Naan Bread - Attempt #1

Now that I know that I CAN make bread, one of my goals this year is to make different types/varieties. One that I really wanted to make, for instance, was Naan. Although authentic Naan is typically made in a special clay oven there are many recipes that use an oven, a frying pan, or a griddle instead. I figured that since I had never tried 'real' Naan before then I probably wouldn't know the difference anyways.

Homemade Naan
(recipe adapted from Bernard Clayton's New Complete Book of Breads)

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 cup finely chopped onions
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 to 2 cups flour

In a skillet set over medium-heat melt 1 tbsp butter. Add the onions, reduce heat to low, and cook until the onions have softened. Place them in a bowl and cool to room temperature.

Melt the remaining butter in the skillet and pour into a mixing bowl. Add the warm water, onions, salt, and flour (1/2 cup at a time). Work the dough into a ball by hand or in a mixer.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead the dough until the dough is slightly firm, 1 to 2 minutes.

Divide the dough into 8 pieces and roll each into a ball. Let them rest for 3 minutes.

Roll each ball into an 8" round about 1/2 inch thick. (**I think I rolled mine too thin...)

Using an ungreased pan or griddle, place the dough on high heat (I had my griddle set to 400F). Brown each side for 3-4 minutes. Place the breads on a rack to dry as you remove them from the heat.

This recipe worked out allright... The breads tasted really, really good. However, they turned out more like flatbread I think. They weren't puffy like they should have been.

I'm going to do some more research and see if I can find a better recipe.

Until then, I'm going to enjoy my naan/flatbreads.

For dinner, we had the naan bread with a hot black bean dip, a side of raw carrots, and chicken wings with blue cheese dip. Delicious!!

As you can see, not all recipe attempts turn out right the first time. The trick is make adjustments and to try again.

As a food blogger I don't try and portray myself as the perfect cook (or photographer, or writer for that matter). My blog is simply a story; a story about my obsession with food and about my journey as someone in Southwestern Ontario enjoying new recipes, using seasonal ingredients, visiting farms, and guiding people who want to do the same. Sure, not all of my recipes work out, but that's real life, isn't it?

I'll be back soon with another attempt at another Naan bread; hopefully a nice puffy one!