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)

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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

Is garlic naan bread healthy? ›

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. Despite its high carb content, naan can be considered a more nutrient-dense alternative to white bread and pita.

Why do you put yogurt in naan bread? ›

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. Another great thing about this recipe is to refrigerate the dough overnight after letting it rise.

Why is my naan bread 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.

Can you let naan dough rise overnight? ›

Place into a greased bowl and cover with a damp towel, leave to rise for 1-1.5 hours or until doubled in size (or refrigerate overnight for best results – see blog post for information on cold rising) Once risen, turn out onto a floured surface and gently press down into a circle.

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). If you're new to this kind of food, I insist you to try all varieties of Indian breads.

Is naan more fattening than rice? ›

Brown and wild rice are the healthiest types of rice. Problems with naan: naan is calorically dense due to the refined flour. 100 grams of naan contains 310 calories, compared to 100 grams of steamed brown rice, which contains 125 calories.

How to get big bubbles in naan? ›

Cook naan: Place a naan dough in the skillet and cook for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes until the underside is deep golden / slightly charred – the surface should get bubbly. Flip then cook the other side for 1 minute until the bubbles become deep golden brown.

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.

How to tell if naan has gone bad? ›

How do you tell if naan is bad? You'll be able to easily identify a piece of naan that has gone bad. Over time, the bread will harden and lose its soft, fluffy texture. If the naan bread develops an odd smell, changes color, or shows any sign of mold, it should not be consumed.

What flour is naan bread made from? ›

Homemade Naan Bread Ingredients:

(Alternately, you can an equal amount of sugar or another sweetener if you prefer.) Active dry yeast: You will need one quarter-ounce packet. Or if you buy your yeast in bulk, approximately 2 1/4 teaspoons. Flour: I use plain all-purpose flour for this recipe.

How many calories are in a garlic naan? ›

Calories in Indian, Garlic Naan
DescriptionServing SizeskCal
Calories in Indian, Garlic Naan1/3 Naan255
100g323
1/2 Naan381
Naan762

Is garlic bread OK for weight loss? ›

Garlic bread's benefits depend on the type of bread used to make it. Wheat garlic bread is loaded with healthy fibre and nutrients that regulate blood sugar levels and boost metabolism. Most garlic bread recipes are high in fat, but a few minor adjustments can make this tasty appetizer very healthy.

Is garlic bread healthy or unhealthy? ›

True to form, moderation is key. Enjoying the occasional slice of traditional indulgent garlic bread is perfectly fine — good even, for the soul. Just balance it out with more nutritious choices for the rest of your meals that day, like a fiber-full salad. Consider it a special treat, not an everyday side.

What is the healthiest bread to eat? ›

Next time you're at the store, look for the following options to find a healthy bread you like.
  • Wholegrain bread. Wholegrain bread is minimally processed and made with flour from fully intact grains. ...
  • Multigrain bread. ...
  • Dark rye bread. ...
  • Authentic sourdough bread. ...
  • Flaxseed, or linseed, bread. ...
  • Ezekiel, or sprouted grain, bread.
Mar 19, 2024

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