Naan Recipe Without Yogurt - Foods Guy (2024)

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure to learn more.

Jump to Recipe

If you are unfamiliar with Naan bread, it is a great time to meet each other.

Naan bread is a traditional Indian bread. It is a type of flatbread that you make in a skillet. It is not a just flatbread, but also a soft and pliable type of bread.

This Naan recipe is quick and easy to make and requires no yogurt. This recipe is probably my favorite recipe for the Naan bread as it is not only quick but super delicious.

Sometimes people mix pita and Naan bread, but although both being types of flatbread, they are completely different. Pita bread is cooked in an extremely hot pan or oven and has a characteristic air pocket in the middle.

Naan bread is cooked over medium-high heat on a skillet and it has more air bubbles than pita bread, which has one big giant bubble.

Naan bread can be served with any type of meal. You can eat Naan along with soups, gravy, meat dishes, or simply used for sandwiches.

Can You Make Naan Bread Without Yogurt?

Yes, you can make the Naan bread without yogurt. The yogurt is used to make the bread soft and fluff, but making Naan bread with yeast and allowing it to raise will give the same results.

Yogurt of any type is not mandatory in this recipe. Yeast will do the trick and turn the Naan dough into the softest and most bubbly bread.

How Is Naan Bread Traditionally Made?

Naan bread uses really simple ingredients:

  • Flour
  • Yeast
  • Salt
  • Milk
  • Warm water

First, you want to make the dough by combining the yeast and flour together. Knead the dough by hands or using a stand mixer with dough hooks attached. Divide the dough into six to eight portions and let it raise for at least 1 hour.

Once the dough is made, the bread itself is baked in a very hot clay tandoori oven, with charcoal or wood. Of course, we do not have a tandoori oven so the next best thing is a heated skillet.

You can use either a plain non-stick skillet or a cast-iron skillet (this one that you can pick up on Amazon is by far my favorite, and perfect for making Naan).

The baked bread will have distinguished brown spots on top. The spots are actually air pockets and a great indicator when the Naan bread is done.

Once it’s cooked, you can serve the Naan bread with olive oil, ghee, or butter.

How to Serve Naan

You can make Naan bread plain or with herbs or spices. Although Naan bread is not traditionally made with spices, you can always feel free to adjust this recipe to your personal taste.After all, you’re the one eating it!

You can use some of the traditional Indian spices such as turmeric or a pinch of curry powder, or choose a variety of herbs such as thyme, oregano or basil.

For some extra crunch, you can sprinkle the Naan bread with black cumin seeds.

Now let’s get into our yogurt-less Naan recipe!

How to Make Naan Without Yogurt

Ingredients

  • ½ cup warm water
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp instant yeast
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tbsp almond milk or plain milk
  • ½ tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp olive oil + some extra for brushing

Instructions

Step 1

Gather your ingredients.

In a mixing bowl, combine water, sugar, and yeast. Cover and let it stand for 5 minutes at a warm place.

Naan Recipe Without Yogurt - Foods Guy (1)

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, milk, lemon juice, olive oil, and the yeast mixture. Stir to combine until dough comes together.

Naan Recipe Without Yogurt - Foods Guy (2)

Step 3

Divide the dough into six equal pieces. Roll each piece in a ball. Arrange the balls on a plate and cover with a damp cloth.

Let the dough rise for 1 hour.

Naan Recipe Without Yogurt - Foods Guy (3)

Step 4

Heat a large skillet over a medium-high heat.

Roll the dough balls to a 1/4-inch thickness and place into the heated skillet. Cook the Naan bread until it starts to bubble.

Flip the bread and brush with some olive oil.Cook the bread on the other side.

Serve bread warm with olive oil, butter, or ghee, and enjoy!

Naan Recipe Without Yogurt - Foods Guy (4)
Naan Recipe Without Yogurt - Foods Guy (5)

Naan Recipe Without Yogurt

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Additional Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

This authentic Naan bread without yogurt is soft and fluffy, just like Naan should be!

Ingredients

  • ½ cup warm water
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp instant yeast
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tbsp almond milk or plain milk
  • ½ tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp olive oil + some extra for brushing

Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine water, sugar and yeast.
  2. Cover and let it stand for 5 minutes at warm place.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, milk, lemon juice, olive oil, and the yeast.
  4. Stir to combine until dough comes together.
  5. Divide the dough into six equal pieces. Roll each piece in a ball. Arrange the balls on a plate and cover with a damp cloth.
  6. Let the dough rise for 1 hour.
  7. Heat a large skillet over a medium-high heat.
  8. Roll the dough balls to a 1/4-inch thickness and place into the heated skillet. Cook the Naan bread until it starts to bubble. Flip the bread and brush with some olive oil.
  9. Cook the bread on the other side.
  10. Serve bread warm.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 198Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 23mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 6g

Up Next: The Best Ways To Reheat Naan Bread

Naan Recipe Without Yogurt - Foods Guy (2024)

FAQs

What can I replace yogurt with in naan? ›

While making naan, yogurt can be substituted with buttermilk, lemon juice and milk, curd and butter, sour cream, soy yogurt, and coconut milk yogurt. Some of these substitutes are dairy products while others are vegan-friendly non-dairy products.

Why does naan need yogurt? ›

Plain yogurt gives the dough a pillowy, stretchy crumb, and cooking it over high heat gives naan bread its signature glossy, blistered surface, which is finished by brushing with ghee or butter.

