Naan Recipe - Easy Make-Ahead Dough! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2024)

FAQs

How long can you keep naan dough before cooking? ›

Move the bowl or loosely lidded container to the fridge and store overnight, but no more than 48 hours—the gluten will begin to break down, and the flavor will become too ethanol-y. 5. When you are ready to make naan, heat a skillet over medium heat.

Remove the naan from its packaging and place it directly on the oven rack or on a baking sheet. Heat the naan for 2-3 minutes, or until it's soft and heated through. Keep an eye on it to prevent overcooking. Optional: For an extra touch of indulgence, brush the naan with melted butter or ghee or before serving.

Naan is essentially a leavened flatbread, which means it contains some form of raising agent to provide its airy texture. Hence for this naan, the raising agent we will be using is yeast. Other variations do exist which may utilise self raising flour or baking powder/baking soda.

As the recipe below explains, after you've prepared the dough and let it rise once, you can shape it into small balls and freeze to bake at a later date if you prefer. One of the advantages of this method is that you can cook up just a few naan at a time rather than committing to a whole batch.

Yogurt: Plain Greek yogurt holds the naan dough together and ensures a tender texture.

The fat in yogurt works to make soft, moist dough. Its acidity and “tang” also add flavor to the bread. In this naan recipe, I use ghee instead. It's a clarified butter product that contains a higher concentration of fat than regular butter, so it's very effective for preparing tender, pull-apart bread.

You sprinkle water to keep the naan bread soft. Naan bread will naturally stiffen when not eaten straight from the pan, so eat it as soon as you possibly can.

However, when reheating in the oven, you want to be careful so that the naan bread does not become overly crisp and dry out. Also, you want to make sure to not heat the naan bread for longer than required. That said, it is easy to reheat naan bread in the oven, as it restores the fluffy texture.

How do you keep naan warm for a party? Once you take the freshly made naan out of the skillet, wrap it in a clean kitchen towel and place in a warm dry place.

Yeast is not traditionally used to make Naan as it is a flatbread. However, Westernized versions of Naan sometimes include yeast, creating a more bready texture.

Why is my naan not fluffy? ›

Naan doesn't get bubbles – Pan not hot enough, dough not moist enough or improper leavening. Naan turns hard – Toasting for too long, not enough moisture in the dough, toasting on low heat or not kneading the dough enough.

The recipe also works with standard active / dry yeast, but we've found the naan is slightly fluffier and softer using instant yeast. Unusually, we dissolve the instant yeast in warm water then leave it to become foamy – a step usually bypassed with instant yeast, which is typically mixed straight into dough.

How do you tell if naan is bad? You'll be able to easily identify a piece of naan that has gone bad. Over time, the bread will harden and lose its soft, fluffy texture. If the naan bread develops an odd smell, changes color, or shows any sign of mold, it should not be consumed.

Simply put, naan is more nutrient-dense than pita or white bread. While it may contain more carbs and sugars, it earns its reputation as a healthy alternative with its relatively generous amounts of protein and fiber.

Naan bread typically lasts 2-3 days if stored in an airtight container at room temperature. It can also last up to a week if refrigerated. Naan bread can be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze, wrap each piece of naan in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe bag.

The proofing time for bread dough varies based on the dough's makeup (amount of preferment, flour choices, and hydration) and the temperature at which it's proofed. The dough should generally be proofed for around 1 to 4 hours at a warm temperature or overnight (or more) at a cold refrigerator temperature.

Storage conditions, particularly temperature and humidity, are critical factors affecting the shelf life of naan bread. Storing naan bread in the wrong conditions can lead to premature spoilage or dryness. At room temperature, naan can generally last up to a week, provided it's kept away from excess moisture and heat.

Naan is best stored sealed in a bread box or dark location to help preserve its aroma and flavor. What if you have extras that you want to freeze? Naan can be easily frozen and thawed to room temperature – no special treatment required.