Is Naan Vegan?

This vegan naan recipe is made without any animal products at all. You’ll find that it tastes great and is very similar to traditional naan. It’s perfect for scooping up delicious curries and other dishes.

You’ll only need a handful of basic ingredients to make this tasty treat. Just combine flour, baking powder, salt, active yeast, sugar, oil, a bit of water, and milk. Mix well until smooth and let rise for 30 minutes. Then stretch and fold the dough 3 times. Let rise another 15 minutes. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and cut it into pieces using a pizza cutter. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. Remove and cool completely. Slice and enjoy!

What Is Naan?

Naan is a delicious flatbread that originated in India. It’s made using all-purpose flour, yeast, salt, and warm water. There are hundreds of variations of naan, including whole wheat, spelled, multigrain, gluten-free, etc.

Most naan recipes start with flour, salt, active dried yeast, and water. Some include yogurt or milk, and sometimes eggs are added to the dough. After mixing the ingredients, the dough is allowed to rise until doubled in volume. Then it’s rolled out and cut into rounds. Finally, the naans are placed in a very hot skillet and baked.

You’ll find naan bread in cuisines across the world, especially in the Mediterranean region, Southeast Asian countries, and the Middle East. However, the version served in restaurants is usually quite different than the ones sold in grocery stores. Restaurants serve fresh naan with curry dishes, salads, and soups. On the other hand, grocery store versions tend to be plainer and sweeter.

History Of Naan

The history of classic naan goes back quite a bit further than most people think. It dates back to the early 13th century when it was mentioned in poetry written by an Indian poet named Amir Khusro. He wrote about his journey to India and ate naan along the way. Soon after he began writing poems about his travels, naan became popular among kings and queens of the Mughal Empire.

As time went on, naan became more accessible and cheaper. Eventually, it gained widespread popularity across India and even beyond. Today, it is enjoyed worldwide.

There are several varieties of plain naan, including whole wheat, spiced, flavored, vegan garlic butter for garlic, onion, cheese, and meat flavors. Some countries serve naan with curry dishes.

How To Make Vegan Naan

Making vegan naan is super easy if you follow these steps!

First, let the yeast activate by pouring boiling water over the yeast packet. Let sit for 15 minutes. Next, combine the remaining ingredients except for the vegetable oil and mix with a fork. Slowly incorporate the oil and continue mixing.

Finally, knead the dough using your hands until it forms a nice, smooth texture. Once the dough is completely cool, form it into balls and proof it for 90 minutes. Roll out the dough into a flat circle and cook in a hot cast iron skillet. Top with garlic melted butter and flaky sea salt!

Making Vegan Naan: Some Tips

Yeasts are fickle organic ingredients. They interact differently depending on their food source, the temperatures of the surrounding liquids, and the temperatures of the dough itself. Any change in any of these results in different outcomes.

To get accurate measurements, use a digital measuring scale. For example, if you’re baking yeast bread, you need to be precise when measuring dry ingredients. Even a small mistake can result in a loaf of bread that doesn’t rise properly.

You need to use a warm (not hot) tap or bottled drinking (not cooking) quality water to activate the yeast. Cold tap or bottled drinking quality water will not activate the yeast.

Oil your fingers several times. The only thing that will make this bread rise properly is if you oil your fingers several times during kneading. This brings the bread together but also reduces its stickiness of the bread. Please do not skip this step!

Preheat your pan to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Medium-high Heat level your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Test your pan temperature before placing your food on it. You can also use an instant-read thermometer to check the temperature.

After making the first two or three wheat naans, adjust the medium heat on your gas range so that it’s 5 out of 7 for your burners. If you notice that the bread is burning faster than usual, turn down the heat slightly.

While they’re baking, cover the remaining dough with a clean kitchen towel to keep it softer dough. Otherwise, the bread will get too hard when it cools down.

Eat while hot! If you can, cook each naan in sequence. While one naan cooks, I prepare another naan and cook it back to back. I cannot stress enough how amazing this naan is when still warm from the oven. Prepare your main course ahead of time and bake these naans right before you plan to enjoy them. They taste incredibly hot off the pan.

What Goes Well With Naan?

There are plenty of great dishes that go well with naan. You can serve it alongside a variety of curries. There isn’t anything off-limits. Just remember that if you’re serving a dish that requires a fork and knife, you’ll probably want to serve it on a plate rather than directly on the flatbread.

Here are some awesome vegan Indian recipes that would work perfectly with naan.

Red Lentil Curry: gourmet Indian flavors but made on a weeknight.

Dal Tadka: a spin of the nightly dal I grew up eating but a little more gourmet and super flavorful thanks to the tadka, the tempered spiced oil.

Vegan Palak Paneer: a veganized version of the take-out classic that’s creamy but wholesome.

Chana Masala: an easier-to-make but gourmet spin on the classic Indian Chickpea curry.

FAQs

How Do I Make Naan?

This recipe for vegan naan is made using only four basic minimal ingredients: rice flour, water, salt, and yeast. You’ll find that it takes less than 10 minutes to prepare, and it makes enough dough for two large naans.

You can serve it warm or cold, depending on your preference. Warm naan tastes great with any curry dish, especially those with coconut milk. Cold naan goes well with salads, sandwiches, dips, and spreads.

Make yourself a batch of this tasty vegan naan today!

What Are The Best Ways To Eat Naan?

There are several ways to eat naan. One of the most common ways to enjoy naan is to wrap it around a bowl of soup or salad. Another option is to stuff it with falafel, chickpeas, tuna, or hummus. It’s delicious either way!

You can also use it for wrapping dishes, stuffing them with food, or making it into a personal pizza crust. Whatever you decide to do with it, there’s no doubt that it tastes amazing!

Can I Use My Regular Bread Flour Instead Of Whole Wheat Flour?

You may think that using regular white bread flour instead of whole wheat flour is a great idea. After all, it tastes delicious and it’s less expensive. Unfortunately, there are several reasons why you shouldn’t use regular white bread flour instead.

First off, if you use regular white bread flour, you won’t be able to achieve the same texture as you would with whole wheat flour. You’ll end up with a flatbread rather than a fluffy one. Secondly, you might notice that your bread doesn’t rise as well as it does with whole wheat flour. Lastly, you may find that your loaf ends up being dry and crumbly.

Is There Anything Else I Should Know About Making Naan?

You’ll find that there isn’t anything else you need to know about making naan. You can enjoy this delicious Indian flatbread without worrying about any hidden optional ingredients.

This vegan naan recipe is made using only four simple ingredients: whole wheat flour, baking soda, salt, and water. All you need is a food processor and a rolling pin to roll out the dough. Once rolled out, you can cut it into whatever shape you’d like. Bake it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until golden brown. Enjoy!