Homemade Indian Butter Naan

No Tandoor (Clay Oven) or Modern Oven Needed. No magic ingredients and no lengthy fermentation, just a simple recipe with quick cooking on stove top!

Posted On: Apr, 17 |  Author:
Homemade Indian Butter Naan
Diet Info: DF GF F LF Na LS VG V Fa

What took me so long to share my Naan Bread recipes?! 

Well.. don't ask!... even I'm wondering! Eating it from years, and years into making it at home, I have always promised..... next time I'm sharing the recipe of this one! Vishal always said: Post the recipe for naan! and I was always like, Next Time, Pakka (sure)! Finally, last week, when I made a little elaborate Indian meal, I decided to click pictures to share my Naan recipe with you!

So, friends, keeping my promise today! Sharing soft, delicious, homemade yeast naans with good serving of whole wheat. One taste of these naans will sure convenience you to always make'em at-home from now on-wards!

What make these Naans "Special"?

First, I always use part whole and part all purpose flours for my homemade naans to keep some whole grains in the party. You know, most of my bread are part-wheat-part-whole or at-least have a good serving of whole wheat. After-all it is homemade, and we have luxury to make it suitable to our needs! Wheat not just makes these naans healthy, but all make'em taste good, less glutenous or in other words less-chewy. These naans will not harden or will not hurt your jaws ;) like the store-bought ones! I promise!!

Hand Rolled Homemade Indian Naan | chefdehome.com

Second, most naan sold in stores are Baking Powder naans. These, however, are pure yeast naan. And are not that difficult to make. You just need one rise. that's it! Almost like making dough for a not-leavened flat bread in advance and then cooking it after finishing rest of cooking. Make the dough, leave on counter, finish rest of work, and then return to make naans! Homemade THE BEST!! Yummm!

Cooking Homemade Indian Yeast Naan Bread | chefdehome.com

Third, the cooking method! Cooking method, I'm sharing today is "the easiest" method in the world to cook naan. Traditional naans are cooked in clay ovens called Tandoors. You can cook these naans in modern ovens too. But that's a whole new post. For this one, you don't need either! Just plain old skillet, tongs, and gas stove (optional). If you don't have gas stove, you can sear both sides on skillet as well. I have used gas flame for cooking one side for that "very authentic" char.

Making of Homemade Butter Naans | chefdehome.com

Fourth, as I said, these naans will not dry out or turn chewy like Store Bought naans. Plus a layer of butter will keep'em moist for much longer. Butter is quintessential to a delicious naan! 

Homemade Butter Naan Bread for Easy Indian Dinner at Home | chefdehome.com

Last, but not the least, Naan dough can be made vegan if you replace milk with coconut milk. If it was not for my love of authentic-butter-naan, I would have skipped butter and milk to keep the recipe "vegan" for you. However, you can always use coconut milk and brush some olive oil or vegan butters on naan to keep'em fully vegan.

Indian Naan Bread with Make-Ahead Freeze instructions | chefdehome.com

Freeze Instructions:

The beauty of homemade naans (especially this one) is that you can freeze them for later use. Both cooked or uncooked. Since it made-at-home, so freshness is sealed right in the beginning and then perfect Homemade Indian Food any day of the week! 

To Freeze Uncooked Naans: Roll the yeast dough. In other words, continue to step 6, then keep placing rolled uncooked naan with parchment paper in-between until all naan are rolled out. Then carefully transfer pile to a ziplock bag and freeze on flat surface. I, recently, shared steps to freeze another flat bread. You can refer this here for visual instructions.

To Freeze Cooked Naans: Roll and cook one side of the naan as instructed in recipe up to step 7. For second side, don't cook on flame, just cook on flat skillet briefly.  Then let'em come to room temperature. Transfer to ziplock bag and freeze. 

Indian Naan Bread for Easy Indian Dinner at Home | chefdehome.com

Flat Breads have always been my favorite! A few more from my Recipe Repertoire:

DIY | Freezer Ready Spinach Flat Bread | Indian Palak Roti Buckwheat Flat Bread with Mango Raita Spiced Chickpea Flat Bread

Homemade Indian Butter Naan

5 (1 review)
Homemade Indian Butter Naan
Total Time: (Idle Time: 1 hr 10 mins) Prep Time: Cook Time: Cuisine: Indian () Difficulty: Easy
Yields: 6 Naans - Serves: 3
(Total Time includes Idle Dough Rest Time)

Ingredients

Naan Dough
Toppings
Smart Swap: Use all Wheat Flour for a Whole Wheat Naan!

