Advanced..... Naan




A staple in many Middle Eastern countries, the Indian subcontinent, and surrounding countries.

 

1 part flour + 2 third’s part liquid + two-thirds tsp of kosher salt + 2 tsp of yeast + some other stuff; see below.

 

 

Example: 2 1/3 cups of white flour (Plus a bit of flour for rolling out.)

 

2/3 teaspoon table kosher salt (about 3.29 g. don’t add much extra salt)

 

2 to 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (approx. 7 g.    (1 package active dry yeast))

 

1 Tablespoon of sugar (about 12.5 g.)

 

1 teaspoon baking powder (about 4 g.)

 

2/3 teaspoon baking soda (about 3.2 g.)

 

2/3 cup plain, unsweetened yogurt (preferably Greek (cold))

 

2/3 cup whole milk (cold)

 

2 tablespoons olive oil (Or butter, not both)

 

OPTIONAL.

1 tsp (teaspoon, about 2.8 g.) minced garlic

 

Finish

8 tbsp (tablespoon) butter

2 tbsp (teaspoon, about 2.5 g.) minced fresh parsley (optional)

1 tsp (teaspoon, about 2.8 g.) minced garlic (optional)

Melt butter, add or don’t add optional ingredients, and brush on the finished product.

Pro note: If used for peanut butter and jelly, skip the butter entirely.

 

 

 

    Dissolve the yeast in a bit of water (tablespoon), add flour and a tiny pinch of sugar, and leave for about 10 minutes.  It should bubble a little, which indicates your yeast is working. If not, find a warmer spot or get newer yeast. If worse comes to worse and your yeast is dead, you can still make tortillas.

 

 

Mixing

In a medium bowl, add all the dry ingredients, flour, salt, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda, and mix well.

Now add your yeast water, milk, yogurt, and oil (if using butter, soften/almost melt the butter in the microwave)

This is where we add the optional minced garlic.

 

Once the flour has absorbed the water and looks like dough, sprinkle a bit of flour on a flat surface and start to work the dough.

 Knead the dough until the surface becomes shiny and smooth, 10 to 15 minutes. Or about 8 min on the dough hook.

 

If the dough is still quite wet, add more flour. The goal is a soft dough that sticks slightly to the bottom of the bowl but does not stick to the sides of the bowl.

 

Note: Some people currently coat the dough with a tiny amount of oil. It is more of a personal technique.

 

Cover the dough with a barely damp cloth and let it rise in a warm place (a warm oven that you pre-heated for one minute (no more than two. on the stove or on top of the refrigerator)).

Check-in an hour; the dough should double in size. If not, give it another half hour.

 

While you are waiting, now is a good time to melt your butter and use butter by itself or butter/parsley or butter garlic, and last but not least, butter/parsley and garlic.  So mix whatever combination you like and set aside.

 

 Divide the dough into 6-8-10 equal balls. (I have been told 6 works well if you want them larger than average, and 10 is better if you have young children.).

 

 Roll the dough to an 8-inch (give or take (see above)) circle using a rolling pin on a well-floured surface.

 If the dough is sticky, add half a teaspoon of flour until it is workable.

  (Practice makes perfect)

 

Roll the pieces out into disk shapes that are about ¼-inch thick.

 Keep the remaining dough covered with a kitchen towel while you work with each piece.  (You may need to re-wet the towel)

 

Once rolled out, lay the dough disks out on a lightly floured surface (A couple of cookie sheets, for example)

cover with a kitchen towel or spray some plastic wrap with non-stick spray and let sit 15 to 30 minutes 

 

Stir your butter mix and reheat if needed; prepare a small pastry brush.

 

 

 Cooking

 

Use a griddle, 10–12-inch pan, pancake, or crepe pan, and oil the pan to keep the dough from sticking.

The pan must be hot with a light coat of oil.

Lay the dough on the skillet. When it puffs up, bubbles and dark brown to burnt spots appear (about 20-35 seconds), flip it over and cook the other side. Repeat the same until all the disks/Naan are done.

 

 Note: Some people use a pastry brush to put a little water on the dough, and one lady I know has a spray bottle she uses to mist the Naan before laying it down in the pan. (Optional (Wet side down.)

 

  Press with your spatula (or a big spoon) in the middle of the Naan; it will help them puff.

This will take about a minute and should be less than two. (Also, I have seen a few cooks cover the pan on the first part and said it speeds up the process.)

 

 Lightly brush with butter (butter mix) as they come off the pan and stack under a (clean) kitchen towel.   (Butter is not mandatory)

 If your pan is getting gunked up with excess flour, get a big wad of paper towels, lift the pan away from the flame/stove, wipe it out, re-oil, and return to cooking.

 

 

How long can naan be kept?

Naan bread should be stored at room temperature in an airtight container.

It will stay soft and fresh for approximately one day at room temperature. Sealed in an airtight container.                         ****

For mid-term storage, naan can be placed in the refrigerator for two to four days. (Sealed in an airtight container).                        ****

Naan will last approximately two to three months in the freezer.

To freeze, separate Naan with waxed paper, parchment paper, or cut-up plastic bags and place them in a plastic container or zippered bag before placing them in the freezer. Don’t forget to write a date on the package.

 

 (The paper/plastic separates the Naan, so you don’t wind up with a frozen Naan rock.)

 

****(It depends on what was added to the batter or finished product, oil, butter etc. The more additives the shorter the life span)

 

 

 

 

 

What to do with it?

Make pizza, and brush lightly with olive oil. Choose your favorite pizza toppings and bake on a pizza stone or preheated sheet pan.

 

Make a wrap with it. Fill the naan with thinly sliced beef, onions, cheese, or Taco ingredients.

 

Make your favorite sandwich with it, ham and cheese, peanut butter and Jelly, egg salad, scrambled eggs with chopped bacon, etc ...

 

Cut it into squares, brush with olive oil, and bake on a sheet pan until crisp for a delicious dipping chip for salsa or spicy bean dip.

 

Serve warm with melted butter, or better yet, in the microwave or stovetop (over low heat).

 

Melt the butter, stir in finely chopped parsley, and brush on warm Naan. Add a bit of crushed garlic to the butter for additional flavor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last note: You will find a thousand variations on how to make these on the internet.

 

Practice, and you will find one that suits you.  After the practice, you will look like you have done this all your life.

 

 

According to the internet, for nutrition information.

Yield 8

Serving Size1

Amount Per Serving Calories 285

Total Fat 9g

Saturated Fat 4g

Trans Fat 0g

Unsaturated Fat 5g

Cholesterol 19mg

Sodium 146mg

Carbohydrates 42g

Fiber 1g

Sugar 3g

Protein 8g

Potassium 171mg

Calcium 68%

Vitamin A 77%

niacin: 1.5mg 12 %

folate: 38mcg 9 %           

 

 

 

That said, please review the Nutrition Disclaimer; there are too many variables to give an accurate list of the nutritional value of anything. You should read the package to better understand what is in your food. Again, see the Nutrition Disclaimer.















copyright © 2023 Donald Watson All Rights Reserved.

 

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