Apr 114 min read

Garlic Naan Recipe

Updated: Jun 15

Garlic naan, a popular Indian flatbread, is a perfect blend of chewy texture and savoury flavour. This aromatic bread pairs well with a variety of dishes, particularly Indian curries, and is often sprinkled with minced garlic for an added punch of flavour. Explore the art of making this delicious traditional garlic naan recipe in your own kitchen with this simple and satisfying recipe.

Makes 6 to 8 Naan depending on their size

Preparation time 10 -15 minutes, proving time 1½ - 2 hours roughly and 20 -25 minutes cooking time,

Recipe Difficulty level - Beginner-Friendly / Intermediate Cook

Special equipment - hot oven or a hot griddle or a cast iron skillet

Garlic naan, a popular Indian flatbread, has its roots in the traditional tandoor ovens of the Indian subcontinent. Naan, a staple in Indian cuisine for centuries, was typically prepared plain or with toppings like garlic, herbs, or cheese. The addition of garlic to naan not only enhanced its flavour but also brought in its own set of health benefits, as garlic is known for its medicinal properties. Over time, garlic naan gained popularity both in India and around the world for its aromatic taste and versatile pairing with a variety of dishes. Today, it is a beloved favourite in Indian restaurants worldwide, offering a delicious and fragrant accompaniment to curries and other dishes.

Traditionally, making Naan bread would need a tandoori oven, but not everybody has one, so we are going to show you how to make a respectable naan at home with your own home oven or on a hot tava or even a cast iron skillet. Here we will be adapting traditional recipes to make them accessible to home cooks without specialized equipment, we believe is a fantastic way to share these delicious dishes with a wider audience.

Garlic Naan Recipe

Ingredients:

450g plain flour
1 tsp / sachet fast action yeast
2 tablespoons yogurt
1 ½ tsp sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon of Himalayan or Celtic salt
100ml of lukewarm milk

Garlic Butter mixture (you may need to make more if needed)

4 to 5 cloves of garlic crushed or finely chopped
chopped cilantro leaves
50g butter ( roughly a quarter of a block)

The method for making naan bread is a common practice that you will likely encounter in many recipes. By using this standard method as a base, various toppings can be added to customize the flavour. For the sake of simplicity and efficiency, I will repeat this method in multiple recipes to save time and streamline the cooking process, also giving you the opportunity to experiment for yourself.

How to prepare the naan bread dough

Step 1:

In a large glass bowl put the flour, salt, sugar and yeast and mix well with a fork.

Step 2:

Gently warm the milk to lukewarm, add 1 tablespoon of yogurt to the milk and keep the other one for later.

Step 3:

Beat the egg and keep to one side and then melt the butter or ghee also keeping to one side.

Step 4:

Now gradually add the lukewarm milk along with the beaten egg and yogurt to the flour, mixing until a firm dough has been reached. Turn this onto a lightly floured surface, and gently knead until the dough is soft and springy (this may be easier if you have a food processor or mixer).

Step 5:

Lightly grease the glass bowl with some ghee or butter and place the kneaded dough into it, and then cover with a damp cloth or some clingfilm to stop the dough from drying out. Then place the bowl in a warm place for around an hour and a half until the dough doubles in size. A warm oven draw or an airing cupboard is a good place for this.

Step 6:

When the dough is ready, divide it into 8 ball of equal size then cover and keep to one side, for another 10 to 15 minutes.

How to cook Garlic Naan using a hot oven

To cook garlic naan using a hot oven, preheat your oven to its highest temperature setting (usually around 550°f 260°c ) with a pizza stone or baking sheet inside to get it hot. Roll out the naan dough into oval or round shapes, sprinkle minced garlic on top, and gently press it into the dough. Place the prepared naan on the hot pizza stone or baking sheet and bake for 2-4 minutes, or until puffed up and lightly browned. Remove from the oven, brush with melted butter, sprinkle with coriander and serve warm. Enjoy your flavourful garlic naan straight from the hot oven!

How to cook Garlic Naan using a hot tava (griddle) or cast iron skillet

To cook naan bread on a hot griddle, preheat the griddle over medium-high heat. Roll out the dough into oval or round shapes, brush one side with water, and place it water-side down on the hot griddle. Cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until bubbles start to form on the surface. Flip the naan and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, until the bread puffs up and develops a golden brown color. Remove from the griddle and brush with melted garlic butter and sprinkle with coriander leaves if you wish before serving warm. Enjoy your freshly cooked naan bread right from the griddle!