Naan
- 3/4 cup / 177 mL warm (110F / 43C) water
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 4 1/2, cups / 563 g all purpose flour, divided
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons kalonji (nigella seeds)
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 tablespoons ghee or vegetable oil
- 3/4 cup / 177 mL plain, unsweetened yogurt
- Vegetable oil, for greasing
- Butter or vegan margarine, for serving
- Place the water (it should be about 110F/43C in order to activate the yeast) in a small mixing bowl or measuring cup.
- Sprinkle the yeast on top and set it aside for at least 15 minutes while you prep the remaining ingredients.
- Make sure its not too hot) as temperatures above 110F / 143C can kill the yeast.
- Sift 4 cups / 500 g of the flour into a large mixing bowl.
- Add the salt, baking powder, and kalonji and mix well.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg, ghee, and yogurt.
- If your ghee is solid, you can warm it a bit in the microwave or on the stovetop to soften it.
- Add the wet mixture from Step 3 to the bowl containing the flour mixture from Step Stir well, until the ingredients come together and the mixture is slightly crumbly.
- Stir the yeast mixture from Step 1 until smooth and add it to the dough mixture in the large mixing bowl.
- Stir well until fully combined.
- Using your hands, knead the dough thoroughly until a smooth ball forms and the dough resembles and feels like pizza dough.
- If you need to add a little more water, do so at no more than 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Lightly grease a large mixing bowl with the oil.
- Place the dough in the bowl, cover with a damp dish towel or paper towel, and set aside in a warm, dry place for 4 hours to allow the dough to rise.
- If you live in a cold climate, heat the oven to 200F/90C fir 10 minutes.
- Turn off the oven, wait 10 minutes, and then place the covered bowl in the oven for the 4-hour rising period.
- The residual warmth of the oven will trigger the yeast, allowing the dough to rise.
- Set the oven rack at the highest position and place a large ovensafe container filled with water on the bottom rack.
- The water will prevent the naan from drying out as it cooks.
- Place a pizza stone on the top rack of the oven and preheat the oven to 500F / 260C.
- Remember, the pizza stone must go in the oven before you turn it on.
- If you put it in after the oven is hot, it may crack.
- If you dont have a pizza stone, use a greased baking sheet instead.
- Place the remaining 1/2 cup / 63 g of flour on a plate.
- Remove the dough from the bowl and punch it down, deflating the dough.
- Divide the dough into 10 equal-sized balls about 2 1/2 inches / 6 cm in diameter.
- Start with 1 of the dough balls.
- Press the ball between your palms until it is slightly battened.
- Place it on a dry, lightly floured work surface.
- If it is too sticky to work with easily, roll the ball lightly on the plate containing the remaining flour.
- Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a thin oval roughly 7 inches / 18 cm wide by 4 inches / 10 cm tall.
- Repeat until you have prepared all the dough ovals.
- Place 3 of the dough ovals on the pizza stone and bake for 7 minutes on 1 side.
- Turn them over and cook for 5 minutes on the other side.
- Remove from the pizza stone and set aside on a warm serving platter tented with foil.
- Repeat Step 10 until all the remaining dough ovals have been baked.
- Remove from the oven.
- Lightly butter (see Notes) each of the pieces of naan and serve hot or store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
water, active dry yeast, flour, salt, baking powder, kalonji, egg, ghee, vegetable oil, butter
Taken from www.cookstr.com/recipes/naan-2 (may not work)