Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (2024)

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Learn to make garlic naan bread that contains whole wheat flour and no butter. Even though it is super soft and delicious to eat. It is a must-try recipe.

Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (1)

Recipe Background / Inspiration

Making whole wheat garlic naan bread is not difficult. If you’ve ever made pita bread or pizza dough at home, you will find this recipe quite familiar. I had never made any kind of naan at home until last year. I only enjoyed them in restaurants in India.

I belong to the western part of India, where naan bread is not eaten commonly. Naan is the staple bread diet of the northern part of the country. I never saw my mother cooking it either. So, I had no clue about how to prepare them at home, and I also believed in the fact that certain dishes are best eaten in restaurants. It was when I started to explore and learn to cook different types of dishes at home, that garlic naans were the one on my priority list.

I got some basic ideas for making naan bread from Tushar’s aunty, who is a great cook. But, I made some changes to the ingredients to give it a healthy twist.

Generally, naan is made from all-purpose flour with lots of butter. All-purpose flour and butter make it soft and delicious. In this commonly used recipe, I partially (about 70%) replaced all-purpose flour with 100% whole wheat flour. I didn’t use butter at all. Even with these replacements, garlic naan bread turned out super soft and delicious.

However, I am still not satisfied with my partial replacement of whole wheat flour. I will try to make them using whole wheat flour without using any refined flour. If I am successful, I will share the recipe with you all. Till then, try this recipe and enjoy a low fat, partial whole wheat version of garlic naan bread.

Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (2)

How is this whole wheat naan bread recipe healthy?

This naan bread is healthy because it contains:

  • 100 % whole wheat flour
  • olive oil instead of butter, so it is low in saturated fat
  • non-fat plain greek yogurt instead of whole-milk yogurt
Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (3)

More Whole Wheat Bread Recipes To Try

  • Whole Wheat Focaccia Bread
  • Homemade Whole Wheat Pita Bread
  • Zucchini Flatbread
  • Garlic Herb Pumpkin Flatbread
  • All Whole Wheat Recipes

📖 Recipe

Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (4)

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5 from 7 votes

Garlic naan bread recipe

Homemade garlic naan bread for guilty free eating. Made with whole wheat flour and no butter at all.

Course: Bread,Main Course

Cuisine: Indian Inspired

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings :8

Calories :190kcal

Author:Swati Kadam Gulati

Ingredients

  • 2 cups 100% whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon rapid rise yeast
  • ¼ cup plain nonfat greek yogurt (at room temperature, optional if vegan)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • salt to taste
  • 1 ½ tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 ¼ cup warm water
  • 2 tablespoon chopped coriander

Instructions

  • In a large bowl combine whole wheat flour, all purpose flour, sugar, salt and yeast

  • Add yogurt and ½ tablespoon minced garlic. Add warm water and mix until well combined using a wooden spatula

  • Knead the dough in the bowl itself for about 5-6 min. until it becomes soft. Use the remaining ¼ cup water during kneading to wet the hand and avoid sticking the dough to the hand. Cover the bowl and place it in a warm area and let the dough rise for about 1 hr

  • To make the toppings, mix 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 tablespoon olive oil and chopped coriander in a small bowl; mix well

  • Once the dough has risen to double its size, transfer it to a flat surface. Add some dry flour to avoid sticking the dough on to the surface. Spread the dough using hands and give it a rectangular shape (almost). Cut the dough into roughly 8 equal parts (see image above) and then give each of them a round shape. Roll the naan to roughly ¼ in. in thickness

  • Heat a cast iron pan on medium-high heat. Put the rolled naan onto the preheated pan. Cook naan on one side for about 2 min on medium heat and then flip it over. Let it cook on this side for another 2 min. Meanwhile spread some water using a brush on the cooked surface to provide some moisture. Then, spread some toppings using a spoon. Once the other side is cooked, flip it over and just cook for 10 sec to remove the raw garlic flavor from the toppings.

Nutrition

Calories: 190kcal

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Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (5)

About Watch What U Eat

We are Swati and Tushar, our passion for food and cooking has now led us to share some healthy, tasty recipes and the benefits of eating certain ingredients with the goal of inspiring you to eat well and live well.

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Comments

  1. Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (6)Judy L. Capp says

    Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (7)
    Hello Swati and Tushar: Thank you for your email and your recipes. These recipes look fantastic and very easy. I am looking forward to making them soon.

    Reply

  2. Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (8)brooklyn grill says

    Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (9)
    What a tasty dish!!!. Thanks for sharing. I think your dish is very delicious. I will make this recipe for my family and my friend. I hope you have more recipe like this.

