This quick and easy naan without yeast calls for just 2 ingredients and requires NO rising time! It tastes like the traditional naan without the hassle and the recipe video also features a variation for garlic naan. You can snack on it or serve with this basmati rice and mushroom curry or chicken curry.
I love Indian food -- especially a good naan brushed with a mixture of ghee, minced garlic, and chopped cilantro!
It makes the meal more pleasurable and comforting! The thing is not always I find naan in my local grocery store. On top, I have no time to prepare the traditional recipe.
But I came out with a great quick recipe for Indian naan similar to our no yeast pizza dough. It will make you eat and repeat! You are warned!
However, there is one thing you need to know. It tastes the same as a regular naan but it is a little denser. Two factors guarantee the success of our instant naan recipe:
- Making the bread thin is key for the dough to rise at least a little without using yeast.
- As soon as you roll out the 8 pieces of dough, cook the bread on a hot skillet. That way, the baking powder won’t loose its power – the same applies to our no yeast soda bread. Some recipes call for resting the dough for 10-15 minutes. I don’t because by the time you finish rolling out all the 8 pieces the dough has already rested enough.
Believe me: This is one of those genius recipes that you want to make it again and again.
On top of that, one naan has just 180 calories, 11 g of protein, and no saturated fat.
Ready to prepare this wonder?
Table of Contents
What's naan?
Naan is a leavened flatbread baked in the oven and popular in the cuisines of West Africa, South Asia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and the Caribbean.
The persian word nān means bread whick makes the term 'naan bread' a redundancy. It resembles pita bread.
In India the traditional naan bread recipe involves mixing dry ingredients such as white or whole wheat flour, active dry yeast, and salt with warm water.
The dough is then is kneaded for a few minutes and left to rise for a few hours. Once risen, the dough is divided into balls, flattened into an oval shape, and cooked in a tandoor oven.
Ingredients and Substitutions for Easy Naan Recipe
This recipe for homemade naan without yeast makes 8 (5-6 inches) flat breads using just 2 ingredients:
- Nonfat plain Greek yogurt: You may use either the full fat or reduced fat type instead, but always make this recipe with GREEK yogurt. Other types are not as thick and will alter the texture of the dough and the amount needed. I prefer a nonfat Greek yogurt because it will save some calories! But if by no means you find Greek yogurt, use sour cream.
- Self-rising flour: If you don’t have at home, you can make your own by adding 1 ½ teaspoons of baling powder and ¼ teaspoon of salt to every cup of all-purpose flour. Because we are not using yeast, it is key to use a self-rising flour.
- Salt (optional): Although you can add more salt for extra flavor, self-rising flour already contains salt. The same happens if you brush the cooked bread with salted butter before eating.
Self-rising Flour
It is the key ingredient for this easy naan recipe!
If you don’t have self-rising flour in your pantry, you can still make your own at home with regular unbleached all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour.
But you will need to add 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder (the leavening agent) and ¼ teaspoon of salt for every cup of flour. Ours doesn't have baking soda!
If you are celiac, be sure to use a gluten-free flour.
Plain Greek Yogurt
Although this is one of the secret ingredients in our no yeast naan recipe, you can replace it with full-fat plain Greek yogurt (the flat bread will be fluffier and chewier, and the dough will be easier to knead), a 2% or reduced fat Greek yogurt (a bit crunchier dough), or even sour cream.
But do not use another type of yogurt that is not Greek because they are thinner than Greek yogurt, making the dough wet and super sticky.
For a dairy-free option, use a dairy-free or soy-based yogurt. The bread would go great with also dairy-free lentil curry!
Some add 1-2 tablespoons of butter to the dough in order to make butter naan.
How to Make Homemade Naan Without Yeast
- In a large bowl, stir in together the self-rising flour with the Greek yogurt until mostly homogeneous. If you want, mix in salt as well. SEE PIC.1
- Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface. Using your hands, knead naan dough, adding more flour little by little as needed or just until the dough comes together and is not sticky anymore. Then shape that smooth dough into a ball. This process takes about 5 minutes. SEE PIC.2
- Divide that large dough ball into 8 smaller equal parts. SEE PIC. 3 Using a floured rolling pin, roll dough out over a floured surface, forming 5-6 inch long flat breads (SEE PIC. 4). They must be thin so they can rise/puff up a little when cooking. By the time you roll out all 8 pieces, it is time to cook them. About 10-15 minutes have already passed. Don’t let them sit around for longer, otherwise they may not puff up as much and may become denser.
