Soft & Fluffy Garlic Naan Bread
These soft, buttery garlic naan breads are perfect for scooping up curries and are just as delicious as the ones from your favorite Indian restaurant.
- Prep15 min
- Cook10 min
- Total25 min
- DifficultyMedium
- Servings10
This homemade garlic naan is incredibly soft, fluffy, and full of flavor. The dough is enriched with yogurt and milk, giving it a tender crumb, while the garlic butter topping adds a punch of savory goodness.
Perfect for mopping up rich curries or enjoying on its own, this recipe is surprisingly simple to make at home. The yeast gives the naan a slight rise and those characteristic bubbles, and cooking them in a hot skillet creates the perfect chewy texture.
Ingredients
Servings
For the Naan Dough
For the Garlic Butter Topping
Converted amounts are rounded.
Method
- In a small bowl, combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until the mixture becomes frothy and bubbly on top.
- Add the warm milk, yogurt, oil, minced garlic, flour, baking powder, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix until a dough forms.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. With floured hands, knead the dough for about 3–5 minutes until it is smooth and elastic.
- Lightly grease the same mixing bowl with a little oil. Place the dough back in the bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise at room temperature for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- When the dough has risen, divide it into 10 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, then on a floured surface roll each ball into an oval shape about 6 inches (15 cm) long and 1/8-inch (3 mm) thick.
- Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat and lightly oil it. Place one piece of naan in the hot skillet. Cook until bubbles form on the top surface, about 1–2 minutes.
- While the first side is cooking, brush the top of the naan with a little oil. Flip the naan and cook the other side for another 1–2 minutes, until large golden spots appear.
- Remove the cooked naan from the skillet and wrap it in a clean kitchen towel to keep it warm and soft. Repeat with the remaining dough pieces.
- For the garlic butter: In a small bowl, mix the melted butter with the minced garlic. Brush each warm naan generously with the garlic butter.
- Sprinkle the naan with the chopped fresh cilantro (or parsley) and serve immediately.
💡 Tips
- For best results, use a cast-iron skillet or a non-stick pan and keep it very hot.
- If the dough feels too sticky while kneading, add a little more flour, but be careful not to over-flour.
- You can prepare the dough a day ahead and let it rise slowly in the refrigerator.
Inspired by a recipe from Cafe Delites