Air-Fryer Naan Bread: Is It Possible?

Naan bread is a soft, leavened flatbread that originated in South Asia, particularly India. It is typically made from flour, water, yeast, and various seasonings, and is known for its fluffy texture and slightly chewy or crispy crust. You can make naan bread in an air fryer in just a few simple steps. First, prepare the dough by combining dry ingredients such as flour, yeast, and salt, then add wet ingredients such as yogurt, milk, and olive oil. Knead the dough until it becomes soft and slightly sticky. Next, divide the dough into small pieces and roll them out into flat circles. Spray the air fryer with oil and place the naan inside, cooking for around 10 minutes on each side until golden brown. You can also reheat naan bread in the air fryer, and it will be ready to serve in just a few minutes.

How to make naan bread in an air fryer from scratch

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup of warm water
• 2 teaspoons of sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of active dry yeast
• 3/4 cup of plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons of minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
• 5 tablespoons of butter
• 2 teaspoons of parsley
• 3/4 cup of milk (1% or whole)
• 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
• Olive oil

Method:

First, make the dough. In a mixing bowl, stir the yeast, sugar, and water together. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes—you should see foam on the surface. Next, add the flour, milk, yogurt, garlic, oil, baking powder, and salt to the yeast mixture. Use a dough hook to mix everything together until a dough ball forms.

Remove the dough from the bowl and knead it for 3 minutes on a floured surface. Place the dough ball in an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and set it aside for 1 hour to let it double in size.

After an hour, remove the dough and divide it into 10 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and then flatten the balls on a floured surface so they fit the size of your air fryer basket. Place the flattened dough in the air fryer basket and spray with oil.

Cook the naan at 370 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 minutes, then flip and cook for a further 3 minutes. The naan is done when a brown char appears and bubbles form on the surface.

Finally, melt the butter and mix with the garlic and parsley. Brush this mixture onto the naan after cooking.

Tips:

• You can use salted or unsalted butter, and fresh or dried garlic and parsley, according to your preference.
• For a gluten-free option, use a gluten-free flour.
• You can freeze the naan in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Serving Suggestions:

Naan bread is a great side for soups and stews, and it's perfect for dipping. It also goes well with Indian dishes such as Chicken Tikka Masala, or any curry.

How to reheat naan bread in an air fryer

Air fryers are a great way to reheat naan bread, keeping it soft and fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer

Firstly, preheat your air fryer to 180°C or 360°F. This usually takes around 3 minutes, depending on your air fryer model. This step ensures that your naan bread is heated evenly.

Step 2: Prepare the Naan Bread

Take your naan bread and break it into multiple pieces so that they fit comfortably in the air fryer basket. If your naan bread is frozen, there is no need to defrost it first. Simply remove it from the packaging and proceed to the next step.

Step 3: Place the Naan Bread in the Air Fryer

Place the pieces of naan bread into the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't overlap too much. This will allow the hot air to circulate and cook the naan bread evenly.

Step 4: Cook the Naan Bread

Once the air fryer is preheated, place the basket with the naan bread inside and cook for 3-4 minutes. The cooking time may vary slightly depending on your air fryer and the thickness of the naan bread. Keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn't burn.

Step 5: Serve

After cooking, carefully remove the naan bread from the air fryer using tongs, as it will be hot. Serve it warm alongside your favourite Indian curry, soup, or any other dish of your choice. Enjoy the warm, crispy texture of your freshly reheated naan bread!

Tips:

• If you're reheating more than one piece of naan bread, you might need to do it in batches to ensure even cooking.
• You can also spritz the naan bread with a little water before air frying to help retain moisture and create a steam effect.
• For a glossy finish and extra flavour, brush the naan bread with melted butter or garlic butter after reheating.

How to cook frozen naan bread in an air fryer

Ingredients

• 1 package of frozen naan bread
• Butter or oil spray
• Garlic powder, Italian seasoning, or other herbs and spices (optional)

Method

• Take your frozen naan bread out of the freezer.
• Preheat your air fryer to 350°F-400°F.
• Spray your air fryer basket with oil or butter.
• Place the frozen naan bread into the air fryer.
• Cook for 3-6 minutes, flipping the naan halfway through.
• Remove the naan from the air fryer and brush with melted butter, if desired. You can also sprinkle on some garlic powder, Italian seasoning, or other herbs and spices for added flavour.
• Serve and enjoy!

