Garlic-Herb Naan

Chewy, slightly smoky, blistered naan is India's priceless contribution to the world cuisine. Naan can be enjoyed on its own, hot from the tandoor, or used as a carrier for other, more bright flavors. Not everyone has access to a traditional tandoor, so we've used a bit of our Organic Expresso Whole Grain Flour to add a little "darkness" to our naan. Enjoy it with a dip or a cup of curry!

Elle Cowan

Prep Time

1 hour

Bake Time

30 minutes

Total Time

7 hours

Yield

6 Naan

Ingredients:

For the sponge:

½ teaspoon (1.3g) instant dry yeast

⅓ cup (85g) water, warmed to 105-115°F 

½ cup + 2 tablespoons (94g) Organic Expresso bread Flour

For the final dough:

1½ cups + 2 tablespoons (250g) Organic Expresso bread flour

1 cup (150g) Organic Expresso whole grain flour

⅔ cup (155g) water, warmed to 105-115°F 

⅔ cup (150g) greek yogurt, unsweetened 

1 tablespoon (15g) olive oil, ghee or butter, room temperature

All of the sponge (180g)

2 teaspoons (10g) fine sea salt

For the toppings:

Olive oil, melted ghee or butter (as needed)

Parsley, chopped (as needed)

Dill, chopped (as needed)

Garlic, chopped (as needed)

Flake salt (as needed)

Baker's Notes:

*This dough is quite flexible. If you need more time or want it to develop more flavor we suggest doing a cold ferment in the refrigerator overnight. 3 hours before you want to bake your naans, remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature. Then resume from step 12.

 

** If you don’t have a pizza stone, another option is to use a flat sheet tray or a cast iron pan. You may also bake the naan on a cast iron pan on the stove top, but we highly recommend using the oven. Traditionally, naan is baked in a tandor clay oven over an open flame. The closest you’ll get to that is by using the oven. If you like a crispier naan, we also recommend broiling the top of the bread to get a nice charred, blistered look to your naan.

 

*** You may shape the naan however you like. Some make them into an oblong, oval shape, some may be rather round, and others might be an irregular circular shape. The wider you pull the dough the crispier the bottom will become. If you like a fluffier naan, we suggest not to pull it very much and just use your fingertips to spread the dough. As you are cooking the first few naans, the dough that is resting will become softer and spread more easily. 

 

**** For those who really enjoy the taste of fresh garlic and herbs, bake the naan without the toppings before adding the spread. Just lightly brush the top with olive oil and sprinkle sea salt and bake until you reach the desired doneness. Once out of the oven, quickly spread the garlic herb mix on the freshly baked naan.

Instructions:

To make the sponge:

  1. In a bowl of an electric stand mixer, combine the yeast and water and whisk until dissolved.
  2. Add the bread flour and mix with a spatula until just combined.
  3. Cover with a tea towel or plastic wrap and allow to rise at room temperature for 1½ hours or until about doubled in size.

To make the final dough:

  1. In a medium bowl, combine bread flour and whole grain flour using a whisk. Set aside.
  2. In a small pot or microwavable dish, combine yogurt and water and bring to about 105-115°F or until warm to the touch. 
  3. Add the olive oil to the yogurt-water mixture and pour over the sponge, breaking it up using a whisk or rubber spatula. 
  4. Add the two flours to the mixing bowl and begin to knead together using the dough hook attachment.
  5. Once most of the liquid has been absorbed, add the salt. Continue to knead for about 5-7 minutes. You may also turn the dough onto a working surface and knead by hand until smooth if you find that it isn’t coming together. 
  6. Prepare a lightly-oiled large bowl and set aside.
  7. Once the dough is completely smooth, shape it into a ball and place into the oiled bowl.
  8. Cover the bowl with a tea towel or plastic wrap and allow to ferment for 3 hours or overnight if time allows* (see Baker’s Notes).
  9. Once risen to at least double in size, punch down the dough and divide into 6 equal (150g) pieces. Cover and let rest for 20 minutes.
  10. Preheat the oven to 425°F with a pizza stone positioned on the bottom rack** (see Baker’s Notes).
  11. Shape each piece of dough into a tight ball and let rest for another 20-30 minutes. If the ball seems very tight, you can allow it to rest for a bit longer. 
  12. In the meantime, prepare your toppings. Chop the garlic and herbs to your desired size and ddd them to a small bowl of olive oil, melted ghee or butter so it would be easier to spread.
  13. Once the dough has relaxed, on a lightly floured surface, using your fingertips, press the dough down and spread at the same time. You want to also pick the dough up and stretch and pull the dough to your desired shape*** (see Baker’s Notes).
  14. Once shaped, allow the dough to rest for about 15 minutes, making sure to keep it covered with a tea towel or plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out. 
  15. Once you’re ready to bake, brush the top of the dough with olive oil, ghee or butter and spread the garlic-herb mix using a brush. Add a few pinches of flake salt and bake on the pizza stone.
  16. Depending on your desired thickness, your bread will bake in the oven for about  8-12 minutes. If you like naan to be on the crispier side, you can leave your breads in until the bubbles turn a dark brown color**** (see Baker’s Notes).
  17. Continue to cook each piece of naan until you’ve baked them all. Depending on the size of your pizza stone, you may be able to bake two pieces of naan at a time.

Baker's Notes:

*This dough is quite flexible. If you need more time or want it to develop more flavor we suggest doing a cold ferment in the refrigerator overnight. 3 hours before you want to bake your naans, remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature. Then resume from step 12.

 

** If you don’t have a pizza stone, another option is to use a flat sheet tray or a cast iron pan. You may also bake the naan on a cast iron pan on the stove top, but we highly recommend using the oven. Traditionally, naan is baked in a tandor clay oven over an open flame. The closest you’ll get to that is by using the oven. If you like a crispier naan, we also recommend broiling the top of the bread to get a nice charred, blistered look to your naan.

 

*** You may shape the naan however you like. Some make them into an oblong, oval shape, some may be rather round, and others might be an irregular circular shape. The wider you pull the dough the crispier the bottom will become. If you like a fluffier naan, we suggest not to pull it very much and just use your fingertips to spread the dough. As you are cooking the first few naans, the dough that is resting will become softer and spread more easily. 

 

**** For those who really enjoy the taste of fresh garlic and herbs, bake the naan without the toppings before adding the spread. Just lightly brush the top with olive oil and sprinkle sea salt and bake until you reach the desired doneness. Once out of the oven, quickly spread the garlic herb mix on the freshly baked naan.


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