Get into the Holiday Spirit with this gorgeous, and quite healthy appetizer. Make ahead, and heat with colorful toppings before serving. Naan dough is quite easy to make and roll – have fun with it!
Naan Bread is simple to make at home ~ Yogurt enriches partial whole grain dough which comes together in minutes. Step by step directions for a crispy exterior and a soft chew inside – a bread base for all of your creative toppings.
Even a beginner can be successful! The dough, after it has risen is light as a pillow – and so entrancing to work with. I am using part whole grain pastry flour in the dough to add a healthier profile and whole-grain taste. The dough is stirred up with a fork in a bowl, then kneaded a few minutes until smooth and elastic.
Making dough at home by hand is addictive! And – quite simple. The whole process I find quite relaxing and therapeutic. As you lay the dough to rest in a bowl, covered, it will gradually expand – and develop it’s flavor, texture and structure. This naan dough contains yogurt (lactose-free yogurt available at health food stores) which keeps the dough moist with a chewy texture inside. The dough is then portioned into 6 pieces, shaped into discs, and rolled into oblong free-form shapes.
Different from pizza doughs, and one I am playing with in different applications. In Indian Cuisine, these flat-breads are baked in a Tandoor oven in intense heat. We can achieve a pretty nice balance in a heated cast iron skillet. Some I know use a pizza stone in the oven. This method uses a cast iron skillet to “blacken” the dough – this gives it a distinct flavor before topping. The dough will “bubble-up” (gorgeous!), cook on both sides in the skillet, then simple add to a baking pan with colorful toppings in stripes. Make ahead to this point, and bake in the oven when you company is good and hungry.
The perfect, healthy & creative Naan Pizza for the Holidays – Christmas & New Year’s Eve. Continue to make these pizzas all year round, with toppings of your choice, and be creative!
Happy Holidays!
Karen