Naan Recipe Without Yogurt - Foods Guy (2024)

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If you are unfamiliar with Naan bread, it is a great time to meet each other.

Naan bread is a traditional Indian bread. It is a type of flatbread that you make in a skillet. It is not a just flatbread, but also a soft and pliable type of bread.

This Naan recipe is quick and easy to make and requires no yogurt. This recipe is probably my favorite recipe for the Naan bread as it is not only quick but super delicious.

Sometimes people mix pita and Naan bread, but although both being types of flatbread, they are completely different. Pita bread is cooked in an extremely hot pan or oven and has a characteristic air pocket in the middle.

Naan bread is cooked over medium-high heat on a skillet and it has more air bubbles than pita bread, which has one big giant bubble.

Naan bread can be served with any type of meal. You can eat Naan along with soups, gravy, meat dishes, or simply used for sandwiches.

Can You Make Naan Bread Without Yogurt?

Yes, you can make the Naan bread without yogurt. The yogurt is used to make the bread soft and fluff, but making Naan bread with yeast and allowing it to raise will give the same results.

Yogurt of any type is not mandatory in this recipe. Yeast will do the trick and turn the Naan dough into the softest and most bubbly bread.

How Is Naan Bread Traditionally Made?

Naan bread uses really simple ingredients:

  • Flour
  • Yeast
  • Salt
  • Milk
  • Warm water

First, you want to make the dough by combining the yeast and flour together. Knead the dough by hands or using a stand mixer with dough hooks attached. Divide the dough into six to eight portions and let it raise for at least 1 hour.

Once the dough is made, the bread itself is baked in a very hot clay tandoori oven, with charcoal or wood. Of course, we do not have a tandoori oven so the next best thing is a heated skillet.

You can use either a plain non-stick skillet or a cast-iron skillet (this one that you can pick up on Amazon is by far my favorite, and perfect for making Naan).

The baked bread will have distinguished brown spots on top. The spots are actually air pockets and a great indicator when the Naan bread is done.

Once it’s cooked, you can serve the Naan bread with olive oil, ghee, or butter.

How to Serve Naan

You can make Naan bread plain or with herbs or spices. Although Naan bread is not traditionally made with spices, you can always feel free to adjust this recipe to your personal taste.After all, you’re the one eating it!

You can use some of the traditional Indian spices such as turmeric or a pinch of curry powder, or choose a variety of herbs such as thyme, oregano or basil.

For some extra crunch, you can sprinkle the Naan bread with black cumin seeds.

Now let’s get into our yogurt-less Naan recipe!

How to Make Naan Without Yogurt

Ingredients

  • ½ cup warm water
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp instant yeast
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tbsp almond milk or plain milk
  • ½ tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp olive oil + some extra for brushing

Instructions

Step 1

Gather your ingredients.

In a mixing bowl, combine water, sugar, and yeast. Cover and let it stand for 5 minutes at a warm place.

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Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, milk, lemon juice, olive oil, and the yeast mixture. Stir to combine until dough comes together.

Naan Recipe Without Yogurt - Foods Guy (2)

Step 3

Divide the dough into six equal pieces. Roll each piece in a ball. Arrange the balls on a plate and cover with a damp cloth.

Let the dough rise for 1 hour.

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Step 4

Heat a large skillet over a medium-high heat.

Roll the dough balls to a 1/4-inch thickness and place into the heated skillet. Cook the Naan bread until it starts to bubble.

Flip the bread and brush with some olive oil.Cook the bread on the other side.

Serve bread warm with olive oil, butter, or ghee, and enjoy!

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Naan Recipe Without Yogurt

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Additional Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

This authentic Naan bread without yogurt is soft and fluffy, just like Naan should be!

Ingredients

  • ½ cup warm water
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp instant yeast
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tbsp almond milk or plain milk
  • ½ tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp olive oil + some extra for brushing

Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine water, sugar and yeast.
  2. Cover and let it stand for 5 minutes at warm place.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, milk, lemon juice, olive oil, and the yeast.
  4. Stir to combine until dough comes together.
  5. Divide the dough into six equal pieces. Roll each piece in a ball. Arrange the balls on a plate and cover with a damp cloth.
  6. Let the dough rise for 1 hour.
  7. Heat a large skillet over a medium-high heat.
  8. Roll the dough balls to a 1/4-inch thickness and place into the heated skillet. Cook the Naan bread until it starts to bubble. Flip the bread and brush with some olive oil.
  9. Cook the bread on the other side.
  10. Serve bread warm.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 198Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 23mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 6g

Up Next: The Best Ways To Reheat Naan Bread

Naan Recipe Without Yogurt - Foods Guy (2024)

FAQs

What can I use instead of yogurt for naan? ›

While making naan, yogurt can be substituted with buttermilk, lemon juice and milk, curd and butter, sour cream, soy yogurt, and coconut milk yogurt. Some of these substitutes are dairy products while others are vegan-friendly non-dairy products.

