I was first introduced to Naan by my Aunt and Uncle who taught me how to make one of my favorite Indian Recipes: Indian Butter Chicken, but I didn’t actually know what Naan tasted like. Back then we ate Butter Chicken with Pita Bread because it was more readily available at typical grocery stores.
But then one day, my friend Jamie posted a recipe for Naan Bread and I knew the time had come where I had to try it for myself.
My kids absolutely love helping me make this delicious Indian Flatbread – what they like to call “circle bread.” Rolling the dough into little balls and then flattening with a rolling pin provides so much entertainment for their little hands.
It’s a shame that I am only just now getting around to sharing the recipe, because we’ve been making Naan at home for months now. Each time gobbling it up before I could take any photos because it is just too darn good!
This time I wanted to do a little experimenting test a whole wheat version of the Indian Naan so it would be a touch healthier. We loved it! I use a Nutrimill Grain Mill to freshly grind my own whole wheat flour (related: Baking with Whole Grains – Nutrimill Review).
Don’t let any fear of baking with yeast discourage you from cooking up your own Naan at home. Here are some of my top tips for using yeast. Naan is a great recipe to start practicing with!
3 TIPS FOR BAKING WITH YEAST
Doubled in Bulk
Just because the recipe lists rising times, does not make them accurate. There are many things that affect yeast rising time such as yeast freshness and kitchen temperature.
Instead, consider rising times to be guidelines and pay more attention to: has the dough doubled in bulk. That is how you know the rise is complete.
Finger Test
Want to know how to test if the dough has doubled in bulk? Simply dust two fingers with flour and plunge them into the dough as you near the “guideline” recipe rising time nears. If doubled in bulk, the hole will not collapse.
On the other hand, the hole from your fingers will quickly close if the dough is not ready. Give it another 10-15 minutes and try again until the indentations remain.
Fresh Yeast
Fresh yeast is important. Take a look at the experation date before you get started, or if you don’t even remember when you bought the yeast, buy some fresh yeast. Old yeast doesn’t yield reliable rising results.
If baking with yeast is a rare occasion in your home, buy packets rather than jars of yeast to eliminate waste. Additionally, you can lengthen the life of yeast by storing it in the refrigerator, but make sure you let it come to room temperature before using.
The weather has been quite warm here lately. The first recipe I cooked up on our grill this season was some Tandoori Chicken to serve inside the Indian Naan Bread for wraps.
If you’re already cooking chicken or something else on the grill, go ahead and cook the Naan there too (instructions in the recipe). I’ve gotten into the habit of cooking the Naan on the stove, however, because the kids love to help and watch and it’s easier for me to keep a watchful eye on them at the stove than near the grill.
P.S. I’ve got a guest post over on My Baking Addiction this week about Peanut Allergies and Peanut Butter Alternatives. Come say “Hi.”

Whole Wheat Indian Naan and Grilled Tandoori Chicken Wraps
My kids absolutely love helping me make this delicious Indian Flatbread – what they like to call “circle bread.” Rolling the dough into little balls and then flattening with a rolling pin provides so much entertainment for their little hands.
Ingredients
For the Naan:
- 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1/4 cup plain yogurt
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 - 2 1/2 cups bread flour
- 1 3/4 - 2 cups fresh whole hard white wheat flour
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
For the Wraps:
- Tandoori Chicken
- thinly sliced cucumber, red onion, and red bell pepper
- cilantro leaves
- yogurt sauce, recipe follows
For the yogurt sauce:
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper
Instructions
For the Naan:
- Add the warm water and yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer. Let rest for 10 minutes, until the yeast has bloomed. Add the sugar, yogurt, egg, and salt to the water. Whisk until combined.
- Add 1 cup of bread flour and 1 cup of whole wheat flour to the liquid mixture, stir with the paddle attachment of the mixer. Slowly add remaining flours until a soft, elastic dough is formed. Knead for 3-5 minutes with the electric mixer.
- You will need to switch to the dough hook attachment at some point, when the dough becomes too thick for the paddle. Alternatively, you can knead by hand on a lightly floured surface.
- Remove dough from the bowl, oil bowl, replace dough and cover with plastic wrap. Set aside to rise for approximately 1 hours, or until doubled in bulk.
- Punch the dough down and pull off small handfuls of dough (about the size of a golf ball). Roll the dough into balls and place on a greased baking tray. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise again until doubled, about 30-45 minutes.
- To cook the Naan, you can either cook it on a greased grill preheated to high or as I most often do, on a lightly greased large pancake griddle on the stove over medium-high heat. Roll the dough balls into a thin circle or oval. Cook on the grill or griddle over the stove for 2-3 minutes per side, or until puffy and browned.
- Brush the cooked side with melted butter, then turn over and cook on the remaining side for 2-3 more minutes. Remove, and cook remaining until the process is complete.
- Note: I keep a baking tray in an oven preheated to 150 degrees F to transfer the cooked naan to stay warm while I continue cooking.
For the Wraps:
- Marinate the Tandoori Chicken according to recipe instructions. Cook chicken breast over high heat on a grill until done. Remove and let rest, loosely covered, for 5 minutes before cutting into.
- Combine all the ingredients for the yogurt sauce. Inside a piece of Indian Naan place a few slices of grilled chicken, cilantro, red onion, cucumber and red pepper. Drizzle with yogurt sauce.
Notes
Wrap recipe inspired by and Yogurt Sauce slightly adapted from Baked Bree
Naan adapted from My Baking Addiction
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Nutrition Information
Yield 12 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 436Total Fat 7gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 38mgSodium 444mgCarbohydrates 75gFiber 3gSugar 5gProtein 16g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
Kristi Rimkus
Thursday 30th of April 2015
I love that you have the kids helping. I used to make my own bread and let my kids make pretzels out of the dough. They loved it. I can't wait to give this a try myself.
Brooke
Wednesday 27th of February 2013
Thanks so much!! I love making fresh food! Can I try this in a bread machine?? Love fresh food, but "easier" ways of making! LOL
Katie
Wednesday 27th of February 2013
I would think running it on the dough cycle in the bread machine would be just fine, but I have not tried that.
Peggy
Sunday 4th of March 2012
Thank you for sharing; I have been wanting to make my own Naan Bread. Can you tell me, what is "whole hard white wheat flour?"
Katie
Monday 12th of March 2012
It is a variety of mild whole wheat. I buy unground wheat berries and grind them myself. White hard wheat is preferable for it's mild flavor and color though you're still getting the whole grain aspect of nutrition.
Eric
Sunday 28th of August 2011
I made the naan and the Tandoori chicken using boneless and skinless chicken breasts. I cooked the chicken and the naan on a Big Green Egg - it turned out fabulous. My whole family loved it. Thanks for the recipe and by the way...nice website.
diabeticFoodie
Tuesday 19th of July 2011
I made your whole wheat naan to serve with Indian-Style Fuzzy Squash. It was delicious! I used a tortilla press to "roll" the dough and it worked great, although my naans were a bit small by naan standards. I published complete nutritional info for the naan with my squash recipe if anyone is interested. Thank you so much for this recipe - my husband and I loved it! http://www.diabeticfoodie.com/2011/07/indian-style-fuzzy-squash/