Naan

Name: Naan
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 1 h 35 min
Total time: 2 h
Yield: 4 serving(s)
Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups warm water; 2 teaspoons active dry yeast; 6 cups all-purpose flour; 1 tablespoon salt

Submitted by SnowHat

"Naan is a central Asian flatbread, most often seen in U.S. in Indian restaurants. Its unusual shape (long and flat) gives it both a chewy and crispy texture. This recipe is based on the one in "Baking with Julia", a wonderful book full of savory and sweet baked goods that Julia Child and many collaborators have contributed to. Cooking time includes refridgeration."

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Ready In:: 2hrs
Ingredients:: 4
Serves:: 4

ingredients

2 ¹⁄₂ cups warm water
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt

directions

In a large bowl, dissolve the water and yeast (make sure water isn't too hot (it'll kill the yeast) or too cold (it won't activate it)).
Add 3 cups of the flour, a cup at a time.
Stir, using a wooden spoon, in one direction for 1 minute.
Sprinkle mixture with salt.
Add remaining flour, a cup at a time, stirring after each addition.
Stop adding flour after the dough is stiff (you might not want to use it all).
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
Knead the dough until it is smooth and easy to handle (10 minutes of vigorous kneading).
Shape the dough into a ball and put in a well-oiled bowl.
Cover with a moist towel and let rise in a warm place until double in bulk (about 1 1/2 hours).
Place baking stone in center of oven.
Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.
Deflate dough and divide into 4 equal pieces.
Flatten each piece into an 8 x 6-inch oval.
Let rest for 10 minutes.
Wet fingers with water and"dimple" the bread by pressing your fingertips into the dough and stretching the dough.
You want it to be really thin.
Holes are OK.
Transfer bread to baking stone.
Bake until bread is golden on top and brown and crusty on the bottom.
(5 minutes or so).
Repeat with remaining dough.
Naan is best eaten the same day its made.

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Reviews

This was great for what I was expecting. It was not perfectly authentic, but it was easy to prepare, I had all the ingredients on hand, and my kids loved it. It was kind of bland by itself, but it was delicious when used to scoop up the pork vindaloo with which I served it. It was also yummy with butter and honey. I will make it again.

fruitcake3g
Turned out a little too bready, not enough flat. That may have been in part because we didn't poke the holes in. I added garam masala and thyme for flavor and it was wonderful.

Salome
This was both chewy and crisp and tasted fine, but it doesn't seem like naan to me. It tastes like white bread, maybe french bread. Simple to make and okay but naan should have some "stretchyness" to it. This has none of that quality. Thanks for posting, though. I think this would make a great base for appetizer spreads, cheese balls. etc. I think i will try it for that soon.

Marysdottir
The only sub I had to make was using a pizza pan with holes in it rather than a pizza stone. Fantastic bread! My husband and I enjoyed this with our masala chicken tonight. The bread kept its wonderful texture even after mopping up gravy. We are adding this to the permanent cookbook and look forward to enjoying it many times in the future. It delivered as promised, chewy and crunchy, with just enough tender bread inside to soak up some juices. Yum!

Annie H