Indian Culture

Naan

Naan is a flatbread, usually leavened with yeast and traditionally baked in a tandoor.1,2,3 The yeast forms air pockets that make it fluffy and soft.1

Also known as Naan bread

Naan is a flatbread especially associated with Indian cuisine; unlike roti, its dough is leavened, usually with yeast.1,2,4,5 The dough is rolled flat and pressed against the inner wall of a tandoor, a clay oven that can reach 480 °C, where it bakes in a few minutes.1 The dough usually contains wheat flour, water, salt, ghee and yogurt, and the baked naan is brushed with ghee or butter.1,3 Well-known kinds include garlic naan and the sweet Peshawari naan with coconut, raisins and nuts.1

What is naan made of?

White or wheat flour with a leavening agent, usually yeast, plus warm water, salt, ghee and yogurt. Some recipes add milk, egg or honey, or use baking powder instead of yeast.1

What is so special about naan bread?

It bakes in just a few minutes against the inner wall of a tandoor, which can reach 480 °C. The yeast gives it air pockets, the heat its golden-brown spots.1

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Sources

  1. Murtoff, J. (2023). naan. In Encyclopaedia Britannica.
  2. Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). naan. In Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  3. Tan, A. (2017). Get to Know These 7 Types of Indian Bread. MICHELIN Guide. Michelin.
  4. Cambridge University Press. (n.d.). nan. In Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  5. Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). roti. In Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Retrieved October 6, 2026.

Cite this entry

MLA

“Naan.” Indian Culture Glossary, Indian Culture, https://www.indian-culture.de/en/glossar/naan.

Chicago

Indian Culture Glossary, s.v. “Naan,” https://www.indian-culture.de/en/glossar/naan.

APA

Indian Culture. (n.d.). Naan. In Indian Culture glossary. https://www.indian-culture.de/en/glossar/naan