Naan 101

Naan (pronounced “non”, with a short ‘o’ sound as in “sock”) usually refers to a kind of flatbread.

Naan is historically cooked in a hot tandoor oven in the ground or on hot wood charcoal. These cooking methods often result in temperatures of about 900°F (480°C).

Early recorded history of naan first appeared in the notes of Indo-Persian poet Amir Kushrau in 1300 AD. Originally, naan was developed after the arrival of yeast in India from Egypt.

During India’s Mughal era in the 1520s, Naan was a delicacy that only nobles and royal families enjoyed because the art of making Naan was a revered skill, known by few.

In 1799, an English historian and clergyman, William Tooke, introduced Naan to the Western world.

Today, you can find Naan in almost every corner of the world.

Traditionally, Naan is flame-baked. However, given that we’ve done that hard work already, you can simply:

• Microwave – heat for 20 seconds (depending on microwave strength) on high. Note, heating for too long will make the Naan bread rubbery.
• Skillet – Heat the skillet, then lie the Naan in, 30 seconds for each side.
• Oven – 350 °F (180°C) for 1 minute

In all methods, brush with oil or butter for extra flavor.

Or take it up another notch by adding garlic, ginger, mint, red chili flakes, cilantro, or sesame seeds.

Naan is best stored sealed in a bread box or dark location to help preserve its aroma and flavor.

What if you have extras that you want to freeze? Naan can be easily frozen and thawed to room temperature – no special treatment required.

On its own, Naan is typically served hot and brushed with ghee butter (a clarified butter that originated in India).

It can be torn to make a hands-on dipping accompaniment for a vast multitude of stews, soups, gravies, and sauces.

Naan is a delectable blank canvas on which to innovate breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks. And how to use naan in your favorite meals is only limited by your imagination. It can be: a flavorful bread replacement; flatbread or pizza; tortilla; rolls, tacos or burritos with fillings; or served with a generous layer of ghee butter, cream, sugar, etc.

See recipe Grilled Chicken, Chipotle Crema & Cabbage Slaw Tacos