    Reply

  3. Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (10)Kitty says

    Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (11)
    These naan were fantastic!! So yummy and easy. I halved the recipe as I was only cooking for 2 and it worked well. I didn’t have rapid rise yeast, so I used dry active and just added more allowing it to bubble with the warm water and sugar for 5 minutes before mixing. Worked like a charm! Thanks for this great recipe!!

    Reply

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Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is difference between naan and flatbread? ›

Naan is another flatbread traditionally served in Indian restaurants but the difference is that there will already be a filling inside these flatbread pockets. Naan may be stuffed with curd, fresh desiccated coconut, butter, nigella seeds, and raisins.

Is naan garlic bread healthy? ›

Simply put, naan is more nutrient-dense than pita or white bread. While it may contain more carbs and sugars, it earns its reputation as a healthy alternative with its relatively generous amounts of protein and fiber.

Why do you put yogurt in naan bread? ›

Yogurt: Plain Greek yogurt holds the naan dough together and ensures a tender texture. Make sure you get authentic Greek yogurt and not Greek-style yogurt.

What do you eat naan bread with? ›

One of the most popular Indian delicacies that we know of; curries are creamy with the right amount of spicy, curries pair perfectly with warm, fluffy naan. Naan bread also serves as the perfect companion to soups and stews, absorbing their rich flavors and adding a delightful textural contrast.

Is naan healthier than pita? ›

Because their ingredients are similar, loaf bread and pita both have very similar nutritional profiles, including similar levels of protein and fat (around 2 to 3 grams). Naan is higher in protein (around 9 grams) and fat (around 5 grams) than pita and other breads.

Is naan bread just pita bread? ›

Naan bread is soft, fluffy, and chewy, whereas pita bread is denser with a slightly crispy texture on the outside. Naan bread also has a buttery flavor due to the ghee and buttermilk in the dough, which adds an extra dimension of flavor compared to pita bread's more neutral taste.

Can I eat naan during weight loss? ›

Naan breads --made of refined flour--are to be avoided as they can promote weight gain. While filling up your plate, try to focus more on the veggies, preferably green vegetables instead of starchy veggies. Vegetables that are cooked in a cooker, instead of being deep-fried, are always a better option for weight loss.

Is naan bread good for your stomach? ›

Naan bread made with whole wheat flour will be higher in fiber, which can aid in digestion and promote feelings of fullness. On the other hand, naan bread made with refined flour will be lower in fiber and may be more difficult to digest. It's also important to consider the ingredients used in the naan bread.

Which is the healthiest Indian bread? ›

From health perspective, flat breads made of whole wheat flour (roti/paratha/chapati/phulka) are better than the ones made with all-purpose flour (naan & kulcha).

Why do you sprinkle water on naan bread? ›

You sprinkle water to keep the naan bread soft. Naan bread will naturally stiffen when not eaten straight from the pan, so eat it as soon as you possibly can.

Why is my naan not fluffy? ›

Naan doesn't get bubbles – Pan not hot enough, dough not moist enough or improper leavening. Naan turns hard – Toasting for too long, not enough moisture in the dough, toasting on low heat or not kneading the dough enough.

Do you eat naan by itself? ›

Perfect on its own – buttery, fluffy, with a hint of smokiness – consider serving it by itself on its own plate as a complementary side to other dishes, as a warm-up to the main course, or tear it up into a few pieces for dips, soups and more.

Are you supposed to toast naan? ›

The toaster can be used to reheat your naan bread but it's not the best method to do so. The naan gets really dry and there's no way that you can add water to the naan before toasting. That said, it's really quick and a decent option when a toaster is all you have to reheat the bread.

Can you eat naan bread straight from the packet? ›

Yes, they are safe. The reason why warming up is recommended is simply taste and texture: When cool, they are more rigid, dry and crumbly, warmed up they become soft and more pleasant to eat. So if you are just hungry, start nibbling.

What is special about naan bread? ›

Naan is a single-layer bread with a light and slightly fluffy texture and golden-brown spots from the baking process. It is made primarily from white flour or wheat flour and a leavening agent (usually yeast), which results in the formation of air pockets in the dough that impart fluffiness and softness.

What flatbread is similar to naan? ›

Roti can also be cooked in a tandoor (an oven typically used for other dishes)– giving the flatbread crisp edges and a soft center. This cooking technique is widely popular throughout India and the US, making it more similar to its flatbread cousin– naan.

What makes a flatbread a flatbread? ›

A flatbread is bread made usually with flour; water, milk, yogurt, or other liquid; and salt, and then thoroughly rolled into flattened dough. Many flatbreads are unleavened, although some are leavened, such as pita bread.

Which is healthier pita or flatbread? ›

Side-by-side, bread contains a little more fiber and slightly fewer carbs than a pita, making it a somewhat more nutritious option. Pitas are lower in sodium than bread, so that it may be the best option for those eating a low-salt diet.

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