Naan bread is a light and fluffy flatbread that is cooked in a hot skillet. It is a great additional to any quick and easy dinner recipe plus it’s fun to make. You need basic ingredients plus some yeast and Greek yogurt to make homemade naan bread. Let me show you how to make it!

I love a good bread recipe. When I first starting cooking I never wanted to make homemade bread. It scared me for some reason! I didn’t want it to end up not working out and have wasted all the ingredients. But years ago I bit the bullet and just went for it – I tried making bread.. at home!

My first few attempts were sad looking but tasted great so it gave me the courage to keep trying. I made French bread and homemade white bread and even cornbread! Naan bread was just a natural extension of all things bread.

What is naan bread?

Naan is a type of flatbread that originated in India. It is a yeast bread that is rolled flat like a tortilla and cooked in a hot skillet. It’s almost a cross between a tortilla and pita bread! The inside comes out soft and pillowy while the outside gets a crisp to it from the hot skillet. It’s pure bread heaven.

My favorite way to eat it is fresh off the skillet, slathered in butter and covered in Nature’s seasoning. They also make great tortillas for taco night and gyros.

Homemade naan ingredients

The ingredients to this recipe are relatively simple. The most exotic would be the yeast and Greek yogurt and even those are normally easy to find. To make homemade naan you will need:

• 1 teaspoon active yeast
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 cup hot water
• 4 cups of flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 cup warm milk
• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• soft or melted butter for brushing
• herbs or spices for topping

Yeast – Yes, this is a recipe that involves yeast. But it’s an easy one and the results are the best flatbread you’ve ever had! Grab one packet of yeast, like Fleischmann’s active yeast. You only need a teaspoon for this recipe so be sure to save the rest.

Sugar – The yeast feeds off the sugar and helps it bloom and rise. You need plain white sugar or coconut sugar for this to happen.

Flour – Any type of flour will work here. I have made it with gluten free flour and white flour. You need what the recipe calls for plus a little extra for rolling.

Milk – You need 3/4 a cup of milk for this homemade naan recipe. I have not tried with milk alternatives such as almond or coconut.

Greek yogurt – The Greek yogurt in this recipe is what makes the bread soft on the inside. I suggest getting two small individual Greek yogurt containers if you normally aren’t a Greek yogurt eater.

How to make naan bread

Once you have gathered all your ingredients you will also need to grab:

• mixing bowls
• wooden spatula
• rolling pin

Step 1: Add the yeast and sugar to a bowl and stir to combine. Add in the hot water and allow it to dissolve the sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, until the yeast blooms on top and it smells fragrant.

Step 2: While the yeast is blooming, combine the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder in a separate bowl.

Step 3: Add the warm milk and Greek yogurt to the first bowl with the yeast mixture. Stir to combine. It’s ok if it’s not completely smooth.

Step 4: Take the wet ingredients and pour them into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Use a wooden spoon to mix and then your hands to shape a ball. Grease the bottom of the bowl and cover with a towel and allow to rise for 1 hour.

Step 5: Scoop the dough out and onto a flour surface. Punch it down and separate into 8 balls. Preheat a cast iron skillet to medium high heat.

Step 6: Using a rolling pin, roll out the circles until fairly thin. They will puff up while cooking.

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Step 7: Brush the rolled out dough with butter and place on the hot skillet. Cook each side for about 30 seconds or until bubbles start to form all over. Flip and repeat on the other side.

Step 8: Remove, brush with melted butter and sprinkle with spice of choice.

How to store leftovers

Place leftover naan in an airtight container and leave on the counter or in the fridge. It will keep longer in the fridge but it will stay softer on the counter. You can re-heat in a microwave, toaster or skillet.

Can I freeze naan?

Yup! You can! Place cooked naan in a plastic baggy with sheets of parchment paper between each layer. Allow to freeze for up to 3 months. To re-heat, thaw in the fridge or on the counter and heat in a microwave, toaster or skillet.

Main dish ideas

This naan bread pairs great with:

• Korean lettuce wraps
• Sticky chicken thighs
• Mississippi roast
• Carnitas bowls