How to Make a Garlic Naan at Home - Easy Recipe

It is often assumed that the perfect naan can only be cooked in a tandoor; however, it can also be cooked at home without one. Garlic naan, in particular, can be so good that it may put your local restaurant on standby.

The best part is that no special tools or skills are needed; just a dash of love, a sprinkle of patience, and some garlic.  

The guide is designed to cater to everyone, from casual weekend chefs to food lovers eager to impress someone on a quiet date night.

What is Garlic Naan?

Garlic naan is a form of flatbread that originated from India. It is prepared from the following refined flour, yeast, yogurt, garlic and served warm.

Digging into garlic naan, its tender and chewy surface gently gives way revealing a hint of charcoal burn in its core. It's prepared with ghee and coriander sprigs, garlic naan perfectly pairs with every south east Asia curry like palak paneer or butter chicken.

Why Create Garlic Naan at Home?

1. Freshness: No one can beat the aroma and taste of garlic naan freshly made off a hot pan.
2. Personal Touch: You can increase or decrease the amount of garlic, the quantity, or even use a different flour.
3. Economic: You can spend as much as one portion of naan in a restaurant or prepare an entire batch at home
4. No chemical preservatives: Additives and preservatives do not exist in homemade food, it is made from scratch.
5. The Satisfaction Of Cooking: Seeing your dough puff and turn golden is incredibly satisfying

Ingredients 

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda1/2 cup plain yogurt (room temperature)
• 1/3 cup warm milk
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast (optional for added fluffiness)
• 4 cloves garlic (finely minced)
• 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves
• 2 tablespoons melted butter (for brushing)

Let’s Talk Dough: How to Get it Right

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The foundation of any good naan is the dough. Steps for getting good dough;

1. Find a bowl with a good capacity and pour in it flour, sugar, salt, yeast, baking soda and baking powder.  
2. Mix the warm milk with oil and yogurt and add to the dry ingredients. Get a spatula or your hands and mix it until it forms a rough dough.  
3. Knead your dough for about ten minutes until it is no longer sticky.  
4. For a better result, cover your bowl with a warm damp towel and let it sit for two hours.

Shaping Your Garlic Naan

1. Divide the dough into equal balls 
2. Roll out each ball into an oval or tear-drop shape using a rolling pin. 
3. Sprinkle chopped garlic and coriander on top. Press them gently into the dough so they stick.

Cooking on Hob

A cast iron skillet as well as a heavy bottomed one do the job excellently.

1.Set your skillet over high heat until it begins to smoke.

2. Place the naan (garlic side up) onto the dry pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes until bubbles form.
3. Flip it and cook the garlic side for another 30 seconds to 1 minute.
4. Optionally, you can flip again and cook directly on the flame using tongs for a more charred effect.
5. Once done, brush the naan generously with melted butter.

Pro Tips for Perfect Garlic Naan

•  Don’t skip resting the dough, it’s crucial for softness.
• Use warm liquids to activate the leavening agents better.
• Make sure your skillet is very hot before placing the naan.
• Continue basting with butter; it makes the dish moisture and tastier
• For cheese lovers, add a bit of mozzarella on top before cooking for an extra treat.

Pairing Ideas

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Garlic naan is versatile. Here are some delicious ideas:

• Creamy Butter Chicken
• Paneer Butter Masala
• Dal Makhani
• Chole (Chickpea Curry)
• Tandoori Chicken
• Even Hummus or Baba Ganoush (for a fusion twist)

Make It a Lifestyle

Well look at this! Once you make garlic naan at home it becomes more than food. It is a weekend ritual, a dinner party favorite, or a wholesome moment shared with loved ones. You may recruit your children in rolling the dough, or change a mundane Tuesday afternoon into an escape filled with North Indian spices. 

In addition, there is striking appeal in hearing the ‘snap’ as one tears off a piece of naan. Watching the butter soak into the garlic, while the naan sizzles in the oil is a sight to behold. It is comfort food at its pinnacle. In today’s world filled with chaos, small culinary adventures like these provide some much needed happiness and peace.

Storage Tips

• Food remnants must be sealed in foil before being kept in a container. 
• Reheat in a pan or an oven to 180 degrees celsius for five minutes.
• Never use a microwave since it makes the naan chewy.
• You can freeze the uncooked naan topped with garlic, and bake them directly from the freezer.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Over-kneading the dough.
• Skipping rest time: Leads to flat, chewy naan.
• Using cold yogurt or milk: Prevents proper rising.
• Not pressing garlic in enough: It falls off while cooking.
• Using low heat: Naan won’t puff up and get hard.

Making Garlic Naan Without Yeast

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For those who want to avoid using yeast, baking soda and powder by themselves will still give impressive results. Yogurt serves as a natural leavener. All you need to do is change the resting period to 3 to 4 hours.

Conclusion

Garlic naan is much more than an accompaniment; it is a journey, a form of self-care, and on rare occasions, can steal the show as the main feature. It is sure to kindle some nostalgia while providing warmth during mealtimes. Preparing it at home is not only economical, but it also adds a touch of heritage and invention into one’s life. 

As you whip up the garlic butter, transforming them into another culinary masterpiece, let Glen India kitchen appliances take the hassle out of cooking to make the experience more enjoyable.