Easy Vegan Naan (Indian Flatbread) Recipe - Elephantastic Vegan (2024)

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Easy Vegan Naan – if you’re into super fluffy flatbreads, then this is THE recipe for you! The dough is just a simple yeast dough, which you can keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Easy Vegan Naan (Indian Flatbread) Recipe - Elephantastic Vegan (1)

I’m always on a mission for the fluffiest vegan naan bread. And I kind of feel like, it can’t get any fluffier than this.

I’ve gotten so many compliments for my naan, it always ends up being the star of the meal (sorry, curry!).

It’s really easy to make. Mix the ingredients for the dough (I am using my kitchen machine but you can also use your hands). Coat the dough ball in oil, and let it rise for at least 2 hours. Then you can break off a small chunk, roll it out and cook it in the pan for a super fresh flatbread.

You can also store the risen dough in the fridge for up to 3 days, so you’ll always have the option for spontaneous, bubbly naan.

Bonus points for sprinkling salt and fresh parsley (or cilantro) on top.

If you don’t have the time for the dough to rise and you need a naan asap, check out my yeast-free Garlic Naan recipe.

Easy Vegan Naan (Indian Flatbread) Recipe - Elephantastic Vegan (2)

You can use the flatbreads also for fluffy wraps or a pizza base! I may or may not have added mashed avocado onto the flatbread for a quick breakfast.

How to make an Easy Vegan Naan

The ingredients

You will need:

  • all-purpose wheat flour
  • instant yeast
  • salt
  • olive oil
  • water

This is a super basic version for vegan naan. You can always work garlic slices, sesame seeds, chili flakes (or whatever you feel like) into the dough before adding it to the pan!

The basic steps

Easy Vegan Naan (Indian Flatbread) Recipe - Elephantastic Vegan (3)
Easy Vegan Naan (Indian Flatbread) Recipe - Elephantastic Vegan (4)
Easy Vegan Naan (Indian Flatbread) Recipe - Elephantastic Vegan (5)
Easy Vegan Naan (Indian Flatbread) Recipe - Elephantastic Vegan (6)
Easy Vegan Naan (Indian Flatbread) Recipe - Elephantastic Vegan (7)
Easy Vegan Naan (Indian Flatbread) Recipe - Elephantastic Vegan (8)
Easy Vegan Naan (Indian Flatbread) Recipe - Elephantastic Vegan (9)
Easy Vegan Naan (Indian Flatbread) Recipe - Elephantastic Vegan (10)
Easy Vegan Naan (Indian Flatbread) Recipe - Elephantastic Vegan (11)

Serve the Naan with

  • Falafel Curry
  • Palak Tofu
  • Dal Makhani
  • Sweet Potato Curry
  • or any of these15 Amazing Vegan Curry Recipes

Love it? Rate it!

I hope you enjoy this Easy Vegan Naan as much as I do!

And don’t forget to rate the recipe if you like it, this helps other users figure out if it is worth a try!

If you don’t wantto miss out on any new recipes,subscribe to my newsletter, follow me onInstagramandFacebook!

Cheers, Bianca

Easy Vegan Naan (Indian Flatbread) Recipe - Elephantastic Vegan (12)

Easy Vegan Naan (Indian Flatbread) Recipe - Elephantastic Vegan (13)

Easy Vegan Naan (Indian Flatbread)

Bianca / Elephantastic Vegan

Easy Vegan Naan – if you’re into super fluffy flatbreads, then this is THE recipe for you! The dough is just a simple yeast dough, which you can keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Resting Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 25 minutes mins

Course Basics

Cuisine Indian, Vegan

Servings 4 naans

Calories 303 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour + more to dust the dough and surfaces
  • 1 teaspoon instant yeast
  • 1/3 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil + more to coat the dough and for the pan
  • 2/3 cup water

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and instant yeast. Then add the olive oil and water. Stir to combine, then knead with your hands (or use a kitchen machine with a dough hook) until it's a smooth dough.If the dough is too sticky, add more flour; if it's too crumbly, add more water.

  • Coat the ball ofdough in a drizzle of olive oil. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let it sit in a warm place until the dough doubles in size (for about 2 hours).

  • Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces (about 100g each). Roll out each piece on lightly floured parchment paper.

  • Heat a flat pan (a crepe-pan works best) until really, really hot! Lay the first flatbread into the hot pan with a bit of oil until it's you can see bubbles on the bread. Then, for the second side, add a bit more oil to the pan, let the other side of the bread cook for 1-2 minutes. Repeat for the other naans.

  • Sprinkle the naans with salt, fresh parsley and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 303kcalCarbohydrates: 61gProtein: 9gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 199mgPotassium: 112mgFiber: 3gSugar: 0.2gVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 14mgIron: 4mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @elephantasticvegan or tag #elephantasticvegan!

