Make your own Naan breads

Making your own naan breads are really rather easy as long as you do not make then to thin , otherwise you get naan crisps , but apart from that have a go you will surprise yourself. This recipe is for just plain naan bread but the world is your oyster once you have started.

You will need

1 tsp dried active yeast

1 tsp sugar

200g/7oz plain flour

¼ tsp salt

½ tsp baking powder

1 tbsp vegetable oil

2 tbsp plain yoghurt

2 tbsp milk

First in a small bowl mix the dry yeast with a table spoon of warm water. Then add the sugar and just let it get to work, all you have to do is leave it and it will take about 5 minutes and it will be frothing away.

Now in a large mixing bowl add the flour, salt and baking powder and mix them together. Make a well in the middle and add the oil, yoghurt, milk and then add the frothing yeast. Bring it all together and make a dough.

Now using your fists start to knead the dough, wet your knuckles if you have to stop it from sticking. Keep kneading and pressing the dough until you have soft, pliable dough. After kneading for about 10 minutes then place the dough in a bowl and cover it with cling film. Then just leave in a warm place for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Once you have let it rest then divide the dough into four balls. On a floured surface roll them out into a large oval shape or tear drop.  You need to be about 0.5cm or a ¼in thick, like I said do not roll them to thin.

Then place them on an oiled tray and bake them in a preheated oven set at 140c/275f for about 10 to 15 minutes. When they have puffed up they are ready, soft but not dry and crumbly. Then serve straight from the oven.

Now once you have master that you can add things like black onion or nigella seeds, crushed garlic, diced onions, fresh coriander leaf, fennel seeds, take out some of the flour and use ground almonds, in fact you can make them any way you like.