll each ball into a large oval that is 6 inches long and 1/8 inch thick.

Tips on how to prepare soft garlic naan

The thinner you roll the dough; the more air pockets grow inside the naan while frying.

Use a hot, lightly oiled skillet, high heat allows the dough to rise quickly, and fill the bread with air.

Allow the naan to be cooked until bubbles develop before you turned over and cook until big golden spots show on both sides.

To make sure the naan cooks all the way through, flatten them with a spatula while they cook.

While cooking the remaining bread, keep the prepared garlic naan bread covered with a fresh kitchen towel to prevent them from drying.

Naan tastes much better if you brush some melted garlic butter on it while still warm. You can also sprinkle coarse salt and freshly chopped cilantro on top.

Avoid brushing your naan flatbread with garlic butter if you intend to store them. To avoid condensation, allow food to cool completely to room temperature then transfer to ziplock bags and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days, or up to 2 days at room temperature.

When you're ready to consume them, reheat them in the microwave for 10 seconds or on a pan over low to medium heat.

Ingredients

For naan

4 cups plain flour

Extra 1/2 cup plain flour for dusting

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons granulated sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast or instant/ rapid rise

2 cloves garlic minced

3/4 cup warm milk

3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt or natural plain yogurt

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup warm water

1 teaspoon salt

For garlic butter brush

3 tablespoons melted butter

2 cloves minced garlic

1 teaspoon fresh thinly chopped cilantro

Procedure

Mix the water, sugar, and yeast then let sit for 5-10 minutes or until the mixture starts to bubble on top

Add in the milk, yogurt, oil, minced garlic, flour baking powder, and salt. Mix with your hands until the dough comes together.

Toss the dough onto a lightly dusted surface. Use floured hands to knead the dough until smooth, about 3 to 5 minutes.

Lightly grease the same mixing bowl with a small spray of cooking oil. Transfer dough to the bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Allow doubling in size by resting at room temperature for about an hour.

Divide the dough into 10 equal pieces when you are ready to cook. Roll each piece of dough into a large oval, approximately 6 inches long and 1/8-inch-thick, using a rolling pin after forming it into balls.  Repeat with remaining dough.

Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, and grease the skillet all over with 1/2 teaspoon of the extra oil.

Place one piece of the naan on the oiled hot skillet and cook until bubbles form on top, it takes about 1-2 minutes. Brush the top with a little oil while cooking.

Flip and cook until large golden spots appear on the bottom.

Remove from the pan and wrap in a clean kitchen towel. Repeat with the remaining naan.

For garlic butter topping

Combine melted butter and minced garlic together in a bowl. Apply garlic butter to each naan, then sprinkle the fresh herb of your choice on top.

What to serve with naan

Naan is typically served with stewed chicken, meat curries, lentil and bean dishes, and vegetable curries. It can also be used as a pizza base or served as an appetizer with dips.