4 February 2010

Nan On Tawa or Tawa Naan Recipe - Step by Step

Naan or Nan is TH's favourite bread. That and palak paneer are his absolute favourite dishes to order in a restaurant. I recently got the book Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day from the library and got totally smitten by it.  I don't have most of the stuff that they have mentioned as requirements, like pizza peel and oven thermometer and baking stone and even a proper oven to do broiler method of baking in but this, this Tawa Nan I could try.

The dough is the master Boule recipe mentioned in Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day. I halved the recipe since I only wanted to use it for Nan the first time around. 

Here's what we need first - 3/4 tbsp of active dry yeast. Please make sure that its fresh and not past the expiration date. Why do I mention this explicitly? Err... no particular reason. Let's move on. 


Throw the yeast in a bowl with 1.5 cups of lukewarm water. I warmed my water in the microwave for a minute on medium-high powder. The recipe says no need to dissolve the yeast or anything but I secretly made sure it is dissolved. You see, nothing wrong in being extra careful. 

Yes, I check atleast twice if the front door is locked before I go to bed. Why do you ask?

Btw, the below picture is not pretty. 


Told ya! Just add 3 and 1/4 cups of all purpose flour and a generous pinch of salt to it and the prettiness factor increases exponentially. 

See? 


Ok, now bring the mixture together with your fingers. No need to knead. Heh. You'll be left with a sticky mass of dough. Just leave it covered somewhere for about 20-30 mins. 


I left it alone for around 20 minutes and it almost doubled. The recipe says not to worry about doubling, etc so I didn't. I always listen to what cookbooks say. Ok, almost always. 


The dough will be sticky and very elastic. Dig your hand in some flour and tear off a peach-sized piece. 


Lay it on a floured surface (my 'surface' is this). 


With the use of your hands and/ or your rolling pin, stretch out the dough till you form a nan shaped... err.. thing. Mine is square cuz TH wanted square naans. What? You don't believe me? Its true!


Heat a skillet on high heat, brush on some ghee or oil, lower the heat to medium and lay the nan on carefully. 


Flip over in about 2 mins when the first side starts browning. 


Cook closed for 30 seconds to a minute now, depending on the thickness of your nan, which shouldn't be too much, btw. 


That's it! Yummy, spongy, soft nans are now ready. 


The texture and taste was awesome and we loved it. Just make sure to have it when still hot otherwise the nan may turn a bit rubbery. That's to be expected right, even the ones baked in tandoors that we get in restaurants turn all hard on us if we don't eat it immediately. 


Reminds me of pizza base. Ahh.. pizza base from scratch! That's what I am making next. 

Here's the recipe, all in one place. 

Tawa Naan / Nan Recipe

What I Used:

2.5 cups lukewarm water
3/4 tbsp yeast
3 and 1/4 cups of all purpose flour
A generous pinch of salt

How I Made It:

1. Dissolve the yeast in the water. Add in salt and the flour, incorporate well until a sticky dough is formed. No kneading necessary. 

2. Set aside covered for 20-30 mins. 

3. Tear or cut off with a serrated knife peach-sized amounts and transfer to a floured surface. Shape into oblong nans with help of rolling pin if necessary. Make sure there are no holes in the nan once you are done rolling it out. 

4. Heat a skillet on high heat, brush on some ghee or oil, lower the heat to medium and lay the nan on carefully.

5. Flip over in about 2 mins when the first side starts browning. 

6. Cook closed for 30 seconds to a minute now, depending on the thickness of your nan. 

Serve HOT. 

49 Comments:

Sharmila said...

I htought naan making was a pain ... eggs, sour curd, left overnight ... and what not!
Too good Nags! Way too good. :-)

Prathibha said...

Recently made this....
looks gr8...loved d last pic...

Anonymous said...

Hi Nags, this is really easy..have to try it, all purpose flour is maida, isn't it? I really wish there was a way to make tandoor roti at home, at least that is wheat, and I wouldn't feel guilty about eating maida. Thanks for this recipe, nothing beats a tasty naan made at home:-)~shreya

indosungod said...

This is so perfect and the step by step very very helpful. And Nags are you using your white photo table for rolling them naans? ;) I got to get one, multi purpose as they are.

Vrinda said...

My hubby made this last week,easy and yummm

Asha said...

I have HUGE wooden Pizza peeler, it's God send, love making Pizza on Pizza stone too. Great recipe to do on Tava, quick and easy. Looks good. If you add a lit bit less water to the dough, you can make a round and then pull one side to make a tear shape which makes a perfect Naan.
Great post, always helps to see the step by step pics.

nadia said...

Thank you so much for posting the step by step pictures (and I'm so happy they're not from Flikr because that's banned here in the UAE).

I think I'll make mine square too :)

Latha said...

Naan is my son's favorite. I always like your step-by-step recipies. The Naan looks soft and delicious.

Manasi said...

I love naan.. plain, butter, sprinkled with kalonji /sesame/ garlic/ cilantro.. u get the idea! :)
Soft naan and a paneer makhanvala...ummmmmm!

Laavanya said...

Naan looks very soft and fluffy and no worrying abt fancy gadgets - cool!

Swathi said...

Nan i will try with recipe

A Homemakers Diary said...

thanks a ton for this. we simply adore naan but always thought thats gonna be difficult. you made things easy. bookmarked and will make soon once I resolve the problem of getting some good yeast here.