- As soon as you finish rolling out the flat breads in an oblong shape, heat a large cast iron skillet (or griddle if you want grill marks) over medium-high heat and then cook each naan for about 2 minutes per side or until cooked through. They will puff up a little! It will take longer to cook if you use a griddle. SEE PIC. 5
- They will be ready to enjoy if you want a plain naan.
Garlic Naan Recipe
- But if you prefer a garlic naan, brush ghee, melted butter, or olive oil on top and then sprinkle a little bit of minced garlic and chopped cilantro. Some also sprinkle coriander or sesame seeds as well! Nigella seeds are another option. SEE PIC. 6
- Let them toast briefly (about 15-20 seconds), then flip the bread and repeat the process.
- Enjoy while naan without yeast is still warm!
- Serve as a side or as bites to snack on with raita or other dipping sauce. Also, grab this no yeast pupusas recipe for another quick, yummy snack!
Expert’s Tips for No Yeast Naan Bread
- Flour the surface, your hands. and your rolling pin to prevent sticking when working the dough.
- When you roll out the dough for each flat bread, it must be thin enough so it can rise or puff up a little when cooking.
- Don’t let the dough sit around for long. As soon as you finish rolling out all 8 pieces, about 10-15 minutes have already passed which is equivalent to a resting time. More than that and naan without yeast may become denser because they will not puff up as much.
- Always use either sour cream or Greek yogurt. Other types of yogurt are thiner and will alter the texture of the soft dough.
- Because we are not using yeast as the authentic naan recipe does, it is essential to use a self-rising flour.
- The frying pan must be hot in order to cook the bread and get some brown spots. Remember this is not a tandoori naan! Tandoor is a cylindrical Indian clay oven often used to cook this Indian bread.
- To make a vegan naan, use a thick vegan yogurt.
How to Store Naan Without Yeast
Raw dough: If you are not cooking this naan dough right away, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 day. Let it come to room temperature before rolling out. Warning: The dough will not puff up as much as when cooking from fresh. The flat breads will be denser!
Cooked: Store cooked flat bread leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up 1 day. To reheat, warm them on a pan over medium heat. Microwave will make them dry!
They don’t freeze well.
Other bread recipes
- Brazilian cheese bread
- Cauliflower bread
- Pumpkin bread
- Stuffed garlic bread
- Italian corn bread
- Coconut rolls
- Blueberry cinnamon rolls
PIN & ENJOY!
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Easy Naan Without Yeast
Equipment
- cast iron skillet
- bowl
Ingredients
Plain Naan:
- 2 ½ cups self-rising flour
- 2 ½ cups nonfat Greek yogurt
- A pinch of salt optional
Garlic Naan:
- 2 tablespoon olive oil or ghee
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir in together the self-rising flour with the Greek yogurt until mostly homogeneous. If you want, mix in salt as well. SEE PIC.1
- Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface. Using your hands, knead naan dough, adding more flour little by little as needed or just until the dough comes together and is not sticky anymore. Then shape that smooth dough into a ball. This process takes about 5 minutes. SEE PIC.2
- Divide that large dough ball into 8 smaller equal parts. Using a floured rolling pin, roll dough out over a floured surface, forming 5-6 inch long flat breads (SEE PIC.3). They must be thin so they can rise/puff up a little when cooking. By the time you roll out all 8 pieces, it is time to cook them. About 10-15 minutes have already passed. Don’t let them sit around for longer, otherwise they may not puff up as much and may become denser.
- As soon as you finish rolling out the flat breads in an oblong shape, heat a large cast iron skillet (or griddle if you want grill marks) over medium-high heat and then cook each naan for about 2 minutes per side or until cooked through. They will puff up a little! It will take longer to cook if you use a griddle.
- They will be ready to enjoy if you want a plain naan.
- For the Garlic Naan Recipe: If you prefer a garlic naan, brush ghee, melted butter, or olive oil on top and then sprinkle a little bit of minced garlic and chopped cilantro. Some also sprinkle coriander or sesame seeds as well! Nigella seeds are another option.
- Let them toast briefly (about 15-20 seconds), then flip the bread and repeat the process. Enjoy while naan without yeast is still warm!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
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Msmoo says
Yum, very easy, and tasty, did run out of garlic, but added a little garlic powder.
Denise Browning says
I am so happy you found this easy naan recipe and enjoyed it. It is comfort food for my family!
Raymund says
Ohhh that naan looks so buttery, now you made me crave for curry
Denise Browning says
This naan recipe is making a huge success on youtube.
2pots2cook says
This healthy yogurt naan version is calling my name; grilling season has arrived and it is a perfect match to all the other goodies I plan to grill. Thank you Denise !
Denise Browning says
Thank you! Yes the grilling season is almost here. I love to grill my naan and these are easy to make and require just 2 ingredients yet so delicious.