Directions

  • Step for Recipe - Homemade Indian Butter Naan 1. Lukewarm 1/2 cup water, add sugar and yeast. Let it sit until foamy. (about 10 minutes.)
    Step for Recipe - Homemade Indian Butter Naan 2. Add lukewarm milk, wheat flour, all purpose flour (all but leaving 1/4 cup), oil, salt over bloomed yeast.
  • Step for Recipe - Homemade Indian Butter Naan 3. Mix all ingredients. Add 1 tbsp remaining flour at a time until dough comes together. Knead the dough briefly, just for 1-2 minutes in the bowl. Dough will be little wet. If feels too wet or sticky, add 1/2 tbsp flour more at a time. Dough should not be very dry.
    Step for Recipe - Homemade Indian Butter Naan 4. Coat the bowl with 1 tsp oil, add dough and coat in oil. Cover with plastic wrap and then with clean kitchen towel. Leave to rise at warm place until double in size. (1-2 hrs)
  • Step for Recipe - Homemade Indian Butter Naan 5. This is how it looks after about 1.5 hrs. Punch down the dough and transfer to work surface (flour dusted board)
    Step for Recipe - Homemade Indian Butter Naan 6. Heat an iron skillet or heavy-bottom pan. Microwave and melt the butter in a microwave safe bowl for 15 secs and set aside. Divide dough into 6-7 equal parts. Roll each dough to a (about 5" wide - 8" long) oval shape (or round if you prefer). While you roll next naan, keep the rolled naans covered with kitchen towel. Additional Notes: Traditional naans are not rolled yet just stretched in a tear shape. For homemade, I prefer the rolling. It makes process very easy and naans have that "thin-skin" quality like you get in restaurants.
  • Step for Recipe - Homemade Indian Butter Naan 7. Place one rolled naan on heated skillet and let it cook for 1-2 minutes or until yeast action shows tiny bubbles all over the naan. Additional Notes: If using wide skillet, you can make two naans at a time.
    Step for Recipe - Homemade Indian Butter Naan 8. Flip the naan, place it on direct gas flame until slight charred and cooked on other side (just 10-15 secs max) Always keep a tongs/spatula handy to lift or flip the naan. Or you can also cook other side on the skillet. Additional Notes: Keep an eye on naan on stove top. If not picked quickly, it can burn or will have too much char.
  • Step for Recipe - Homemade Indian Butter Naan 9. Remove cooked naan with tongs and place next naan on skillet, repeat until all naans are cooked.
    Step for Recipe - Homemade Indian Butter Naan 10. Immediately brush butter on cooked naans and spread some chopped cilantro. Butter will keep them moist while you finish cooking the rest.
  • Step for Recipe - Homemade Indian Butter Naan 11. Serve with your favorite Indian Curry and enjoy!
Savita's Notes:

Amount of flour needed can be a tbsp more or less based on quality of wheat and weather conditions. Always start with 1/4 cup less flour, then add 1 tbsp at a time until desired dough forms.

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Tag @SAVITACHEFDEHOME on Instagram and hashtag it #SAVITACHEFDEHOME

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27 Responses

  1. Lovely naan recipe. These look perfect and healthy.
  2. Can the naan be cooked a couple of hours ahead of time?
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    Yes, you can cook Naan a couple of hours ahead (about 3-4 hours but not overnight). To reheat, microwave few seconds at time. If naan appears dry, wrap in moist paper towel then microwave. Serve immediately. I hope it helps.
  3. If I freeze the uncooked naan as you describe, what is the process when I’m ready to cook? Can I just defrost on my counter and cook per the recipe or are there special considerations?
    To re-heat frozen Cooked Naans, I recommend microwave for 30 seconds, then sear on heated skillet, or direct flame, or in oven. For Uncooked Naans, thaw on kitchen counter at room temperature, in single layer, until almost thawed, then follow Step 7-9 to cook. I hope it helps.
  4. Made your Lamb Rogan Josh & Buttery Naan last night & they were both great. Expected to have leftovers today, but (alas) there was nothing left over. Thank you.
    Richard, thanks for sharing this good feedback. I'm so glad you enjoyed naan and lamb curry. Indeed, nothing works better with a spicy curry than a buttery naan. No wonder you had no leftovers. Make again some time :) Have a great day!
  5. Very late to the party here, but worked perfectly first time- unlike any other stove-top breads I've made. Will definitely use this recipe again, many thanks!
  6. I never thought I will make this bread at homebut your pictures and easy steps made me try it. I should have tried it earlier, becz these came out so dam delicious! thanks for sharing this amazing recipe.
  7. This recipe is confusing it says it takes 1 hour 40 mins to make but then lower down it says set to rise for 1-2 hours yet total time to make is less. it also says serves 3 at top but then says towards the end it will make6-7 ??
    Hi Katy, dough is mostly ready to cook in about 1 hour but it may take longer depending upon weather conditions. So, this is why recipe time is 1 hour 40 minutes -1 hour (avg) for dough rise + rest for cooking/preparing naans. Also, 3 servings are based on 2 naans per person. Recipe is for 6-7 naans. Servings vary based on serving size. I hope it helps.
  8. Thanks, nice and tasty....well explained
    thanks, Kumar! I'm glad you enjoyed naans.
  9. The pictures and method of making, and everything looks beautiful.. nice post and all the recipes looking delicious and mouth watering. Also the blog looks so professional and classy.
    thanks Gurunath
  10. Homemade is the best and this gorgeous looking naan is no exception:)..Well explained and made savita:)
    Padma, thanks :) I agree, homemade naan are the best :)
  11. very delicious naans Savita!! Very well explained recipe
    Shubha, thanks! I'm glad you find this post informative. I tried my best to include as much as info as I possible can.
  12. Wow! Homemade Naan looks so delicious Savita! Loved the addition of whole wheat flour. And stove top method is awesome! :D
    Anu, thank you so much!
  13. Scrumptious. ...love to have them with butter chicken
    Sure! So do I crave for! some butter chicken with these naans :) thanks for stopping by Nusrath! Love hearing from you.
  14. Homemade bread is the best!! This naan looks soft and buttery, Love it!!!
    I agree! Homemade is the best! Always! Mira, thanks my friend! I'm glad you like these naan bread.
  15. Yum yum! Home made naan is awesome, we can always make it healthier :) These look perfect Savita! Have a great weekend!
    oh yes! homemade is the best and indeed healthier too! You too have a great weekend. Thanks for stopping by!