? said...

Thanks for posting this easy recipe!

Vaishali Sharma said...

Very nice! Looks awesome and easy! I should try it soon.

Indhu said...

woww.. nice one... I always thought naan was something too difficult.. your recipe gives me the confidence to try!

Mriganayani said...

Ok...all the pictures are great, but the last one where you tempt us with that melted butter is just awesome. And I'm tempted beyond any limits..I'm wishing now that all we bloggers lived next to each other and would call each other to their homes while making stuff like this! Until then...lucky your TH!

Divya Vikram said...

That sounds very simple! Am sure making it!

Cosmic Cook said...

Thank you so much. My MIL does one side on the thava and the other side in the grill, and it blows up nicely. Might be worth trying!

Nags said...

Shreya, yes, all purpose flour is same as maida.

Asha, I thought the same thing! I felt it was a bit too watery, probably great dough for artisan bread but maybe if we lessen it, the dough will be easier to work with and also, the nan won't dry out so quickly after its made too.

Home Cooked Oriya Food said...

looks yum... I have tried it earlier too. turns out awesome...

Anupama said...

This is a very good idea. I'm going to try this one and also pass it on to a friend of mine who always makes naan in the oven and gets hurt.

Mahimaa's kitchen said...

yummy!! I love nans too. the last pic makes me drool.

Anonymous said...

I am anyday Tandoori roti person. But those pluffy naans MIGHT convert me :) I am wondering what you served them with?palak paneer?
Hb(too lazy to login :D)

Chitra said...

You have an awesome blog and you take so much of effort to make it all easy for us. Thanks and do keep posting :)

Nags said...

Thanks Chitra. That's very sweet of you :)

Baljeet Sidhu said...

You r so good with your explanations ...i just love it ....Great job ...this Naan ..is a must try Thanks a lot ..and keep up the good work !

shanthi said...

Fantastic naan with butter melting in it. Do visit my blog when time permits.http://shanthisthaligai.blogspot.com/

rekhas kitchen said...

Hi Nags realy a nice idea to make naan its my moms fav. but i don't have oven here will try this ... thanks for the idea.....

Nina said...

Looks great Nags.The best thing i like abt Naan is is that its very filling.I made some recently...its such a beautiful bread to make.So interesting too.I liked your step by step instructions...wud help readers:).Liked it alot:)

Anonymous said...

LOL@my TH asked for square naans. I believe you coz my kids and hubby always request for square chappatis too : Great job. I like your style.
Off now to make some us some naans.
Angela

Sharmilee! :) said...

Nan is my fav too....my regular order, sounds easy!

Soma said...

Nice post. I make this regularly, esp. when I have guests... in my double burner griddle where I can slap in 3 or 4 at a time.. takes less effort than roti:-)

radha said...

Thanks. This is a great recipe. Will try it soon.

jayasri said...

I have posted a Naan recipe, As my patience wears off, I do them on the tawa like you, I don't like plain naan, I used to always order Rotis, hubby dear always ordered butter naan, now I add garlic & butter, that is ok, now!, fell in love with your step by step creation.., They look very soft and good.., I used to have a chatti, stick the dough to it once it got cooked underneath I used to turn it upside down and cook, Non-stick doesn't work like that :(

RAKS KITCHEN said...

I make these occasionally,when some one visits...to show off them that I can make at home ;D But for our selves,I am too lazy to roll these... :)

Purnima said...

Nags, pictorial is of great help..naan on tava was heard of, but not seen..would like to try it in few days time! Tks for sharing n posting the technique!

simply.food said...

Lovely easy recipe.1st time here, nice collection of recipes you have.

kate said...

wow, look at that, I'm already drooling, great color, looks delicious

Miri said...

Thats amazing!!! you make it sound so simple, I just have to try this now!

Aparna said...

Hey Nags, just cooked Nans this weekend, following your recipe, they turned out to be awesome!
The step-by-step recipe helps a lot!!
Way to go!!

kate said...

wow, look at that, I'm already drooling, great color, looks delicious

shanthi said...

Fantastic naan with butter melting in it. Do visit my blog when time permits.http://shanthisthaligai.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

I am anyday Tandoori roti person. But those pluffy naans MIGHT convert me :) I am wondering what you served them with?palak paneer?
Hb(too lazy to login :D)

Cosmic Cook said...

Thank you so much. My MIL does one side on the thava and the other side in the grill, and it blows up nicely. Might be worth trying!

Indhu said...

woww.. nice one... I always thought naan was something too difficult.. your recipe gives me the confidence to try!

? said...

Thanks for posting this easy recipe!

Manasi said...

I love naan.. plain, butter, sprinkled with kalonji /sesame/ garlic/ cilantro.. u get the idea! :)
Soft naan and a paneer makhanvala...ummmmmm!

Asha said...

I have HUGE wooden Pizza peeler, it's God send, love making Pizza on Pizza stone too. Great recipe to do on Tava, quick and easy. Looks good. If you add a lit bit less water to the dough, you can make a round and then pull one side to make a tear shape which makes a perfect Naan.
Great post, always helps to see the step by step pics.

FoodZone said...

Wow....naan at home and that too on the tava. Can't wait to make it.

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