Easy Garlic Naan Bread

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Learn how to make easy garlic naan bread with this step-by-step recipe. Use it as an accompaniment to Indian curries, soups and stews, or as its own snack or appetiser.

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Naan is a delicious Indian flatbread known for its savoury flavour and soft, fluffy texture. Garlic naan bread is a variation of that and is very popular with Indian dishes.

If you’ve only ever ordered or bought ready-made naan bread, this recipe will surprise you at how achievable it is to make at home. The combination of minced garlic and fresh herbs is mixed into the naan bread dough giving it a distinctive aroma and flavour.

This garlic naan bread is tasty and versatile, a perfect accompaniment to Indian curries such as our slow-cooker chicken tikka masala, soups, and stews but it’s also great on its own as a snack or appetiser.

🧄 If you like garlic recipes, check out my pan-fried broccoli with garlic, Georgian chicken with garlic sauce, garlic chicken soup or my thirty-clove garlic soup.

Garlic Naan Bread & Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

Ingredients

You will need the following: all-purpose flour (you can also use gluten-free flour here), active dry yeast, sugar, salt, plain unsweetened yogurt, milk, garlic, fresh coriander/cilantro, and butter.

How To Make Garlic Naan

Find the full recipe card below. Here are some handy step-by-step instruction photos.

Step 1. Combine the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Mix well.

Step 2. Add the yogurt, milk, and garlic to the dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms.

Step 3. Lightly flour a clean surface and knead the dough for 5 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
Step 4. Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover with a clean kitchen cloth. Place in a warm place and let the dough rest for 1-2 hours, until it has doubled in size.

Step 5. Divide the dough into 8 equal sized pieces and roll into balls.
Step 6. Roll each ball of dough into a circle or oval that is about ⅛ inch thick on a lightly floured surface using a rolling pin. Repeat with the remaining dough balls.

Step 7. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and grease with some oil.
Step 8. Place one naan in the hot skillet and cook until bubbles form on top, about 1-2 minutes. Brush the top with a little bit of oil.
Step 9. Flip and cook for 1-2 more minutes on the other side, until nice golden spots form on the bottom.
Step 10. Remove the cooked naan from the skillet and wrap it in a clean kitchen towel while you are cooking the rest of them.
Step 11. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle freshly chopped cilantro before serving.

Variations

You can make delicious cheese and garlic naan. Simply add some shredded cheese on top of the naan while still in the skillet and allow it to melt.
To make this recipe dairy-free, use dairy-free butter or brush the naan with olive oil instead of butter. And the milk and yogurt with dairy-free alternatives. Check out this vegan naan bread recipe from Minimalist Baker. Check out this Paleo naan bread from My Heart Beets.
Other popular naan additions are fennel seeds, cumin seeds, sesame seeds, caramelised onion, sauteed mushrooms, or raisins.

Serve Garlic Naan With These:

Full Recipe

Find the full list of ingredients, instructions, and a nutritional breakdown below. If you have questions or cook this recipe, please let me know in the comments, and make sure to rate this recipe so it’s easy for others to find.

Fluffy, chewy, and aromatic, garlic naan bread is easy to make at home and is the perfect accompaniment to Indian dishes

Combine the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Mix well.
Add the yoghurt, milk, and garlic to the dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms.
Lightly flour a clean surface and knead the dough for 5 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover with a clean kitchen cloth. Place in a warm place and let the dough rest for 1-2 hours, until it has doubled in size.
Divide the dough into 8 equal sized pieces and roll into balls.
Roll each ball of dough into a circle or oval that is about ⅛ inch thick on a lightly floured surface using a rolling pin. Repeat with the remaining dough balls.
Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and grease with some oil. Place one naan in the hot skillet and cook until bubbles form on top, about 1-2 minutes. Brush the top with a little bit of oil. Flip and cook for 1-2 more minutes on the other side, until nice golden spots form on the bottom.
Remove the cooked naan from the skillet and wrap it in a clean kitchen towel while you are cooking the rest of them.
Brush with some melted butter and sprinkle some freshly chopped cilantro before serving.

To store: first, you need to let the naan cool down to room temperature. Once cooled, wrap the naan in aluminium foil or plastic wrap to keep it fresh. Then transfer them to a zip lock bag or to an airtight container. Store at room temperature for 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
To reheat: for best results wrap the naan in damp kitchen paper and microwave for 15-20 seconds or you can simply heat them up on a skillet. Reheating the naan will make it soft and fluffy, however, it is best to consume the naan when it is fresh and warm. You can brush with some additional melted butter.
To freeze: follow the same steps as above and freeze for up to 2 months. The frozen naan bread will thaw very quickly at room temperature and then you can reheat it following the steps above.

Garlic Naan Recipe FAQS

What to serve with garlic naan?

You can serve garlic naan with butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, curries, soups, salads, etc. You can even make easy pizzas using naan bread as a base.

Can I use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour?

Yes, however, the flavor and texture of the naan might be slightly different. Use at a 1:1 ratio.

Can I make garlic naan without the yeast?

Yes. Instead of yeast, you can use 2 teaspoons of baking powder to help the dough rise.

Can I make the naan in the oven?

Yes, simply preheat the oven and place the naans on a greased baking sheet. Bake for and then flip and bake for more minutes.

Can I make garlic naan ahead of time?

Yes, you can make it ahead of time and store it in the fridge or freezer. To reheat simply warm it up in a skillet or in the oven.

Easy Garlic Naan Bread Recipe

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Easy Garlic Naan Bread

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