We had take-out from our favorite Indian restaurant last night. Everything was delicious, but, as usual, the naan didn't fare so well on the trip to our apartment. It was soggy and had lost most of the airy oomph we love.
With bread baking becoming such an easy, unintimidating task these days, we thought, "Why not naan?"
Below, see the recipes we found...
Naan bread isn't so different from other bread. There's yeast and water and rising and rolling. But most naan recipes include yogurt, and the dough is traditionally baked in a tandoor, or clay, oven. The recipes we've rounded up are adapted for conventional ovens — or for the grill.
So, if you're making a full Indian meal (perhaps a Spicy Lamb Curry and Saffron Rice with Peas and Cashews) or just want some fresh naan with your Indian take-out, take a look:
- Naan Bread at Manjula's Kitchen (You can also watch her in action in this You Tube video)
- Naan at About.com
- Homestyle Indian Naan from Fine Cooking
- Indian Naan at All Recipes
- Grilled Naan from Food & Wine
Who's making naan? Do you have a good recipe you want to share?
Related: Cooking By Feel: Indian Ingredients and Flavors
(Image: Sarah Jay for Fine Cooking)
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I've made naan at home (using my pizza stone) and have been very pleased with the results. However, a friend recently told me about the frozen naan sold at Trader Joe's (plain and garlic flavors) and I'm hooked. They taste and look great, plus I can 'bake' 1 or 2 at a time - as opposed to the 6 or more pieces of my regular recipe from Mangoes & Curry Leaves (by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid).
I also buy the Trader Joe's brand frozen naan. Not only is it perfect for one person, they last forever in the freezer, and heat up very quickly in the toaster oven. I drizzle a touch of olive oil on when it's hot, to die for!
Had some last night with my cauliflower/potato/pea curry I made.
I made some once...I think from Bittman's How to cook everything in the world. It came out okay, but not quite right. I think the lack of brick oven had something to do with it.
yum! I want cauliflower/potato/pea curry with naan!
I've made naan a few times (from a Madhur Jaffrey recipe) and it never is as good as the restaurant. I can't seem to attain the right combination of chewyness with airyness.
I haven't tried TJ's frozen naan (didn't know it existed until now!), but I buy their naan in the bread aisle, keep it in the freezer and heat it up as needed in the toaster oven. It beats my naan and is way easier!
Youtube.com has a few videos on how to make naan. Makes for good viewing.
I'll second, third, and fourth the Trader Joes naan. That garlic naan is so delicious and so convenient. Heat it in the oven for a few minutes and when you take it out, brush it with a bit of butter or oil.
On some nights when I've been incredibly lazy and not so hungry, that garlic naan and a small salad was my dinner. Tasty, tasty.
Yummm - buttery goodness.
My mouth is watering. I literally cannot WAIT for the Trader Joe's to open in Nashville!!
I've made Manjula's recipe and let me tell you... that naan was THA BOMB!!!!!