Quick and Easy Naan Bread Recipe (Yeast Free)
Easy yeast free naan bread will take you no more than 15 minutes from prep to cook. This delicious naan is perfect if you’re out of yeast! This recipe will be become your fakeaway favourite in no time.
Easy Yeast-Free Naan Breads
This naan bread without yeast will literally become THE EASIEST bread recipe you’ll ever make. It doesn’t take much time at all! Made with simple ingredients, they’re crisp on the outside and soft on the inside and are great for soaking up the juices from a curry, such as our popular Quick Beef Caribbean Curry or delicious African Peanut Chicken Stew. A bit similar to Indian flatbread.
The great thing about this naan bread recipe is the fact that it uses no yeast at all (as I’m sure you can gather from the title..). The trick with this recipe is the use of baking powder to give a tiny rise but not too much that they end up looking like mountains (this has never happened!!)
But what is naan bread? Traditional naan bread usually contains yeast as well as flour, salt and water. It’s a leavened bread due to the yeast making it rise. My easy naan recipe will come in handy on those days when you’re out of yeast!
Save your pennies!
If you’re trying to save the pennies, I’d recommend giving this homemade naan bread ago on takeaway night instead of paying that extra £2 for a naan! And yours will taste better too, trust us. Your naan will be fresh and HOT (temperature, not spicy – don’t worry!) Perfect for melting butter on…or go a step further with garlic butter…oh this is making us hungry…
Why should I make this naan bread without yeast?
- Takes no more than 15 minutes from prep time to cook time!
- A great recipe for saving money on a Saturday night takeaway
- The perfect accompaniment to a curry, great for dipping
- Eat yeast-free naan breads for lunch too. They go well with hummus!
- Got no yeast? This recipe is the one for you!
Timings
Prep Time
5 mins
Cooktime
5 mins
Total time
10 mins
Servings
4
Ingredients needed:
You really don’t need a lot of ingredients to make this naan bread without yeast. Only four:
- White bread flour – to help give the naan breads structure and a small rise.
- Greek yoghurt – to give the naan breads a lovely, tangy flavour. The yoghurt also helps to combine the ingredients together.
- Baking powder – to further help the naan breads rise and to replace the yeast.
- Salt – for a bit of seasoning! This is optional though.
Tip: Feel free to experiment by adding extra ingredients such a raisins for a fruity naan bread, or brushing on garlic butter for the ultimate comfort food.
Easy Naan Bread recipe step-by-step
How to make a naan bread without yeast (in detail)
For more help, see video below for a visual demonstration on how to make this easy naan bread.
Step 1 – Make the dough: Pour the bread flour, baking powder, greek yogurt and salt into a large bowl. Mix together with a d-scraper or a spoon until a ball of dough is forming. Don’t worry if it’s not all together completely.
Step 2 – Rolling & shaping: Flour your surface and tip the dough out of the mixing bowl. Using your hands, knead the dough until it’s soft and smooth. If it’s too sticky, add a bit more flour to the surface. Cut the dough ball into four equal parts and roll each mini ball into the shape of a naan.
Step 3 – Spray some oil into a cast iron skillet (or 1/4 tsp of olive oil) and set to a medium-high high. And now for the best part: Fry each piece of naan dough in the hot skillet until they are brown on each side and puffed up slightly (see photo above).
Equipment needed:
Frying pan – we used a cast-iron one as they tend to heat up quicker and give a much nicer flavour!
Large bowl
Spatula for flipping the naan breads.
Measuring spoons.
D-scraper for forming the dough.
Rolling pin for rolling into naan breads.
What goes well with naan bread?
Naan bread is the perfect side dish to so many things: stews, casseroles, soups and chilis; it’s definitely not just reserved for curries! This easy naan bread recipe is perfect for dipping or becoming a little sandwich for your curry leftovers (just the way we like it here at Jess Eats!)
Naan bread tip:
Another way to improve on your naan bread is to add some cheese and melt it under the grill – you’ve got yourself a cheese naan! Add some marmite for an extra tang. You can thank me later! You could also add some garlic butter to make it a garlic naan.
Fancy something a bit simpler? Melted butter. Enough said!
Frequently-asked questions
Can I make a gluten-free version of this recipe?
Yes certainly you can. To make a gluten-free naan bread, we recommend using Doves Farm gluten-free white bread flour. You can follow the recipe below in the exact same way.
Can I make this a vegan naan?
It can be if you use a dairy-free yoghurt like this Alpro greek style plain yoghurt. Follow the recipe below in the exact same way.
Is naan bread healthy?
Yes! Naan bread is certainly healthy, especially if you fry with a low-calorie oil and serve it with something like my African Peanut Sweet Potato Stew.
What can I use instead of yoghurt?
If you need an alternative to yoghurt for your naan bread, you could try sour cream or buttermilk. Both would work in the same way but will change the flavour ever so slightly – a bit tangier but nice all the same.
How can I store my naan bread?
You can store any leftover naan breads in a tight-lidded container in a cool, dry place. They’ll keep for a day.
Can I freeze my naan bread dough?
Yes! Make a double-batch of this dough and freeze the pieces to use at a later date. The best way is to freeze the pieces of dough on a baking tray and then when frozen, put in a freezer bag. You can then take out a piece at a time and make as many naan breads as you need!
You can also freeze the naan breads once cooked. Wrap them tightly in cling film and they’ll freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw well before re-heating (see below).
How do I reheat my naan bread?
If you’re eating naan breads made the day before, the best way to eat them again is to reheat. You can reheat naan breads in a hot oven for a few minutes (sprinkle with a little water to refresh). You could also fry them in a pan for a couple of minutes each side.
How to make naan bread video!
Easy Naan Bread Without Yeast
Ingredients
- 200 g white bread flour
- 200 g greek yoghurt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Salt for seasoning
- 1/4 tsp olive oil
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix together using a d-scraper to form a rough ball.
- Tip out onto a floured surface and knead slightly to form a soft ball of dough.
- Cut into 4 equal pieces and roll them flat to about 1/2 inch thickness.
- Heat a frying pan until hot with a tiny bit of olive oil (or spray oil) and fry each piece of bread until brown on each side (flip them), and they puff slightly. This takes a few minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
More Bread Recipes Without Yeast: –
- Soft Chapati Bread for another fakeaway night!
- Australian Damper Bread is perfect served with lashings of butter.
- A traditional Caribbean roll served at breakfast time or with salty cheese at lunchtime: Johnny cakes.
