Enjoy delicious garlic naan at home with this easy recipe cooked in a cast iron pan. Infused with fresh garlic and perfectly charred, this bread is a great addition to any Indian-inspired meal.
Ingredients
Naan Ingredients
3 ½cupsall purpose flourdivided
1teaspoonsalt
1cupwaterlukewarm
1tablespoonsugar
2teaspoonactive dry yeast
⅓cupmilklukewarm
2tbpsyogurtplain, full fat
3tablespoonoilvegetable or canola
2clovesgarlicminced (2 tsp)
Garlic Butter Ingredients
3tablespoonbuttersalted
3tablespoonfresh parsleychopped
2teaspoongarlicminced
Instructions
In a large bowl, combine 3 ¼ cups flour and 1 teaspoon salt. Whisk. Set the bowl aside.
In the stand mixer bowl, add water, sugar and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes or until the yeast is bubbly and frothy.
Pour in milk, yogurt, oil, flour mixture and garlic. Using a dough hook on the electric mixer, mix until combined.
Slowly add additional flour 1 tablespoon at a time. The dough will be very sticky when combined. Do not over flour.
Kneed with the dough hook attachment for 2-3 minutes until the dough is smooth.
Grease a medium bowl. Place dough ball into the greased bowl. Cover with a kitchen towel and set aside in a warm place for a 90 minutes. Dough ball will double in size.
Punch the dough down carefully to release the air.
Divide the dough into 8 parts. Oil hands before handling to prevent the dough from sticking to your hands.
Place dough balls on parchment paper or a non-stick surface. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise for 15 minutes.
Make garlic butter by melting 3 tablespoons of butter. Add the minced garlic and cilantro. Stir to combine.
Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Brush lightly with oil.
Drizzle a little oil on top of one dough ball. Oil the rolling pin. Using the roller or hands, stretch the dough into an oval, about 10-inches long and 6-inches wide.
Place the naan onto the hot skillet. When the top begins to bubble (1-2 minutes), brush the top with the garlic butter. Use tongs to flip it over. Brush top with garlic butter. Cook until golden brown on both sides. Remove from heat.
For an authentic naan, move the skillet and flip it directly onto the gas burner to cook.Cook for 15-20 seconds directly on the gas until golden brown. Remove from heat.
Brush with garlic butter again. Garnish with more parsley and course salt, if desired. Serve.
Notes
TIPS:
Use fresh garlic: For the best flavor, use fresh garlic cloves that have been minced or finely chopped. Avoid using pre-packaged garlic that has been chopped and stored in oil, as this can have a milder flavor and a different texture.
Add the garlic at the right time: To prevent the garlic from burning, add it to the dough just before cooking. You can mix the garlic with melted butter or ghee and brush it onto the naan just after cooking for an extra burst of flavor.
Use high heat: To achieve the signature charred and bubbly texture of naan, it's important to cook it at a high temperature. If using a stovetop or oven, preheat it to the highest setting before cooking.
Roll out the dough evenly: To ensure that the naan cooks evenly, roll out the dough to a consistent thickness. Use a rolling pin or your hands to flatten the dough into an oval or oblong shape.
Experiment with additional toppings: If you want to add extra flavor to your garlic naan, try sprinkling it with herbs such as cilantro or parsley, or even cheese. You can also try using different types of garlic, such as roasted or black garlic, for a unique twist on the classic recipe.