Easy Gluten-Free Naan

This super easy Gluten-Free Naan recipe is soft, chewy, and made with just 4 simple ingredients! This authentic Indian flatbread is naturally vegan and allergy-free. It's a perfect side dish for curries, soups, and saucy dishes. Bubbly and perfectly charred, this basic homemade bread can easily be customized with spices and herbs to complement any dish!

Soft, pillowy, chewy, and tender, this gluten-free naan recipe is the only one you need! Authentic naan without any dairy, eggs, or special equipment. Learn this simple 4 ingredient recipe by heart and you'll always have delicious gluten-free bread to fill up the bread basket! This Indian flatbread is just like the stretchy soft delicacy you remember at restaurants, but now you can make it right at home to satisfy all your gluten-free needs!

Is It Called Naan or Naan Bread?

It's called naan. The word "naan" means bread. By saying "naan bread" you're actually saying "bread bread", thus repeating the word and sounding ignorant. Don't do it, restrain your Western self.

What Is Traditional Naan Made Of?

There are various types of "naan" depending on the region, but it refers to a leavened, oven-baked, or tawa-fried flatbread. Basic Indian naan, which is what we're making in this post, is a thick flatbread made of white or whole wheat flour, active dry yeast, salt, and water. The dough is kneaded for a few minutes before it's left to rise and then baked in a tandoor oven or lightly fired on a griddle. There are no yogurt, milk, or eggs in traditional naan. However, these ingredients can be added to impart different flavors and textures.

Why You'll Love This Gluten-Free Recipe

First, this recipe is so simple and easy, anyone, regardless of being gluten-free, can make and enjoy it! It's a staple, basic bread recipe that you'll be using for years to come! This homemade gluten-free bread is:

• Gluten-Free
• Vegan & Vegetarian
• Allergy-free (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Peanut-Free, Wheat-Free, Sesame-Free, Corn-Free, Coconut-Free)
• Sugar-Free
• Quick, Easy, Just 4 Simple Ingredients
• Kid-Friendly
• Make-Ahead & Freezer-Friendly
• Perfect Side Dish For Any Meal

Ingredients In Gluten-Free Naan

• Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour: A plain gluten-free all-purpose flour is all you need for this basic recipe.
• Active Dry Yeast: You'll just need 1 teaspoon of active dry yeast for this leavened gluten-free bread. Make sure the yeast your buy is gluten-free.
• Salt + Sugar: Salt and a pinch of sugar (or sugar-free sweetener) impart flavor to your plain bread. The sugar also helps feed the yeast, yielding a fluffier bread.
• Warm Water: Warm water is used to activate the dry yeast. Even if you choose to use instant yeast, by adding the yeast first to the warm water, your naan will come out much fluffier.

Ingredient Substitutions & Additions

• Active Dry Yeast vs. Instant Yeast: Typically with instant yeast you don't need to activate it with warm water, however, without using any other leavening ingredients in this easy naan recipe, like baking powder, use warm water to bloom the yeast for a few minutes will give you the best fluffy soft texture. You can use 1 teaspoon of active dry yeast or instant yeast due to this, you decide!
• Yogurt: Some people like to add thick yogurt to their naan. This recipe is vegan and dairy-free so you don't need to worry about a substitute. Yogurt also weighs down the naan, making it gummier and less pillowy. However, if you do want to use yogurt, opt for a ¼ cup of plain, unsweetened coconut yogurt or dairy-free greek-style yogurt.
• Vegan Butter or Olive Oil: You can add extra buttery richness to your homemade naan by brushing the flatbreads with some melted vegan butter or olive oil while the breads are cooking on your griddle. You may even be able to find vegan ghee which is a type of clarified butter, common in traditional Indian cooking.
• Spices & Herbs: Munched garlic, onion powder, cumin, or dried herbs like cilantro and parsley can be used to add extra flavor to your plain gluten-free naan. If you really want to jazz it up, add a tablespoon of nutritional yeast for a dairy-free cheesy flavor!

