Post by MarkDoes anyone know how to make authentic tasting Bangladeshi/Indian naan
bread? I have tried loads of recipes but they all turn out like naan
shaped english bread.
It depends what you mean by "authentic"! :)
If you are looking for a recipe to mimick the best naan's from UK Indian
restaurants, then I can help you.
320g Water
1 Egg
200g Milk
2g Nigella (Kalonji/Onion) seeds
100g caster sugar
1kg Self Raising Flour
8g Baking powder
- Mix all the ingredient together bar the SR flour and the baking powder,
stirring until the sugar is disolved.
- Add wet mixture to the flour, preferably in a mixer, and bring together
until a soft dough is formed. (Aim for soft and tacky).
- Ball the dough and place in a bowl, with cling pressed down over the bowl
to make more or less airtight. Leave on worktop for 3-6 hours.
- Give dough a knead, then fridge overnight.
At this point you are ready to go...you can either portion ready for using
and let come to room temp under cling, or as I often do, just go for it
straight from the fridge.
You are looking to pull a tangerine sized ball from the dough and roll it
out as thin as you can reasonably get it on a floured board with a floured
rolling pin.
Preheat a tava or, as I use, a heavy aluminium/cast iron frying pan. Also
preheat the grill, if you have a good overhead one.
(The best way I have found to transfer the dough is to form a tea towel
bundle as you often see in restaurants, as seen bottom right here:
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)
Brush the top of the rolled out dough lightly with oil all over, then place
the naan oil side down on the tea towel bundle, stretching to make a
teardrop shape if desired. (I just go with round for ease!). With fingers
wetted from the tap, rub the bottom of the naan all over to lightly dampen.
Now slap the naan onto the hot tava/pan and continue to cook on the ring for
20 secs. *Immediately place under the preheated grill, at which point it
will start to puff and slowly brown and char in the recognised way. Careful
not to overdo it, it cooks quite quickly and doesn't need to be charred all
over....a nice mottling over the center area is usually enough.
Lift our your naan and lightly brush butter or ghee on the top surface.
Serve hot with your favourtie Ruby!
*If you don't possess or would rather avoid the grill, you can mimick this
step by inverting the pan over the full-power cooker ring and make circular
motions until ready.