Tips

• If you're cooking more than one naan, you may need to work in batches so as not to overcrowd the air fryer.
• Naan bread cooks quickly in an air fryer, so keep an eye on it to avoid overcooking.
• You can freeze any leftover naan bread in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

How to make garlic naan bread in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• Active dry yeast
• Warm water
• Sugar
• Plain Greek yoghurt
• Minced garlic
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Butter
• Parsley
• Milk
• Flour
• Vegetable oil
• Coriander or cilantro leaves

Method:

Firstly, you will need to activate the yeast. To do this, stir together the yeast, sugar, and warm water in a mixing bowl. Leave this to sit for 10 minutes—you should see foam appear on the surface.

Next, add the flour, milk, yoghurt, garlic, oil, baking powder, and salt to the yeast mixture. Using a dough hook, mix everything together until a dough ball forms.

Remove the dough from the bowl and knead for 3 minutes on a floured surface. Place the dough ball in an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside for 1 hour to double in size.

Once the dough has doubled in size, remove it from the bowl and divide it into 8-10 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and then flatten into a round shape, around 1/2 inch thick, using a rolling pin.

Place the flattened dough in the air fryer basket and spray with oil. Cook at 370 degrees for 6 minutes, flip, and cook for a further 3 minutes. The naan is done when a brown char and bubbles form.

In a bowl, melt the butter with the garlic and parsley. Brush this mixture onto the naan after cooking.

Tips:

• For gluten-free naan, use a gluten-free flour such as Bob's Red Mills One for One Gluten-Free Flour.
• Ghee can be used as a substitute for butter.
• You can freeze any leftover naan in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
• To reheat, spritz with a little water and air fry in a single layer at 350 degrees for 3 minutes.

How to make plain naan bread in an air fryer

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups of milk
• 1 tsp of dried yeast
• 1 1/4 cups of Greek yogurt
• 900g of plain white flour, plus more for kneading and dusting
• 1 tbsp of baking powder
• 3 tbsp of melted butter or ghee (optional)
• Salt

Method

• Heat the milk in a jug in the microwave until it is hand hot. Stir in the yeast and a pinch of sugar or salt, and cover with a cloth. Place in a warm place for 30 to 60 minutes to activate the yeast. It will become quite frothy.
• While the yeast is activating, whisk the eggs in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the yogurt and whisk until smooth. Once the yeast has bubbled up, pour it all into the bowl with the eggs and yogurt. Whisk again until smooth.
• Now mix the baking powder and salt with the flour and sift half of it over the liquid mixture. You can mix this all by hand in the bowl or use a stand mixer, which is easier.
• The dough will be too sticky to handle at this point. Gradually add more flour so that you can work it into a soft dough that is sticky but not sticking to your hands. You might need to add quite a lot more flour, but do so slowly so that you have a soft dough. If you add too much, you will have a stiff dough that isn't good for naans.
• Knead this hard for about 5 minutes and then form into a large, neat dough ball. Place the dough ball in a mixing bowl and cover. Allow to rise for a few hours or overnight.
• Once the dough has risen, punch it down and knead for another few minutes. Then separate the dough into 8 to 10 smaller, equal-sized pieces. Knead each a little and form into neat balls, then rest for at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat your air fryer to 180°C/350°F. Spray your air fryer basket with a little oil. Roll one of the dough balls out into a circular or oblong naan and then cook for 3 minutes at 180°C/350°F. Flip your naan over and cook for a further 3 minutes. The naans need to cook in one layer, so you may need to work in batches and keep the cooked naans warm.
• Brush with melted butter or ghee to serve, if desired.

Tips:

• Roll your naan breads to fit your air fryer shape. If you have a particularly small air fryer, you may need to reduce the size of each dough ball so that they aren't too thick. Aim for 0.5 cm to 1 cm thickness in this recipe.
• Air fryers can vary in temperature and cooking times, so it's essential to monitor your naan bread closely.
• You can freeze any leftover dough or cooked naan bread.

Frequently asked questions