1. Activate the yeast by warming the water to about 110°F. About 30-60 seconds in the microwave so the water is just warm to the touch.
2. Stir in the yeast and sugar to the bowl of warm water and allow it to activate for about 5 to 10 minutes until foamy.

3. Add the gluten-free flour and salt to a large mixing bowl before pouring in the warm yeast mixture.
4. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together until you have a sticky wet dough. If the dough is too sticky, slowly add more flour.

5. Once the dough has come together and is soft and slightly stretchy, knead the dough on a floured flat surface about 20 times before placing the mound in a greased bowl, and lightly covered with a towel before placing it in a warm area of your kitchen to proof. This can take anywhere from 30-60 minutes.
6. Once the dough has doubled in size, scrape the dough out of the bowl and onto a flat floured surface.

7. Divide the dough into 4 equal portions of dough.
8. Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough portions into about ⅛ to ¼ inch thickness. Oblong spheres are best, you don't need to be precise with the shape!

9. Heat a large cast iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat before adding the flatbreads to the hot pan.
10. Cook each side of the naan for about 2-3 minutes. This can take longer if your pan isn't hot enough. Brush the flatbreads with vegan butter or olive oil if desired. Remove the flatbreads and serve with a sprinkle of salt and fresh chopped herbs.

Cooking Tips & Tricks

• If the dough begins to stick on your pan, lightly grease it between batches as needed. Naan is meant to be cooked over dry heat, you don't want a ton of oil.
• Cook the naan just until you see a nice char, you don't want the bread to burn.
• The best pan to use is a cast iron skillet or non-stick griddle. Choose a heavy-bottomed pan that can withstand dry high heat. This will give your bread the best char if using a griddle and blistery brown bobbles if using a flat skillet.
• To keep gluten-free naan warm while you finished cooking all the portions, you can place the cooked naan on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven.
• If your yeast doesn't get foamy, the water wasn't warm enough. However, if your water is boiling hot, you will kill the yeast and it won't activate either. 100-110°F is best.
• Make sure your yeast is fresh and not expired. Just like baking powder, if it is not fresh, it won't work properly in your dough.
• You can make your gluten-free naan thin or thick. Thicker dough may take longer to cook, but it's all preference!

How To Store & Freeze

• Storage: You can store leftover homemade naan in a Ziplock bag or an airtight container at room temperature for 5-6 days. You can store it in the fridge for 7-8 days. Reheat the naan quickly in the microwave or in a hot skillet over medium heat with a splash of water to rehydrate the cold naan.
• Make-Ahead: You can make the dough ahead of time, up to 3 days in advance. Follow all the steps to proof the dough. Once the dough has been proofed, don't punch the dough down. Instead, cover the bowl and place it in the fridge until you are ready to make the naan in a skillet. Bring the dough to room temperature before dividing the dough.
• Freeze: You can freeze cooked and cooled naan bread by warping it in plastic wrap or foil and placing the individual pieces in a freezer-safe bag and storing it in the freezer for up to 3-5 months. Reheat the naan by wrapping each piece in aluminum foil and warming it in a 350°F oven until hot.

What To Serve Naan With

Any dish that needs soft chewy bread to soak up saucy goodness is a perfect pairing for naan! Here are some delicious recipe ideas to get you started!

• Vegan Butter Chicken (Indian Butter Chickpeas)
• Chickpea Tikka Masala
• Chana Masala
• Black Eyed Pea Curry with Swiss Chard & Roasted Eggplant
• Easy Dairy-Free Indian Butter Chicken
• Curried Pumpkin Soup
• Easy Slow Cooker Vegan Chili

Print

The easiest yeasted gluten-free bread you can make! If you're new to making homemade gluten-free bread, naan is the perfect place to start! Soft, chewy, and perfectly charred; everyone will be reaching for a warm buttery piece meant to be ripped into pieces with your hands and used to soak up any delicious sauce or juices it encounters!

So tell me:

+ What are your favorite flavors to add to naan? Garlic is a classic, but there's something about keeping it plain that I love most!

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