The perfect pair to a steaming bowl of curry? Soft, fluffy naan bread. This Indian skillet bread is so delicious, it’s easy to get distracted by this traditional side dish. Alex and I love recommending an Indian or Southeast Asian style vegetable curry as an easy plant-based meal. But most traditional naan recipes have butter and/or Greek yogurt. Enter: this vegan naan recipe! It’s easy to make, perfectly fluffy, and tastes just as good as our traditional buttery garlic naan. Here’s how to make it!
Why make this vegan naan?
This vegan naan bread recipe is a little different than most: and even more delicious, we’d contend! Here’s why to make it:
It’s a fast naan recipe. Homemade bread takes time to rise, or proof. The proof time for most naan recipes is 1 to 2 hours. The proof time for this recipe? Just 30 minutes! This recipe uses baking powder instead of yeast. Keep reading for more about the method! The flavor and texture are incredible. This vegan naan is soft and supple, perfectly salted and totally delicious. Below are a few of the tricks we’ve used to make this vegan naan stand out.
The quick way: use baking powder, not yeast!
Most naan recipes use yeast as the leavener: that’s what makes the bread rise! But some modern takes on naan use baking powder instead. What’s the benefit? Baking powder decreases the time needed to proof the bread. Proofing is when you let bread dough rest after you’ve added the leavener so that it rises. The proof time with yeast is 1 to 2 hours, whereas the proof time with baking powder is just 30 minutes! Our researched showed that modern Indian chefs are experimenting with baking powder naan: for example, the naan recipe in Indian chef Vivek Singh’s book Curry. The texture is very slightly more biscuit-y than bread-y, but most people wouldn’t notice a difference. To us, this is absolutely worth it to be able to make naan in under 1 hour!
The secrets to vegan naan
To create this vegan naan recipe, we based it on our Garlic Naan, which also uses baking powder and not yeast. We had several non-vegan ingredients to contend with to adapt this to a vegan bread. Here’s how we did it:
Water instead of milk: Most non-dairy milk products have a very watery texture: so using water works. Coconut cream instead of Greek yogurt: Look for a can of coconut cream at the grocery (not milk). See the notes below! Coconut oil instead of butter. The richer flavor of coconut oil (vs olive oil) is best for brushing. A hint more salt & a little sugar: The recipe below has a hint of added salt and sugar, because guess what? Dairy has gentle salt and sweetness that add flavor. If you don’t add a little to compensate for that, your vegan bread will taste rather dull. (Trust us!)
What is coconut cream?
Important note: Coconut cream is not coconut milk! It’s richer and creamier, almost the texture of coconut oil. When you’re shopping, look for cans marked “Coconut Cream.” What if you can’t find coconut cream, but you can find coconut milk? Well, there’s actually a way to separate out the coconut cream. Here’s what to do:
Buy a can of full fat coconut milk and refrigerate overnight. Open the can and use only the coconut cream that has hardened on top. Note: You’ll notice that with some coconut milk brands, the coconut cream is already separated on top when you open it; others seem to integrate better. If you’re using a brand you know has the hardened coconut cream on top without the need for refrigeration, you can skip that step.
Use a cast iron skillet, if you have it!
Another tip for making vegan naan: use a cast iron skillet if you have it! Why? A cast iron skillet can be heated until it’s blazing hot. And you need a blazing hot griddle for naan! It’s what makes the classic blackened marks on the dough. If you don’t have cast iron skillet: never fear! You can use any large skillet or griddle: the blackened marks will just be a little lighter and more subtle. Tip: Make sure you heat whatever skillet you use until it’s very hot before you add the first piece of dough. If you add the dough before its roaring hot, it won’t cook correctly.
Storage and reheating info!
After you’ve made this vegan naan, what’s the best way to store it? And how to quickly reheat it? Here are some tips:
Room temp storage: Place fully cooled naan in an airtight plastic bag and keep at room temperature for up to 3 days. The cooled naan gets a little tough, so you’ll want to reheat it (see below).Freezer storage: Wrap in foil, place in a bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven: Reheat refrigerated or frozen naan by wrapping in aluminum foil and baking in a 350°F oven for 15 minutes. Reheat in the toaster: For quick fix, reheat refrigerated naan in the toaster (you may need to cut it in half to get it to fit).
Recipes to eat with vegan naan
Here are a few of our favorite plant based and vegan recipes that pair well with naan!
Vegetable Curry This curry features lots of veggies and a flavor-packed broth. Dinnertime winner! Easy Chickpea Curry The ultimate healthy and easy weeknight dinner. It’s plant based (WFPB) and done in 20 minutes.Quick Coconut Lentil Curry Lentils and greens transform into dinner in no time. Coconut Cauliflower Curry This easy curry is warm-spiced and features cauliflower, tomatoes, chickpeas and creamy coconut milk.“Get Your Greens” Vegan Naan Pizza A naan pizza spread with hummus and topped with sauteed green veggies and a citrus miso drizzle.
This vegan naan recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free. No reviews **A cast iron skillet is the best option, since it gives the signature blackened spots. A skillet works too, but won’t get as blackened.
