Homemade vegan naan breads are the perfect accompaniment to any curry or Indian-themed meal. Mop up those last bits of tasty sauce with these light and fluffy flatbreads. Can be oven-baked or pan fried depending on your preference.
HOW TO MAKE VEGAN FLATBREADS
HOW TO MAKE VEGAN SAAG ALOO
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate links are marked with *.
Naan, meaning bread in Persian, is a type of flatbread that traditionally would be cooked in a tandoor, or clay oven. Here in the UK we think of it as an Indian bread. However, it’s common across much of central and southern Asia.
Most naan breads contain some form of dairy - usually butter, ghee or yoghurt - meaning that they're not suitable for vegans.
My version is made with dairy free yoghurt making these tasty naans 100% vegan friendly.
How to cook naan breads
Traditional naan breads would be made in a tandoor, which is a clay oven. The temperature in a tandoor can be extremely hot. Unfortunately it’s hard to replicate this in domestic cooking conditions.
I tried several methods of cooking these vegan naans before publishing the recipe. I was happiest with the ones that I dry-fried on a frying pan.
However, I’ve also included a method to oven-bake them. This method is more convenient because you can cook several at once (or all of them if you have enough baking trays).
How difficult are vegan naan breads to make?
Vegan naan are no more difficult to make than any other kind of flatbread.
If you have a stand mixer with a dough hook you can save yourself the trouble of kneading your dough and let the machine do it for you.
You’ll also need to make sure you leave enough time as your dough will need at least 90 minutes, possibly a little longer, to rise.
What ingredients do you need?
For full ingredients list, quantities and instructions see the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Plain flour
- Instant yeast
- Caster sugar
- Fine sea salt
- Pain vegan yoghurt eg soya or coconut
- Warm water
- Sunflower oil
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Fresh coriander
- Nigella (black onion) seeds
Do you need any special equipment to make vegan naan breads?
You will need a mixing bowl* or a stand mixer with a dough hook* to make your dough.
If you’re planning to dry fry your naan breads you’ll need a frying pan* or a tawa* (chapatti pan). I love my tawa and I use it all the time for making flatbreads and chapatis. Incidentally it also makes excellent crepes.
What to serve with vegan naan breads
Naan breads go well with pretty much every Indian-style curry. Here are some of my favourites:
- Tomato curry
- Carrot curry
- Chickpea and spinach curry
- Indian-spiced root vegetable curry
- Aloo gobi
- Red lentil dhal with aubergine and chickpea
- Sweet potato and beetroot curry
More vegan bread recipes you might like
How to make vegan naan bread
If you have made this recipe and loved it please consider leaving a comment and rating below.
Vegan naan bread
Ingredients
- 400 g plain flour
- 7 g sachet instant yeast
- 1.5 tsp caster sugar
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- 150 g plain vegan yoghurt eg soya or coconut
- 150 ml warm water
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
For the garlic oil (optional)
- 50 ml olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
To serve
- Fresh coriander chopped
- Nigella black onion seeds
Instructions
- Place 400g plain flour into a mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add 7g instant yeast, 1.5 tsp caster sugar and 1 tsp fine sea salt. Mix together until well combined.
- Add 150g vegan yoghurt, 150ml warm water and 2 tbsp sunflower oil. Mix together.
- Knead using your machine or by hand for five minutes.
- Transfer to a clean, lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a damp towel and leave in a warm place for 90 minutes-2 hours until doubled in size.
- When doubled in size divide into 8 balls and leave to rest on a lightly floured surface for 20 minutes.
To make the garlic oil
- Measure 50ml olive oil into a small bowl. Add 2 cloves crushed garlic and mix well. Set aside.
To oven bake*
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan)/200°C/gas mark 6.
- Lightly grease a non-stick baking tray or line with baking paper.
- Roll out your dough into large oval shapes and place on the prepared baking tray.
- Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes until turning golden brown.
- Brush with garlic oil and sprinkle over some nigella seeds and finely chopped coriander before serving.
To cook in a pan
- Preheat a large frying pan - I use a chapati pan (tawa).
- Roll out your dough into large oval shapes.
- Place on the preheated pan and bake for 1-2 minutes until bubbles start to appear.
- Remove from the pan and brush the top with garlic oil. Sprinkle with finely chopped coriander and nigella seeds before serving.
- Repeat with the other balls of dough.
- Cover with a clean tea towel before serving to avoid them drying out.
Notes
Nutrition
HAVE YOU TRIED THIS RECIPE?
If you loved this recipe why not let me know by leaving a rating and comment below? Alternatively you can let me know on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.
FREE GUIDE TO ESSENTIAL VEGAN INGREDIENTS
Subscribe to get recipes and news straight to your inbox plus get my FREE guide to essential vegan ingredients.
*Disclaimer: this is an affiliate link meaning that if you buy something after clicking on it I’ll receive a small commission, which I will probably spend on buying more ingredients for recipes! The price to you remains the same. Thanks for supporting Cook Veggielicious. Read my full disclosure.
Leave a Reply