Why does naan need yogurt? ›

The extra protein from the yogurt eliminates the importance of advanced gluten development. The yogurt also adds some fat. The fat keeps the dough nice and soft and prevents the naan from hardening too much during the cooking process.

What makes naan bread so good? ›

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.

What is the difference between plain and butter naan? ›

Butter naan is indulgence personified. After cooking the plain naan, a generous amount of butter is brushed over the surface, imparting a rich yet buttery flavour. The butter also gives the naan a glossy finish, making it irresistible to resist.

What is a substitute for yogurt in Indian food? ›

If you don't have access to traditional Indian or Greek yogurt, some alternatives include regular cow's milk yogurt, coconut yogurt, almond yogurt, soy yogurt, or goat's milk yogurt. Depending on the recipe, it is also possible to substitute other dairy products such as ricotta cheese or crème fraîche.

Why is my naan not fluffy? ›

Naan doesn't get bubbles – Pan not hot enough, dough not moist enough or improper leavening.

What is traditional naan made from? ›

6 Answers. Naan traditionally is plain flat bread made using bread flour, Yeast, salt and water. Its cooked in tandoor.

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 naan unhealthy? ›

Skip: Naan

And like those fluffy spuds, this soft flatbread has little nutritional value. Most naan recipes call for Greek yogurt to give it that airy texture. But that's more than offset by less healthy ingredients like white flour, sugar, and oil.

What happens if I eat naan everyday? ›

Naan is usually made from Maida ( whitest form of flour) which is not quite good for health. On the daily basis, if consumed, it can give rise to many stomach disorders like constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. It can kill your appetite giving rise to many undesirable health issues.

What is the most popular naan bread? ›

Plain Naan Bread

The Big Plain Naan is a flatbread made from wheat flour and is thick on the outside with a fluffy inner texture and when it comes to different types of naan breads, plain naan is one of the most popular.

What to eat with naan? ›

Traditionally with Indian food, naan (or other various Indian breads) is served as an accompaniment to curry, chutney, saag paneers, etc. to scoop the contents of your meal up. In Italy, bread is served with your meal, and used to scoop the remaining pasta sauce from the bowl ('fare la scarpetta').

Which naan is the healthiest? ›

The bottom line

You can include naan as a part of a balanced diet when you eat it in moderation. Opt for whole wheat naan if you're looking to maximize your health benefits, and try to serve it alongside other nutritious foods.

What is flaky naan called? ›

Parathas are a flaky, buttery, and layered style of flatbread that can be served alongside curries, rolled up and dipped into hot chai, or made into a meal by themselves with a side of raita for dunking.

What can I use instead of yoghurt in tandoori? ›

Although traditionally tandoori chicken recipes call for plain yogurt as the base, I'm not a big yogurt fan. I decided to try using coconut milk instead, and it turned out great!

What is a good milk substitute for yogurt? ›

Using a high-fat non-dairy milk, like coconut or cashew, will result in a very rich and thick yogurt. Using a lighter milk, like almond or rice, will produce a more pourable consistency. Whatever variety of non-dairy milk you choose, try to pick one that is additive-free.

What is a substitute for yogurt in tikka masala? ›

Ingredients and substitues for the homemade tikka masala

Greek yogurt: If you don't like Greek yogurt, use plain whole milk. For a dairy-free option, you may use almond or coconut milk. Fresh lemon juice: Do not use botteled lemon juice unless you have no other choice. Garlic and ginger: use fresh, not powder.

What can I use instead of Greek yogurt in bread? ›

Buttermilk is the liquid that is left after butter has been churned, and it's a great choice to use in baking or bread recipes instead of Greek yogurt. The acidity of buttermilk will help your dough to rise higher, but because it's thinner than Greek yogurt you may have to use less.

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