The Best Easy Garlic Naan Bread Recipe
This easy garlic naan bread recipe yields soft, fluffy, and flavorful Indian-style flatbreads infused with garlic and finished with melted butter and fresh herbs. Perfect for accompanying curries, soups, or enjoying as a snack, this recipe uses simple ingredients and stovetop cooking for quick and delicious homemade naan.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 naan breads 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 package (0.25 oz) active dry yeast or instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup warm water (110°F)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons oil or ghee
Garlic Butter Topping
- 3 tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro or parsley
- Salt for sprinkling
Instructions
- Activate the Yeast: In a bowl, combine the yeast, sugar, and warm water. Allow this mixture to sit for 10 minutes until it becomes frothy, indicating the yeast is active and ready for use.
- Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, salt, yogurt, and oil. Add the activated yeast mixture and knead all ingredients together for about 10 minutes until you achieve a smooth and elastic dough.
- Let the Dough Rise: Cover the dough and let it rest in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size, allowing the yeast to ferment and the dough to become airy.
- Shape the Naans: Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 8 equal portions. Roll each portion into an oval shape approximately 8 inches long to form the naan breads.
- Cook the Naans: Heat a greased skillet over medium-high heat. Place each rolled-out dough onto the skillet and cook for about 1 minute on each side until the bread puffs up, becomes bubbly, and has golden brown spots.
- Apply Garlic Butter: Mix the minced garlic into the melted butter. As soon as each naan comes off the skillet, brush it generously with the garlic butter mixture to infuse flavor.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the garlic buttered naans with a pinch of salt and garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley. Serve warm alongside your favorite dishes.
Notes
- Use warm water at about 110°F to properly activate yeast without killing it.
- If using instant yeast, activation with water is optional but recommended for best results.
- You can substitute yogurt with buttermilk for a slightly tangier flavor.
- For extra fluffiness, cover the dough with a damp cloth while it rises to prevent drying out.
- The naan can also be cooked on a grill or in a very hot oven for variation.
- Butter can be substituted with ghee for a more authentic flavor.
- Store leftover naan in an airtight container and reheat on a skillet or oven to maintain texture.
Keywords: garlic naan, naan bread, Indian flatbread, homemade naan, garlic butter naan, easy naan recipe, stovetop naan, Indian bread
