Is Naan Vegan in UK?
For all the folks out there sitting in an Indian restaurant in the UK, wondering is naan vegan? No, naan is not vegan. Now that we got that out of the way, let’s discuss why it’s not vegan and how can you make vegan naan.
Naan is a flatbread that is usually served with Indian food like chicken karahi, mutton curry, butter chicken, and anything with gravy. It’s mostly served dry, but some restaurants also make additions to the dough with garlic and spices.
This Indian flatbread is very popular in the UK. It is fluffy with a pillowy yet chewy texture. It melts in your mouth and is a perfect bread for scooping up curries and soups. However, Indian restaurants in the UK don’t have many vegan options, so finding vegan naan is not easy.
What is Naan Made of?
If you looked at the ingredients of naan, you would know why it’s not vegan. Naan is made of the following:
- Flour
- Salt
- Olive Oil
- Water
- Yeast
- Yogurt
- Milk
- Butter
Naan is not suitable for vegetarians because it contains yogurt, butter, milk, and even egg in some recipes. Most naan that is available in restaurants and supermarkets contains dairy products.
While there are vegan naan options available in restaurants and supermarkets in the UK, they don’t taste good at all, and some even taste like pita bread. It’s not comparable to freshly made crispy naan.
Thankfully there are plenty of vegan naan recipes available online, and I have developed my own with a few tweaks that make delicious naan just like the ones you can enjoy at your local Indian restaurants.
How to Make Vegan Naan in the UK
This Indian-style vegan naan recipe will help you make soft naan with a crispy texture that is surely going to melt in your mouth.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 tsp active yeast
- 2 tsp sugar
- 160 ml water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp oil
- 3 tbsp vegan butter
- 3-4 garlic cloves
- 3-4 tbsp chopped cilantro
Instructions
- In a small bowl, add water, sugar, and yeast. Whisk everything until dissolved. Rest it for 15 minutes to activate the yeast.
- Take a large mixing bowl, and add flour, salt, and baking powder.
- Add the yeast mixture to dry ingredients with 1 tbsp oil. Knead the dough for 5-8 minutes or until it no longer sticks to the fingers.
- Oil a large bowl, and rest the dough in it for 1-2 hours until the dough rises and doubles in size.
- Once your dough has risen, knead it to release extra air. Divide the dough into 8 sections, and make small balls.
- Take a small bowl, add garlic, cilantro, and butter Keep it with you near the stove.
- Heat a skillet pan on high flame for at least 5 minutes.
- Use a rolling pin to roll the dough balls until flat. Add a bit of butter and garlic mixture and keep rolling the dough.
- Once it has reached the desired shape, dampen your hands with water and pick up the naan. Carefully place it on the pan.
- Once you have the bubbles forming on top, flip it. Now, cover the pan with a lid and cook for 30-40 seconds.
- Cooked naan will have charred parts, and will be crispy from the outside, while still having fluffy parts.
- Transfer the naan to the plate, and brush with garlic butter. Serve hot.
Chef Notes
- To check if the pan is hot and ready, add a drop of water to the pan, and if it sizzles, it means it’s ready.
- If your skillet has leftover naan stuck to the pan, make sure to clean it before making the next one.
- Store left-over naan in an air-tight bag in the fridge for 2-3 days. You can even freeze it for up to 2 months.
- Make sure to cover dough balls with a clean kitchen towel, otherwise, the dough will get dry while you are making naan.
- If you feel like the naan is charring quickly, while the insides remain raw, lower the heat.
- When you are kneading the dough, oil your hands several times as it will bring the dough together and your naan will be more fluffy and soft.
- When you are kneading the dough on the kitchen counter, it will initially stick to the counter making a mess. However, don’t get tempted to add more flour to avoid stickiness as it will result in dry naan. Keep kneading and it will come together.
- Make sure the water you add to the yeast is between 37C to 43C as it will help activate the yeast.
What to serve with naan
You can serve naan with any curry or soup. It even goes great with grilled chicken and BBQ. Basically, any dish you serve bread with goes great with naan. Here are some things you can serve with naan:
- Red lentil curry
- Palak Paneer
- Smoked chicken
- Tofu chicken
- Thai red curry
- Daal
- Chana masala
- Haleem
- Smoked turkey wings
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 1 Naan
| Calories: 170kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g |
| Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g |
| Sodium: 180mg | Sugar: 1g |
Conclusion
Vegan naan is a delicious and plant-based alternative to traditional naan bread. Naan is traditionally not vegan in the UK, but you can make it at home yourself. Enjoy your homemade vegan naan bread! It’s perfect for dipping, scooping up curries, or using as a sandwich wrap.
