Easy Vegan Naan

Homemade vegan naan is better than any store-bought flatbread! This soft pliable bread is irresistible with dips, curries, soups, and more! The dough easily freezes so fresh vegan naan can be enjoyed anytime!

Although vegan naan is mostly enjoyed at restaurants or prepackaged from the store, it can easily be made at home.  And trust me, fresh homemade naan is definitely better!  

Plus it’s freezable!  So there is no fuss if you're making it for 1 or a whole family.  Simply pop the leftovers in the freezer until you're ready to enjoy more naan.

How to make easy vegan naan

• In a large bowl, mix together the warm water, sugar, and yeast.
• Allow the yeast to foam and activate. This should take 5-10 minutes.

• Once activated, mix in the yogurt, oil, salt, garlic, and parsley, if using.
• Then add 2 and 1/2 cups of flour.

• Mix until the dough comes together.
• Using the last cup of flour, knead the dough adding flour to your hands and dough as needed.

• Shape the kneaded dough into a soft, slightly sticky ball. Brush the bowl and dough ball with oil.
• Cover and set aside to rise and double in size.

• After rising, remove the dough from the bowl and divide into 8 equal portions.

• Roll one of the sections of dough into an oval about 1/4-inch thick.

• Place the dough in a hot dry (no added oil) cast-iron skillet. Cook until bubbles begin to form on top.  You can also cook the naan in a non-stick skillet, but since it will cook slower, I suggest coving the pan with a lid while the naan cooks.
• Flip and cook on the other side until the bubbles are browned/blackened (depending on your preference). Repeat until all the dough is cooked.

To Serve

Naan is typically served alongside a curry dish.  However, I am NOT a fan of curry, which is why you won't find any curry dishes here, but that doesn't mean I don't like naan.  I guess I just like to enjoy it in more creative ways.

I love soft naan slathered with hummus and avocado slices for a quick snack.  Or topped with chickpea salad, and sweet relish for an easy vegan lunch.  It's also an amazing appetizer paired with my spinach artichoke dip. 

And recently, I found out naan makes a great pizza crust! Just add marinara sauce and your choice of toppings for an individual pizza!

Don’t have yogurt?

Traditional Indian naan is made with yogurt which is why I used non-dairy yogurt in this recipe. I wanted to keep the ingredients authentic but in a vegan way.

If non-dairy yogurt is unavailable in your area, or you don’t have any on hand AND you really want soft fresh naan, I’ve got you covered! Simply omit the yogurt and water and replace them with non-dairy milk.

Follow these simple steps to replace the yogurt and water

1. Replace the water and yogurt with 1 and 1/4 cups warm non-dairy milk, divided.
2. To replicate the “tang” of yogurt separate 1/2 cup of the non-dairy milk and add 1 Tablespoon lemon juice. Let sit for 3-5 minutes.
3. Add the remaining 3/4 cup of warm milk to a large bowl and mix in the yeast and sugar. Set aside to activate the yeast.
4. Then proceed with the remaining steps in the instructions.

Tips for working with the dough

Tip 1: Don’t add too much flour. When working with dough this is very important to remember. Adding too much flour will lead to dense tough naan. The dough consistency should be slightly sticky, but smooth and still hold a ball shape.

Tip 2: Altitude and humidity play a big part in dough making. If your environment is dry the dough will be drier. Therefore 3 cups of flour may be all that is needed. However, if the humidity is high the dough will stay moist. Knead in just enough flour to form a slightly sticky dough ball.

How to freeze the dough

I love having warm vegan naan bread on hand which is why I created this recipe to make up to 8 flatbreads. But sometimes it can be too much and I'll freeze a portion of the dough or any leftover naan.

To freeze the dough: divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Place the dough to be frozen spaced out on a baking sheet, lined with parchment paper. Freeze for at least 2 hours before transferring to an airtight zipper bag or container. Keeps for up to 2 months in the freezer.

To thaw the dough: bring the frozen naan dough to room temperature on the counter, about 2-3 hours. Proceed with the cooking instructions below.

To freeze the cooked naan: Lay the naan single layer on a baking sheet or equivalent.  Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 1-2 hours.  Transfer the frozen naan to a freezer-safe bag or container.    Reheat in the oven or on a pan.  No need to thaw first.

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