What is a healthier alternative to naan? ›

What most people don't realize is, most Indians don't eat naan everyday. It's a treat reserved for special occasions. A healthier alternative that is eaten daily in most indian households, is roti (also called chapati or fulka). It's an unleavened flatbread made of just two ingredients - whole wheat flour and water.

What is the difference between plain and butter naan? ›

Butter naan is indulgence personified. After cooking the plain naan, a generous amount of butter is brushed over the surface, imparting a rich yet buttery flavour. The butter also gives the naan a glossy finish, making it irresistible to resist.

What is a substitute for yogurt in Indian cooking? ›

If you don't have access to traditional Indian or Greek yogurt, some alternatives include regular cow's milk yogurt, coconut yogurt, almond yogurt, soy yogurt, or goat's milk yogurt. Depending on the recipe, it is also possible to substitute other dairy products such as ricotta cheese or crème fraîche.

What is a substitute for yogurt in a recipe? ›

Best Yogurt Substitutes for Baking
  • Sour Cream. Sour cream, especially full-fat sour cream, is a great substitute for yogurt in baking. ...
  • Greek Yogurt. ...
  • Buttermilk. ...
  • Cottage Cheese. ...
  • Cream Cheese. ...
  • Silken Tofu. ...
  • Coconut Milk or Coconut Cream.
Jun 30, 2023

Why is my naan bread not fluffy? ›

Naan doesn't get bubbles – Pan not hot enough, dough not moist enough or improper leavening. Naan turns hard – Toasting for too long, not enough moisture in the dough, toasting on low heat or not kneading the dough enough.

Why is my naan gummy? ›

The naan should be chewy and slightly stretchy – but not sticky or gooey. If the middle is wet, that means the bread is not done and you should continue to cook it. Advice: All stoves are different as are all climates – it could just be that your bread needs more time on the pan.

What is traditional naan made from? ›

Flour, yeast, milk, and butter make a tender dough that's simply seasoned with garlic and salt, but there is a wide array of naan bread flavors. You'll find everything from coconut and raisin-stuffed bread to saucy lamb-topped naan in restaurants and home kitchens around the world.

What are the disadvantages of naan? ›

As such, you should avoid filling up on naan if you're watching your saturated fat intake. Moreover, store-bought plain naan has a relatively high sodium content, accounting for around 18% of the DV. Eating too much sodium may increase blood pressure and your risk for heart disease and stroke ( 7 ).

Is naan a junk food? ›

Naan bread can be part of a healthy diet, especially if you choose whole grain varieties. Naan bread contains vitamins and minerals like niacin, fiber, and iron, as well as fiber. It also is a good source of carbohydrates, which provide energy.

What is more fattening naan or rice? ›

naan is calorically dense due to the refined flour. 100 grams of naan contains 310 calories, compared to 100 grams of steamed brown rice, which contains 125 calories. naan contains no fiber compared to the rice, which leads to an imbalance of gut bacteria, constipation, and a potentially increased risk of bowel cancer.

Should naan have yogurt? ›

My favorite homemade naan recipe is made with basic bread ingredients (flour, water and yeast) plus a generous dollop of yogurt, egg and baking powder to make the bread extra soft and chewy.

What is the difference between tandoori naan and regular naan? ›

Tandoori Roti also has almost zero cholesterol, as we do not use any saturated or trans fats while preparing the dough or during cooking. On the other hand, Naan uses ghee or butter in its preparation, so it has some saturated fats and cholesterol.

What can I eat instead of yogurt? ›

Looking beyond yogurt for probiotics
  • Kefir. This yogurtlike drink has a tart flavor, with a thinner consistency than yogurt. ...
  • Kimchi. Kimchi is a spicy, reddish fermented cabbage dish made with a mix of garlic, salt, vinegar, and chili peppers. ...
  • Kombucha. ...
  • Miso. ...
  • Pickles. ...
  • Sauerkraut. ...
  • Tempeh.
Jul 18, 2023

What can I use instead of yoghurt in tandoori? ›

Although traditionally tandoori chicken recipes call for plain yogurt as the base, I'm not a big yogurt fan. I decided to try using coconut milk instead, and it turned out great! This is a wonderfully easy recipe, great for lazy days.

What can I use instead of yogurt starter? ›

10 YOGURT CULTURING ALTERNATIVES
  • Folding Proofer. The Folding Proofer can be set to the temperature required for culturing yogurt. ...
  • Oven. ...
  • Thermos. ...
  • Crockpot. ...
  • Insulated Cooler and Water. ...
  • Insulated Cooler and Heating Pad. ...
  • Insulated Cooler in the Sun. ...
  • Hot Water Bath.
Jun 23, 2022

Can I replace milk with yogurt in bread? ›

As a general rule of thumb, one can replace a cup of milk with a cup of yogurt, but adjustments to the overall liquid content might be necessary to preserve the desired consistency of the batter or dough.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Arline Emard IV

Last Updated:

Views: 6043

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Arline Emard IV

Birthday: 1996-07-10

Address: 8912 Hintz Shore, West Louie, AZ 69363-0747

Phone: +13454700762376

Job: Administration Technician

Hobby: Paintball, Horseback riding, Cycling, Running, Macrame, Playing musical instruments, Soapmaking

Introduction: My name is Arline Emard IV, I am a cheerful, gorgeous, colorful, joyous, excited, super, inquisitive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.