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Easy Vegan Naan (Indian Flatbread) Recipe - Elephantastic Vegan (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between flatbread and naan? ›

Ingredients: Pita bread contains just flour, water, salt, and yeast. Naan uses flour, water, salt, yeast, yogurt, oil, and sometimes egg. Naan often has other flavor ingredients added, while pita on its own is quite plain. Texture: Naan is a larger and softer bread, typically oval in shape.

What makes naan not vegan? ›

Unfortunately, the majority of naan isn't suitable for vegans as they often contain ghee (clarified butter), yoghurt, milk or even eggs. However, it's not impossible to find vegan-friendly naan in supermarkets, it's just worth double-checking ingredients lists.

What is the difference between Afghan naan and Indian naan? ›

Afghan naan is different in shape, texture, and taste from Indian varieties. While the main ingredient – wheat flour – is the same, Afghan bakers hand-shape the dough, rather than rolling it out, and their use of a tandoor results in large, pillowy rounds.

Do Indian restaurants use yeast in naan? ›

About Naan

In the modern days, yeast & other leavening agents have replaced the bread starter. So most restaurants either use yeast or another leavening agent like baking powder & baking soda. If you order naan in Indian restaurants you may not find the texture & flavor to be the same in every place.

Is naan healthier than bread? ›

If you're looking to eat more naan, but you have health concerns, consider how it stacks up against other breads and pita, another popular flatbread dish. First, 1 white naan (90 grams) has approximately 70% more carbs, protein, and fiber than 2 slices of white bread (54 grams).

Are naan breads unhealthy? ›

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.

Is ghee vegan? ›

Ghee is a dairy derivative, and even though the milk solids have been removed from the final product, making it lactose-free, ghee is not dairy-free or vegan.

Can vegans eat hummus? ›

Hummus is a vegan staple that allows you to have some versatility in your diet. It's an immensely popular food amongst vegans so you may have found a new favourite yourself. It's available in a wide range of flavours and is very versatile in the kitchen so you can experiment with it if you wish to.

Is Dave's Killer bread vegan? ›

A: All DKB bread products are considered vegan and do not contain any animal products, however, our limited edition DKB Snack Bars (Trail Mix Crumble and Oat-Rageous Honey Almond™) are NOT considered vegan as they contain organic honey.

What is the Indian flat bread alternative to naan? ›

Non-naan: 6 Indian breads you need to eat right now
  • Kulcha. Kulcha is a kind of variation of naan. ...
  • Parotta. Parotta is a layered flatbread. ...
  • Bhatoora. This bread sometimes looks like an inflated football. ...
  • Tandoori Roti. ...
  • Stuffed Paratha. ...
  • Idli.
Feb 22, 2018

What are 10 traditional Indian flatbreads? ›

Different varieties of Indian bread and pancake include chapati, phulka, puri, roti, bajra rotla, thepla, paratha, naan, kulcha, bhatoora, appam, dosa, luchi, puran poli, pathiri, and parotta. Some of these, like paratha and roti, have many varieties.

Why do you put yogurt in naan bread? ›

The full-fat dairy in this naan recipe gives it a soft texture and rich taste. You can use a 2% or fat-free Greek yogurt, your bread may just not be as pillowy soft. Olive oil. Canola or avocado oil can be used in place of olive oil.

Do restaurants use egg in naan? ›

In many traditional recipes, naan bread does not contain eggs. However, there are variations of naan where eggs might be added to the dough. Whether eggs are added to naan largely depends on the specific recipe used by the restaurant and regional preferences.

Why use yogurt in naan bread? ›

Yogurt: Plain Greek yogurt holds the naan dough together and ensures a tender texture. Make sure you get authentic Greek yogurt and not Greek-style yogurt.

Is indian flatbread the same as naan? ›

One of the main differences between these two flatbreads is in the way that they are cooked. Before your naan or roti reaches your table, Roti will be cooked in a Tawa or flat skillet while naan is usually cooked in a tandoor oven. Both roti and naan have different types and varieties.

What makes naan bread different? ›

The name comes from the Persian word, non, for bread. Unlike pita, naan has yogurt, milk, and sometimes eggs or butter in it, resulting in a softer texture. When the dough is made, bakers shape it into a ball and slap it on the interior walls of a tandoor, a clay oven. The bread puffs up and bubbles as it cooks.

What is healthier, naan or pita bread? ›

Because their ingredients are similar, loaf bread and pita both have very similar nutritional profiles, including similar levels of protein and fat (around 2 to 3 grams). Naan is higher in protein (around 9 grams) and fat (around 5 grams) than pita and other breads.

What makes a flatbread a flatbread? ›

A flatbread is bread made usually with flour; water, milk, yogurt, or other liquid; and salt, and then thoroughly rolled into flattened dough. Many flatbreads are unleavened, although some are leavened, such as pita bread.

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