Garlic butter naan is a staple in Indian cuisine, offering a warm, pillowy flatbread that's perfect for scooping up curries, dips, or simply enjoying on its own. Unlike store-bought varieties, homemade naan boasts superior freshness, texture, and can be easily customized.
This easy-to-make recipe allows you to create restaurant-quality garlic butter naan in your own kitchen, imbued with the irresistible aroma of fresh garlic and herbs.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This homemade naan recipe uses basic pantry ingredients and comes together in under an hour. It's a perfect accompaniment to any Indian feast or a delightful addition to your next appetizer spread.
- Easy to Make: This recipe requires minimal ingredients and comes together quickly, making it perfect for busy weeknights or weekend brunches.
- Customizable Flavor: Adjust the amount of garlic to suit your taste, or add a sprinkle of fresh herbs for an extra pop of flavor.
- Versatile Bread: Garlic butter naan pairs beautifully with Indian curries, but it's also fantastic alongside grilled meats, stews, or dips.
- Restaurant-Quality Results: This recipe makes soft, pillowy naan with a beautiful golden brown exterior, rivaling any restaurant version.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Warm water
- Instant or Active yeast
- Flour
- Milk, warmed
- Yogurt - Greek or regular
- Vegetable oil
- Garlic - fresh, minced
- Baking powder
- Salt
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How To Make Garlic Naan Bread
While naan can be enjoyed plain, brushing it with garlic butter elevates it to another level. The combination of warm, fluffy bread and rich, garlicky goodness is simply irresistible.
This recipe provides clear instructions for making garlic butter naan from scratch, allowing you to control the ingredients and customize the garlic flavor to your preference.
Make the Dough
- Combine flour, yogurt, yeast, sugar, salt, and olive oil to create a soft dough. Knead until smooth and elastic.
Let the Dough Rise
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for about an hour.
Shape and Cook the Naan
- Divide dough into portions, roll out into flatbreads, and brush with melted garlic butter. Cook in a hot skillet until golden brown on both sides.
Slather With Garlic Butter and Serve
- Melt the butter with the minced garlic and brush on the naan bread. Sprinkle with fresh minced parsley or cilantro and serve!
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few delicious variations or substitutions when making this recipe.
- If you don't have yogurt on hand, you can substitute buttermilk, sour cream, or lukewarm milk with a splash of lemon juice.
- For a touch of heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the melted garlic butter.
- Substitute half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a more rustic and slightly nutty flavored naan.
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips for making this garlic naan bread recipe:
- Don't Overcook the Naan: Keep an eye on the naan while cooking, as it browns quickly. Aim for golden brown spots but avoid burning.
- Warm the Naan Before Serving: For the best texture, warm the naan in a skillet or oven before serving.
- Brush Generously with Butter: Don't be shy with the garlic butter! Brushing the naan generously ensures maximum flavor and a slightly crispy exterior.
Serving Suggestions
Serve garlic butter naan alongside your favorite Indian curries, such as butter chicken, tikka masala, or saag paneer. It also pairs beautifully with dips like hummus, raita, or baba ghanoush.
Enjoy warm naan cut into triangles as an appetizer with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Brush with pesto and top with mozzarella cheese for a quick and flavorful pizza alternative.
Related Recipes
- Butter Chicken and Garlic Naan
- Cucumber Mint Biryani Raita
- Curried Indian Lentil Soup
- Sourdough Naan
- Chicken Dum Biryani
- Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala
Storage Options
- Leftover naan can be stored at room temperature for up to a day, or wrapped tightly and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet or oven for a few minutes to refresh.
- Naan can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
The naan dough can be prepared up to an hour before cooking. However, it's best to cook the naan fresh for the best texture.
If your naan dough feels too sticky, add a bit more flour, one tablespoon at a time.
All-purpose flour is perfectly suitable for this recipe. However, you can also use a blend of all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour for a slightly nuttier flavor.
More Delish Ideas
Garlic Butter Naan
Ingredients
For The Garlic Naan
- ¼ cup warm water
- 2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon active dry yeast or Instant Yeast
- ¾ cup milk warmed
- ¾ cup yogurt plain Greek yogurt or natural plain yogurt
- ¼ cup vegetable oil plus 2 tablespoons extra for cooking
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Garlic Butter Topping
- 3 tablespoon butter melted
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon parsley or cilantro fresh chopped
Instructions
- Begin by combining water, sugar, and yeast in a bowl. Allow the mixture to sit for 5-10 minutes until it starts bubbling on top.¼ cup warm water, 2 teaspoon granulated sugar, 1 ½ teaspoon active dry yeast
- Next, add milk, yogurt, oil, minced garlic, flour, baking powder, and salt to the bowl. Mix everything together until the dough comes together using your hands.¾ cup milk, ¾ cup yogurt, ¼ cup vegetable oil, 2 cloves garlic, 4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt
- Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it with floured hands until it becomes smooth, typically taking 3 to 5 minutes.
- Lightly grease the same mixing bowl with a small spray of cooking oil to prepare for the naan. Place the dough back into the greased bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Allow it to rest at room temperature for approximately an hour, until it doubles in size.
- Once the dough has risen, divide it into 10 equal pieces and shape them into balls. Using a rolling pin, roll out each ball of dough into a large oval shape, about 6 inches long and ⅛ inch thick.
- Heat a pan over high heat. Lightly grease the surface with oil to prevent the dough from sticking. Place the flattened dough in the hot pan and cook until it puffs up, forms bubbles, and develops burnt spots.
- Flip the naan over and cook the other side. Repeat this process for the remaining dough. Once cooked, brush the naan with melted butter and garlic, then sprinkle with the fresh minced parsley or cilantro.3 tablespoon butter, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon parsley
Video
Notes
- Don't Overcook the Naan: Keep an eye on the naan while cooking, as it browns quickly. Aim for golden brown spots but avoid burning.
- Warm the Naan Before Serving: For the best texture, warm the naan in a skillet or oven before serving.
- Brush Generously with Butter: Don't be shy with the garlic butter! Brushing the naan generously ensures maximum flavor and a slightly crispy exterior.
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