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I really love homemade bread, especially this homemade naan. I put together step by step photos and instructions for you guys, so there is really no messing up this one! There is even a video…..ok, you guys have to try this!! You won’t regret it, promise!
Well, actually my mom really loves homemade bread and I love to making her happy! I think I will always love making my mom happy, whether I am nineteen or fifty (oh my gosh, I cannot even imagine). It’s just something that makes me happy, so I guess it’s a win win!
Plus, I mean homemade Naan? Yeah, there is not much better. It’s stinkin amazing!
It’s so easy that I thought you guys would like seeing the process a little bit. The pictures are not awesome, but you’ll get the idea. So here we go!
Start by activating the yeast. Combine the warm water with the sugar and yeast. Let sit for 10 minutes until foamy. It should smell bread like.
Add the flour, baking powder and baking soda to a large bowl. Then add the warm milk and yogurt to the yeast mixture. Pour the yeast into the flour. Mix with a wooden spoon until dough starts to come together and then finish mixing the dough with your hands until a smooth but still sticky ball forms.
Cover the dough with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let sit in a warm place for one hour. 
After one hour punch the dough down and divide into eight equal balls. Using a rolling-pin, roll each piece of dough into an oval shape. The dough should be about 6-8 inches long and about 1/4-inch thick, but no thinner. Repeat this method with the rest of the dough.
Warm a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat (you want a hot pan). Brush both sides of the Naan with melted butter and if desired sprinkle on any spices you enjoy, such as cumin and garlic. I did not flavor my Naan, but only because one, I know my family is picky and two, I knew we would be eating the leftover Naans for breakfast and well I love garlic, I do not normally want it for breakfast!
Place the Naan on the hot skillet, cover and bake for 1 minute, until you see bubbles starting to form. Flip and cook for 1-2 minutes on the other side until large toasted spots appear on the underside. Brush with a bit more butter if desired and sprinkle with a little kosher salt, fresh cilantro (loved the fresh cilantro naans) or other herbs. Place the Naan in a tea towel-lined dish. Repeat with the rest of the Naans.
Done!
Pretty easy, right?
And so good!
It is actually very similar to this pita bread, but maybe even better. I think it is the yogurt in the dough. It adds the best flavor and oh my gosh it is so soft and those giant air pockets? Yeah they are awesome!
Seriously,
I just can’t even get over these. There are no words.
Homemade Naan (with step-by-step photos)
Servings: 8 Naans
Calories Per Serving: 404 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup hot water (but not boiling just hot tap water)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 3/4 cup warm milk
- 1 cup plain greek yogurt
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- melted butter, for brushing may use olive oil
- fresh cilantro or other herbs, for topping
Instructions
- 1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the water, sugar, and yeast and stir until the yeast is dissolved. Let it sit for 10 minutes or until the mixture begins to froth and rise.
- 2. When the yeast is foamy and smells like bread, add the milk, yogurt, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and mix the with a wooden spoon until the dough comes together. As soon as it comes together, stop kneading. It should be sticky, but should form a ball and be soft. Cover the bowl with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let sit in a warm place 1 hour or if not using right away overnight in the fridge.
- When ready to cook divide the dough into 8 equal balls and using a rolling pin, roll each piece of dough into an oval shape. It should be about 6-8 inches long and about 1/4-inch thick, but no thinner. Repeat this method with the rest of the dough.
- Warm a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat (you want a hot pan). Brush both sides of the naan with melted butter and if desired sprinkle on any spices you like such as cumin and garlic. Place the naan on the hot skillet, cover with a lid and bake for 1 minute, until you see bubbles starting to form. Flip and cook for 1-2 minutes on the other side, until large toasted spots appear on the underside. Brush with a bit more butter if desired, then sprinkle with a little kosher salt, fresh cilantro (I used cilantro) or other herbs. Place the naan in a tea towel-lined dish. Repeat with the rest of the naans and serve. These are best eaten fresh, but will keep in a ziplock bag for a few days or in the freezer.
Except expect yum!
This post was originally published on September 8, 2013
you think I could make this with gluten flour? Like cup-for-cup or measure-for-measure GF flour?
Hey Betsy,
Yes, and equal amount of GF flour will work here. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I LOVE this recipe and this is my 4th time making them! Question – do you think I could freeze some of the Balls for cooking at a later date? Or refrigerate? Love to hear your thoughts!
