Nov 08 2008
Naan Bread – A Delicious Addition to Any Meal
Although my favorite foods are normally European/American and Asian-inspired dishes, I do occasionally like to dabble in other ethnic foods. My tastes are varied, and I’m not a huge fan of Indian food. I do enjoy it occasionally. When my family eats out at Indian restaurants, I love their bread—naan bread.
Naan bread is a flatbread that is made from white flour. It’s eaten in many of the Middle Eastern countries, like Pakistan, Indian, Afghanistan, and Iran. It looks like pita bread, but it’s softer and can be a bit chewy.
This recipe is perfect if you’re planning on eating shish kabobs or an Indian-inspired meal, but I think it tastes great by itself. You have several methods of cooking it—on the grill or on the oven. For this blog, I’m using the oven because that’s what I have available to me.
You can find most of the ingredients at your local grocery store. For the black cumin seeds, it’s available at any Middle Eastern or Indian grocery.
Enjoy some delicious naan bread and a stock photo of India…
Naan Bread
Ingredients
4 cups white flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 egg
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 teaspoon black cumin seeds
Directions
In a bowl, mix together sugar, milk, egg, and half of the olive oil. Set aside.
In another bowl, sift together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Make a well in the center of the bowl, and add the sugar mixture (from step 1) in the middle.
Knead the dough until it becomes soft, adding water when needed. Add the rest of the olive oil and continue to knead until dough is smooth and elastic.
Cover the dough a damp cloth and let it sit in a warm place for 15 minutes. Return to the dough and knead once more. Cover again and let it stand for 3 hours.
Preheat your oven to its highest setting. Using a baking sheet, sprinkle it with the black cumin seeds. Place in the oven to preheat.
Uncover your dough and separate it into eight balls. Let stand uncovered for 3 minutes.
Roll out the balls into a thin oval shape.
Take out the hot baking sheet from the oven, and brush it lightly with olive oil. Place your oval-shaped dough pieces on the baking sheet.
Bake at your oven’s highest setting for 3-5 minutes. Watch the bread carefully. It is done when it is puffed up and golden.
Best when served warm.
