whole wheat naan recipe | whole wheat naan using instant yeast | whole wheat naan on tava |

whole wheat naan recipe | whole wheat naan on tava | whole wheat naan using instant dry yeast | healthy whole wheat naan | with 35 amazing images.

whole wheat naan is a delightfully soft and fluffy healthy Indian flatbread traditionally cooked in a tandoor oven. This whole wheat naan recipe skips the tandoor and uses a tava and open flame for a delicious homemade version.

To make whole wheat naan, combine the yeast, sugar and 1/4 cup of lukewarm water in a bowl and mix well. Cover it with a lid and keep aside for 10 minutes. Combine the whole wheat flour, salt and yeast-sugar mixture in a deep bowl, mix well and knead into a soft dough, gradually adding enough warm water. Cover the dough with a wet muslin cloth and keep aside for 20 minutes. Knead the dough lightly to remove the air. Divide the dough into 6 equal portions and roll out each portion of the dough into an oblong of 125 mm. (5") using a little whole wheat flour for rolling. Heat a non-stick tava (griddle) and place the naan over it. Cook it on one side till it puffs slightly and then turn it over. Cook it on the other side till it puffs a little and then roast it on an open high flame till golden brown spots appear on both the sides.
Brush each naan with ½ tsp melted butter. Serve whole wheat naan immediately.

For a healthier naan option, choose whole wheat naan – it's a nutritious upgrade compared to butter naan with plain flour.

Main ingredients for whole wheat naan.

To make the yeast sugar mixture for whole wheat naan recipe | garlic naan | in a bowl put 1 tsp instant dry yeast. Instant dry yeast is less susceptible to temperature variations and has a longer shelf life than active dry yeast. This consistency makes it easier to achieve reliable fermentation, especially when using whole wheat flour, which can sometimes be unpredictable due to its higher fibre content.
In a bowl put 1 cup whole wheat flour (gehun ka atta). Whole wheat flour has a naturally nutty and slightly earthy taste that adds depth and complexity to the naan, different from the neutral flavor of maida. Naan made with whole wheat flour tends to be chewier and denser compared to the softer texture of traditional naan. This chewier texture can be appealing to some, offering a more satisfying bite. Whole wheat flour is excellent for diabetics as they will not shoot up your blood sugar levels as they are a low GI food.

Pro tips for whole wheat naan. 1. Add 1 tsp sugar. Sugar has multiple roles in naan making. One being it acts as a food for yeast and helps in creating carbon dioxide and alcohol. Sugar also enhances the flavour of the Indian bread. 2. Gradually add enough warm water to make a soft dough. We added 1/4 cup warm water plus 2 tablespoons of water. Warm water activates the gluten in the whole wheat flour, allowing it to form strong, elastic gluten strands. These strands trap air bubbles during kneading and fermentation, resulting in a light and fluffy naan. Cold water wouldn't activate gluten as effectively, leading to a denser, tougher bread. 3. Knead into a soft dough. Unlike maida, whole wheat flour has less gluten, a protein that provides elasticity and structure. This makes whole wheat dough stiffer and less elastic than all-purpose dough. A soft dough ensures enough gluten development to stretch the dough thinly without tearing, which is essential for the characteristic puffy shape of naan. A soft dough allows for even distribution of heat within the naan during cooking. This prevents uneven charring or undercooked areas, ensuring proper cooking throughout. 4. Cover the dough with a wet muslin cloth and keep aside for 20 minutes. Whole wheat flour absorbs more water than refined flour, and the wet cloth helps ensure the dough remains moist throughout the resting period. This prevents it from drying out and becoming crumbly or difficult to work with.

See our step by step recipe on how to make whole wheat garlic naan from whole wheat naan.

whole wheat naan is best served with dal makhani, dal fry or dal tadka.

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