Garlic Naan Recipe | Make Restaurant Style Fuffy Naan At Home

If you've ever been to an Indian restaurant, there's one dish that will always stand out: garlic naan. Soft, fluffy, and incredibly delicious, you can eat garlic naan with any vegetable dish or Indian curry, and it will enhance the flavour of everything you eat it with. But do you know that you can make this at home in your kitchen and that too in a very easy method with some minimum ingredients? 

If you try my recipe once, you will find it tastier than the one in the restaurant. See the step-by-step recipe with tips and tricks made at home.

What is Garlic Naan?

Garlic naan is a type of Indian flatbread that is cooked in a tandoor, which gives it an amazing smoky and chewy texture. 

Garlic naan is a popular variation of simple naan, where the naan is brushed with garlic butter and topped with some herbs and chopped coriander leaves, giving it an amazing flavour. 

You can combine it with paneer bhurji, matar paneer, or palak paneer, or for a different taste, with dal tadka, masoor dal tadka, chole, or kurkuri masala bhindi or palak dal. 

Ingredients for Garlic Naan:

For the Dough:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour (maida)

• 1 tbsp sugar

• 1/2 tbsp baking soda

• 1 tbsp salt for taste

• 1 tbsp baking powder

• 2 tbsp curd (yoghurt)

• 2 tbsp melted butter or oil

• 1/2 cup warm milk (adjust as needed)

• 2 tbsp water (if needed)

For Garlic Butter:

• 3 tbsp butter (melted)

• 4-5 garlic cloves (finely grated)

• 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves

• A pinch of salt to taste

Step-by-Step Garlic Naan Recipe

Step 1: Activate the Dough:

• In a mixing bowl, add flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.

• Then add curd or oil and puri and mix it.

• Then add some warm milk and make a soft dough. If you need it, you can also add water.

• Once the dough is ready, cover it with a damp cloth and let it rest for 1-2 hours. The longer you let it rest, the softer your naan will become.

Step 2: Prepare Garlic Butter:

• Melt the butter in a small pan or microwave.

• Then add the grated garlic to it, or you can sauté the garlic in the pan before adding it. This will make the naan taste even better.

• Then stir the mixture properly and keep it aside.

Step 3: Roll the Naan:

• Once the dough has risen, punch it down. Then divide the dough into equal parts.

• Dust a little flour and roll both the balls into round or oval shapes. Note: roll the naan slightly thick for fluffy naan; if you roll it thin, it will become crispy instead of soft.

• Then add a mixture of garlic and coriander leaves on the top and press it gently to become sticky on the naan.

Step 4: Cook Garlic Naan on Tawa:

• Heat an iron tawa or non-stick pan over medium-low heat.

• Then brush one side of the naan with water.

• Place the wet side onto the tawa; this step helps the naan stick to the pan.

• Once the naan starts to bubble, flip the tawa upside down over the flame so the flame directly touches the naan.

• Cook for 20-30 seconds until the naan is golden brown.

• Once the naan is cooked, brush it with garlic butter.

Step 5: Oven Method (Optional):

• Preheat your oven to 250°C (480°F).

• Place the rolled naan on a baking tray.

• Bake for 3-4 minutes until it becomes fluffy.

• Once the naan starts to turn golden brown, remove it from the oven, spread it with garlic butter, and serve.

Variations of Garlic Naan:

1. Cheese Garlic Naan: Add the grated mozzarella cheese in between the roll, cover the edges and cook as usual.

2. Whole Wheat Garlic Naan: Replace the maida with atta for a healthier version of naan.

3. Stuffed Garlic Naan: Stuffed with the potatoes, paneer or minced veggies for the wholesome meal.

4. Butter Garlic Naan: Add the extra layer of butter and skip coriander for a rich flavour.

5. Chilli Garlic Naan: Mix the chopped green chillies in the garlic mixture for a spicy kick.

What to Serve with Garlic Naan:

Garlic naan goes with any Indian curry, but here are some amazing classic pairings:

• Mater panner

• Masoor dal tadka

• Palak paneer

• Chole

• Dal tadka

• Masala bhindi

Tips for Perfect Fluffy Garlic Naan:

1. Use warm milk: for kneading, it makes the naan soft.

2. Rest the dough: fermentation improves the elasticity and softness in the naan.

3. Do not overcook: do not overcook naan; it should be soft, not crispy.

4. Brush with butter immediately after cooking to keep moisture.

5. Cover cooked naan: cover the naan with a towel. It's not the right way to retain softness.

6. Add baking powder and curd: they act like natural leavening agents.

Healthier Version of Garlic Naan:

If you want to enjoy naan without gluten, then make this healthier version.

• Replace maida with whole grain atta.

• Instead of butter and olive oil or ghee.

• Add flax seeds or chia seeds on dough for extra fibre.

• For the lighter version, use low-fat yoghurt and skip baking soda.

Storage and Reheating Tips:

If you make extra naan, let's see how to store it without losing softness.

Refrigerate: store it in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Frozen: wipe the dough with the foil paper or zip lock bags and freeze it for a month.

Reheating:

On the tawa for 30 seconds for each side, then brush with garlic butter.

For microwave heat for 15-20 seconds and reapply garlic butter.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I make garlic naan without yeast?

Yes, in my recipe I don't use yeast. The combination of baking powder, baking soda and curd helps the dough rise perfectly.

2. Can I use plain flour instead of all-purpose flour?

Yes, you can also use whole wheat flour, but the taste will be denser.

3. Can I make it vegan?

Yes, use plant-based yoghurt and vegan butter for 100% dairy-free.

4. How to get the smoky tandoor flavour?

After cooking the naan, place it directly on the gas flame for 2-3 seconds, or use the charcoal piece for an authentic aroma.

Final Thoughts:

Making naan at home is nothing short of magic. It's freshly made, soft, and most importantly, has that delicious butter-garlic aroma. You should definitely try these easy and simple recipes. And share the experience with me. How did you like becoming this?