Vegan Naan Recipe - plain, avocado, garlic, stuffed. Indian flatbread Recipe Dairy-free - Vegan Richa (2024)

FAQs

Why is 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 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.

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.

Extra fat and thickness will make the dough too rich and prevent it naan from puffing up. It will have a thicker, doughier texture. I regularly use buttermilk as a substitute because I don't always stock plain yogurt. Both work perfectly.

Naan and pita are similar in that they are both flatbreads, but naan contains butter and yogurt, whereas pita does not. As stated earlier, naan is high in fat, and specifically high in saturated fats. Pita on the other hand is considered to be a low fat food.

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 ).

Nutrition: Pita bread is lower in calories and fat. Naan is higher in fat and calories due to the addition of yogurt, milk, and ghee but also provides more protein and fiber.

Kulcha is a mildly leavened bread prepared with all-purpose flour without any yeast, but rather leavened with yogurt and/or baking powder. Though it's similar to naan, you don't need a tandoor oven to make kulcha; you can easily prepare it on a griddle.

Roti is generally considered healthier than naan. Roti is lower in calories and contains zero saturated and trans fats and cholesterol. In contrast, naan tends to be higher in calories and may contain added fats. For a healthier choice, roti is often preferred, especially by those conscious of their dietary intake.

Naan is essentially a leavened flatbread, which means it contains some form of raising agent to provide its airy texture. Hence for this naan, the raising agent we will be using is yeast. Other variations do exist which may utilise self raising flour or baking powder/baking soda.

Is naan bread healthier than rice? ›

Naan, on the other hand, tends to be higher in calories and lower in fiber due to its ingredients like refined flour, butter, and sometimes sugar.

Curries and naan bread are a match made in heaven. Whether it's a spicy chicken curry, a creamy butter chicken, or a vegetarian option like paneer makhani, naan bread serves as the perfect vessel to soak up all those delicious sauces.

Here's what you'll need to make this two-ingredient naan: Self-rising flour: You'll need 1 ¼ cups of self-rising flour. If you only have all-purpose flour on hand, you can make a DIY version with just a few ingredients. Yogurt: Plain Greek yogurt holds the naan dough together and ensures a tender texture.

In a bowl, combine lemon juice with almond milk to make “vegan buttermilk.” Set aside for a few minutes — it should curdle slightly. It won't thicken like buttermilk, but it has a similar effect in recipes. Use in vegan ranch, biscuits (or gluten-free biscuits), or anywhere else that calls for buttermilk.

Adding milk to bread dough makes it looser and softer while using sour cream, yogurt, or buttermilk makes the dough tighter. The tightening effect is caused by acidity. Fermented dairy products have a lower pH than milk or water. Knowing this we can use it to our advantage.

It's usually straightforward to tell whether a bread is vegan. You can easily distinguish vegan from non-vegan bread by looking at the ingredient list. Bread containing eggs, honey, royal jelly, gelatin, or dairy-based ingredients like milk, butter, buttermilk, whey, or casein isn't considered vegan.

This is naan, which is the Indian flatbread. It's incorrect to call it naan bread. Naan means bread in Persian. Naan means bread.

Naan can also be used to scoop up dips like hummus or served alongside Indian curries, Italian sauces or even chili. While both naan and pita bread are delicious in their own way, naan bread has a softer texture and richer flavor profile that makes it a versatile option for any range of dishes.

Unfortunately, most naan you'll get at Indian restaurants is not vegan, as the dough often contains yogurt (or milk) and it's brushed with melted butter. While there are a handful of store-bought vegan naan options, they are pretty lackluster and taste more like store-bought pita bread.