How to Make Delicious Garlic Naan at Home

Garlic naan is a delicious Indian bread that is perfect as a side dish or even as a main meal. The preparation of this tasty bread may seem overwhelming to some, but it is actually a straightforward process that anyone can follow. All you need is some simple ingredients, a bit of patience, and you will soon be enjoying a warm and aromatic garlic naan in the comfort of your own home.

First, let’s discuss what garlic naan is. This traditional bread is made from flour, yogurt, yeast, and milk. The dough is rolled out into a flat oval shape, brushed with garlic-infused oil, and then baked in a hot tandoor clay oven. The result is a fragrant, fluffy, and flavorful bread that pairs perfectly with your favorite Indian dishes, or any other meal you desire. In this article, we will guide you through the step-by-step process of making garlic naan at home, so you can impress your family and friends with your culinary skills.

Ingredients

Firstly, all good garlic naan recipes start with the right blend of ingredients. You will need all-purpose flour, yeast, salt, sugar, plain yogurt, and warm water. These ingredients are easily available in your local grocery store, and you don’t need to go for anything fancy.

Making the Dough

The dough for garlic naan is pretty easy and can be made in less than an hour. Start by combining flour, salt, sugar, and yeast. Mix well. In a separate bowl, mix water, yogurt, and garlic paste. Combine the dry and wet ingredients until a dough forms. Add water if it feels too dry or flour if it’s sticky. Leave the dough to rest for 30 minutes to allow the yeast to activate.

Kneading the Dough

Take the dough out of the bowl and place it on a floured surface. Begin kneading the dough for at least ten minutes until it becomes firm and springy. Cover it with a wet towel and leave it to rise for about two hours.

Preparing the Naan

Take the risen dough and divide it into small balls. Usually, you can make up to eight dough balls, depending on their desired size. Flour the dough balls and roll each into an oval shape. Make sure that the dough is about the thickness of a pizza crust.

Cooking the Naan

While the dough is resting, you should start heating up the pan or griddle. Place the rolled-out dough on the hot griddle and cook until bubbles form on the dough’s surface. Flip it over, brush generously with garlic butter, and cook the other side for one minute. Repeat the process with the remaining dough balls.

Using Garlic Butter

Garlic is a vital ingredient in garlic naan. Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat and add garlic paste to it. Let the garlic infuse into the butter for a few minutes. Brush the garlic butter onto each naan after the first flip, and let it cook.

Serving Suggestions

Garlic naan-goes well with a variety of side dishes. You can serve it with your favorite vegetable curry, korma, or tandoori chicken. Alternatively, you can enjoy it alone with a dip or chutney. If you have leftovers, you can reheat them in the oven or toast them in the toaster.

Final Thoughts

Making garlic naan can seem daunting, but it’s a simple process that anyone can do. With the right ingredients and correct method, you’ll end up with a dish that bursts with flavor. The key is to take your time and be patient, and soon you’ll have delicious, homemade garlic naan that your family and friends will love.

Ingredients for Garlic Naan

To make garlic naan, you will need the following ingredients:

1. All-purpose flour
2. Yeast
3. Salt
4. Sugar
5. Baking Powder
6. Yogurt
7. Milk
8. Garlic
9. Ghee

All-purpose Flour

All-purpose flour is the main ingredient in making garlic naan. All-purpose flour is versatile, inexpensive, and has a low protein content, which makes it perfect for making naan.

Yeast

Yeast is an important ingredient that helps the dough to rise. You can use both active dry yeast and instant yeast for making garlic naan. If you’re using active dry yeast, then you must activate it first before using it for making the dough.

Salt

Salt adds flavor to the naan bread. You need to use a little bit of salt when making the dough for garlic naan.

Sugar

Sugar serves two purposes. It provides food for the yeast to grow and also adds a little bit of sweetness to the naan bread.

Baking Powder

Baking powder helps the naan bread to puff up and become fluffy. It’s essential when making garlic naan.

Yogurt

Yogurt adds a tangy flavor to the naan bread. You can use both plain yogurt and Greek yogurt for making garlic naan.

Milk

Milk helps to make the dough softer and also adds a little bit of sweetness. You can use either regular milk or plant-based milk when making garlic naan.

Garlic

Garlic is the key ingredient that gives garlic naan its unique flavor. You will need to use fresh garlic, and finely mince it before adding it to the dough.

Ghee

Ghee is a type of clarified butter that is commonly used in Indian cooking. It adds a rich flavor to the garlic naan and helps to keep the bread moist. You can use regular butter as a substitute for ghee.

Ingredients to make garlic naan

Before we dive into the cooking process, it’s essential to have all the required ingredients ready to go. Below is a list of the ingredients needed to make garlic naan:

Preparing the dough for garlic naan

First, take a mixing bowl and add two cups of all-purpose flour, one tsp of active dry yeast, one tbsp of sugar, one tsp of salt, and one tsp of baking powder. Mix all the dry ingredients well with a fork or whisk.

In another bowl or a grinder, grind the peeled garlic cloves into a fine paste. In the mixing bowl containing dry ingredients, make a well in the middle, add garlic paste, half a cup of yogurt, and a quarter cup of vegetable oil, and slowly add warm water. Knead the mixture by hand or in a food processor.

Resting the garlic naan dough

The dough should be smooth and non-sticky. Transfer the dough to a clean, greased bowl. Cover it with a damp cloth and let it rest for at least 1-2 hours. During this time, the dough will rise and become soft and fluffy, making it easier to roll the naan.

Making garlic naan on the stovetop

Divide the dough into equal parts, with each one enough to make a naan. Take one part and dust it with a little flour. Roll it out into an oval shape, about the size of a medium-sized pizza slice.

Heat a skillet or tawa on medium flame and sprinkle some water on it. Place the rolled-out garlic naan dough onto the skillet and cover the lid. Cook it for 1-2 minutes or until you see bubbles forming on the surface and the bottom is golden brown.

Flip the garlic naan to the other side and cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute. Remove it from the skillet and brush some butter or ghee on top. Repeat the same process with the rest of the dough.

Garlic naan in an oven

If you have a home oven, you can also make garlic naan in it. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Roll out the garlic naan dough and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Keep the baking sheet inside the oven and bake it for 2-3 minutes or until you see golden spots. Remove the garlic naan from the oven and brush some garlic butter or ghee on it.

Your delicious garlic naan is now ready to serve. You can pair it with any Indian curry or enjoy it with some butter chicken or tandoori chicken.

Time to Enjoy Your Delicious Garlic Naan

Now that you know how to make your own garlic naan, it’s time to put those hands to work and create your very own batch! Remember to savor every bite and pair it with your favorite curry dish for the ultimate experience. Thanks for reading and I can’t wait for you to join me again in the kitchen for more fun and tasty recipes. Happy cooking!