Hey Brittany,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try! Yes you could certainly freeze them and then thaw and roll out when you are ready to use! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I made the Butter Turkey Meatballs yesterday (doubling recipe), served with rice. Today I tried the Naan recipe and served with left overs of Butter dish. It was a HUGE hit. And I have eaters who love “real” Indian food. Definitely worth the mess in the kitchen…
That is so amazing to hear! Thank you so much for trying those recipes, Valeria!! xTieghan
ohmg.. I was looking the perfect and pillowy naan ever in lock down and finally i found your post. this will be my next added in my menu for weekend party. what a wonderful recipe. i love to it in different ways. and your recipe is too quick and instructions are super easy to follow thanks for sharing and keep on sharing more stuff
Thank you so much Abigail! xTieghan
I made this naan last night and it was AMAZING. I followed the recipe for the dough exactly. In my garlic butter I added fresh parsley, fresh cilantro, fresh scallion, garlic and salt. My husband and I are still talking about it the morning after. I will say that this makes a lot and so since there were only two of us, I could definitely have frozen half of the dough to use at a later time. My husband was super hungry and thought he would need the whole recipe ha! We each ended up eating about 1.5 pieces (the recipe makes 8) and we were really full. I served it with a mediterranean eggplant stew type of dish. Holy Moly. So good!
Thank you so much Jessie!! I am so glad this turned out so amazing for you both! xTieghan
This is great Naan bread. I actually cooked them on our Blackstone Griddle outside. I didn’t cover them and they came out perfect. It was nice because I could cook 4 at a time. Easy recipe to make as well. Thanks for sharing it.
Thank you Joanne! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Hi!
This looks AMAZING- I could only buy dried yeast – will that work ok? Or no? C
Hey Charolette,
Yes that will work, but you will need to activate the yeast by combining with the warm water and honey. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Dear Tieghan,
In the words of my 5-year old: “WOW! Mom don’t buy Naan from the store anymore. Make these every day”.
Fantastic recipe and I’m so glad I found you on IG. Best Naan bread thus far for us!
Thanks!
LT
Ok wow that is so cute and amazing! I am really glad you both loved this recipe, Lilys! Thank you! xTieghan
Any tips on making this GF? I have made this many times with GF flour and it never turns out right. I make sure that the flour has the xantham gun – but nothing I do works!
Hey Oliver,
So sorry you have had issues, I would recommend Cup4cup gf flour. I hope this helps! xTieghan
Just made this and it turned out much more dense then it should’ve. A couple things I think attributed to this: I made with almond milk instead of regular milk. I believe my baking powder and soda were not as fresh as needed. And I am concerned my yeast did not ‘activate’. Two of three things I can fix but I am not sure how to fix the yeast issue. I tried three times and it did not look like your picture. Not nearly as fluffy looking, more just like bubbles in liquid. Yeast is fresh, just opened package before using it. Tips to get it to look like yours? Is there a temperature the water should be when adding yeast to it?
Hi Lydia,
So sorry you had issues with the naan. The key for the yeast is to use lukewarm water, if your water was too hot you could have killed it. I hope this helps for next time! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Lovely recipe!! Cannot wait to try it. Can I substitute instant yeast instead of active dry? If yes, should it be the same measurement as active dry yeast?
Thank you!
Hi Ratna,
So glad you enjoyed the recipe! You can absolutely use instant yeast, just add it right in with the flour. I hope this helps! xTieghan
Absolutely delicious and so easy! The entire family devoured the naan. We will definitely be making this over and over again. It was so pillowy and soft. Yum!
Thank you so much Bhvana!! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I’ve made this recipe countless times. We used to always have to go out and buy pita bread for our souvlaki but this is all I make now!
Thank you Adriana! xTieghan
If I want to make it fresh a couple of times this week for dinner, can I refrigerate or freeze leftover dough?!
Hi Alexis,
Yes you can freeze this dough! My family also likes when I fully make the naan, freeze it, and then they toast it when they want to eat. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Oh my god, I did those naan for the second time and every times my guest were absolutely amazed, they all said it tasted as good as in the restaurant. This is a staple now for us when we have curry, the naans are fluffy, baked so well with larger bubble in a few minutes in a pan. This is a Very easy recipe That everyone can do, I absolutely love it !,,
Yes!! I am so glad this turned out so well for you, Marie! Thank you so much for trying this one! xTieghan