High Altitude Baking: Tender garlic naan flatbreads perfect for pizzas, sandwiches, dipping or sopping savory sauces.
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Naan is a member of an extended family of flat breads, but while it looks on the surface to be similar to its cousin, the pita or Turkish bread, it's thicker, and much more tender thanks to the addition of yogurt in the dough.
Naan is a traditional Indian bread perfect for sopping up curry sauces, but is also ideal for everything from dipping in oils and spreads like hummus, to sandwiches, or pizza bread.
How you use it is up to you, but I guarantee once these soft bread rounds are in your kitchen, you'll find all kinds of uses.
Cook's Tips:
Naan is traditionally kneaded by hand, but I used the dough hook on my Kitchenaid. It was so easy, and this is a great way to minimize flour content which can yield a tougher bread.
Even in summer, I place the bowl of dough to rise in the cavity of my microwave oven and close the door. If it's a cold day, I place a cup of very hot water in the cavity with it, to warm up the air. That way it stays safe from any cool breezes.
I made this at roughly 7000 feet above sea level. To make this at sea level, use 1 package active dry yeast, add an additional ½ cup of flour, and stir ⅔ cup warm water into the yogurt instead of ¾ cup.
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Whole Wheat Roasted Garlic Naan
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- ¼ cup warm water 105˚ - 115˚
- 10 ounces 2 cups bread flour
- 5 ounces 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt plus more for sprinkling over cooked flatbreads
- ½ cup plain yogurt I used full fat yogurt
- ¾ cup warm water no warmer than 120˚
- 2 tablespoons olive oil plus more for the bowl and pan
- 2 teaspoons agave nectar
- ¼ cup roasted garlic cloves
- Chives optional
- Fresh minced rosemary optional
Instructions
- Stir the yeast into ¼ cup warm water until the yeast dissolves. Let stand for 10 minutes. You should start to see some bubbling action.
- Combine the flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer, or if kneading by hand, combine in a large bowl.
- In a separate bowl, combine the yogurt, ¾ cup warm water, olive oil, and agave nectar together. Stir in the yeast.
- If using a stand mixer, start the dough hook on the lowest speed and pour in the liquid. Continue to mix on low until at least three-quarters of the dry ingredients are incorporated. Advance to the next highest speed, and mix with the dough hook for 10 minutes. Add the roasted garlic cloves.
- If kneading by hand, form a well in the dry ingredients and pour the liquid in. Using a flexible dough scraper designed for bowls, fold the dry ingredients into the wet by moving the scraper along the edge of the bowl starting at the bottom of the bowl and moving it upwards along the bowl and in towards the liquid. Continue until a dough starts to form. Empty it onto a work surface and begin to knead. It can be a sticky dough, so add flour as needed. Knead until soft. You should be able to press it with a finger and the dough will spring back a bit. Towards the end of kneading, add the roasted garlic cloves.
- Oil a large, clean bowl and scoop the dough into it. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm area of the kitchen, free of any cool breezes. Allow to rise for one hour, or until it's increased in volume by 25% - 50%. It likely won't double in volume, and doesn't need to.
- Scoop the dough out onto a work surface, and separate into eight sections. Remove one section at a time, always covering the remaining sections with plastic. Roll each section into a circle roughly six inches in diameter. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, and cover with plastic. It's fine to stack them. Let rest for ten minutes.
- Heat a pan over medium heat and add a little olive oil. When the oil is hot, but not smoking, add one of the flatbreads. Allow to cook for one to two minutes, or until lightly browned. They will bubble up in large bubbles - this is completely normal. Flip, and cook for another minute. Sprinkle a little salt over the cooked surface. Remove to a plate, and repeat with the others. If the oil starts to smoke, reduce the heat or remove the pan from the heat for a minute or two. I did this while continuing to cook the flatbreads without a problem, making this very quick work.
- These are fantastic warm, fresh from the pan, sprinkled with a few chives, or fresh rosemary, or just plain. Store in plastic bags in the refrigerator to allow them to last longer. They can be frozen for up to six months, but mine never last that long.
apuginthekitchen
I have been wanting to find a recipe for Naan, I love how simple this is and I think my favorite meal is a simple cucumber tomato salad and flat bread. Maybe a little feta too!! You must be settled in enough to be be baking, congratulations, you work quickly!!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Cucumber and tomato salad with feta would be perfect with this bread, especially since it has roasted garlic in it. Our settling in at the Lake is much further ahead of settling in at home. I'm nowhere close to having time to bake there 🙂
Christy@SweetandSavoring
How did I not know that naan has yogurt in it?? I love naan, thanks for motivating me to make it myself! 🙂
The Wimpy Vegetarian
The yogurt makes ALL the difference. I didn't realize this was a trademark ingredient either until I starting researching it!
CCU
Your naan inspires me my friend, this looks fantastic 😀
Cheers
CCU
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks so much CCU!
Erica {Coffee & Quinoa}
This explains so much! I followed a naan recipe before, and it came out flavorful but tough. That recipe didn't have yogurt in it, and I'm at about 4500 feet. This recipe should fix everything!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
It honestly should solve the toughness, Erica. These were so tender and soft, even 4 days later. Yogurt makes all the difference, and especially at higher altitudes. In fact I add some yogurt almost all my baked goods up here. My first chocolate cake, a triple decker beauty, up here was like hockey pucks. Major, major disaster 🙂
lizthechef
Looks terrific - hope you enjoyed a happy 4th!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
We had a great 4th! GREAT fireworks on the beach 🙂 Hope you and Larry had a great one too!
Mary @ Fit and Fed
Looks delicious with the roasted garlic, olives, and snipped herbs. I must admit I have a soft spot for naan, and it's not that hard to make. I'm glad you are settling into your new kitchen, that seemed quick!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks so much Mary! I'm slowing settling in and catching up on life, but still have a depressingly long way to go. But I love my new kitchen at the Lake!!
mjskit
Lots of great hints Susan! Especially love the idea of using the microwave and the bowl of hot water in winter. Living at a mile high, high altitude cooking hints are always welcome. Your naan looks delicious and I love it that you used WW flour!
Erika
Oh YUMM! I LOVE naan and those photos are just gorgeous! Adding roasted garlic sounds like a totally gourmet, restaurant-style move--I must try this!!
Fig & Quince
I can't say I need a naan recipe but I can say that I WANT a naan recipe and I really like your simple recipe. Definitely plan on making this and biting into it within the month.
Now for some hummus!
Tari
I just found this recipe yesterday. I used to make naan a lot when I lived at sea level but have been hesitant to bake with yeast since moving to about 7,000ft in June. I just have to say this is the best naan I have EVER had. Better than restaurants, better than other recipes. I literally woke up this morning thinking about it. It is just as tasty eaten with eggs the following morning. Thanks so much for sharing. I will definitely be using this as my go-to naan recipe. As a side note, I used garlic in half and omitted for the other half because my 3 and 5 year olds don't love it and both were just as amazing!
thewimpyvegetarian
Wow! Thanks so much for your comment and I'm thrilled that you liked it so much!! I haven't made it in awhile - and now you've motivated me to make it again!!!! Thanks!!