How to Make Indian Naan Bread
Step #1: Pour the milk into a liquid measuring cup, whisk in the Greek yogurt, and heat in the microwave until warm to the touch (about 110 degrees Fahrenheit, 43 degrees Celsius). Pour the warm milk into a large bowl or the bowl of an electric stand mixer. Add the sugar, instant yeast, salt, cardamom, turmeric, and 2 ½ cups of the flour. This Indian Naan Bread recipe is incredibly easy to make, but somehow you just never get around to making it. But it’s totally worth it. With this Indian bread, you’re simply mixing the dough and letting it sit for 2 hours. Then, roll the dough into 12 balls, and let them sit for another 30 minutes, before rolling the balls into ovals and baking them in the oven. It’s really not that complicated, yet somehow, I build it up in my head to be this day-long baking extravaganza. Step #2: Mix well with a wooden spoon or the paddle attachment on your stand mixer. Continue adding flour gradually in small amounts, until a soft dough is formed that cleans the sides of the bowl (it will still be sticky). Knead the dough using the dough attachment on your stand mixer, or by hand until it is smooth and elastic, about 3-5 minutes in the mixer or 10 minutes by hand. Step #3: Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and let it rest at room temperature, covered lightly, for about 2 hours. Step #4: After the dough has rested, turn it onto a lightly floured surface and divide the dough into 12 equal portions, rounding each into a ball shape. The dough will still be a little sticky, but you won’t have too much trouble forming it into balls. Step #5: Cover the pieces with a towel and let them rest for 30 minutes. While the dough rests, preheat your oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius) and place a pizza stone or large cast-iron pan on the bottom rack of the oven. Step #6: Once the dough has rested for a half-hour, one by one, roll each piece into a circle about 6 inches wide. Open up the oven and lay the circle of dough on the hot pizza stone. Spritz the top of the dough with a little water or vegetable oil. Close the oven and bake the naan for about 2-3 minutes, until it is lightly puffed and brown spots begin to appear on the bottom. Turn the naan using tongs and return to the oven for another 2 minutes or so. How to reheat Naan Bread When ready to enjoy, thaw at room temperature if frozen. To reheat, wrap it in aluminum foil and warm it in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (about 175 degrees Celsius) for about 10 minutes.
