Air-Fried Naan Bread: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Making naan bread in an air fryer is a quick and convenient way to achieve the perfect naan, with a crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy interior. This method simplifies the traditional process of cooking naan in a tandoor oven, making it accessible to home cooks. The air fryer's hot circulating air ensures a crisp outside and soft inside, without the excess grease of skillet-cooked naan.

The basic ingredients for air fryer naan are flour, yoghurt, and a leavening agent such as yeast or baking powder. The dough is then shaped into balls, flattened, and cooked in the air fryer for around 5-10 minutes.

There are many ways to customise your naan bread, such as adding garlic butter, nigella seeds, or coriander leaves. You can also experiment with different types of flour and yoghurt to create variations in texture and flavour.

Air fryer naan is a versatile dish that can be served with Indian curries, used as a wrap, or enjoyed as a snack with dips. It's a fun and delicious way to bring a piece of traditional Indian cuisine into your kitchen.

How to make the dough

To make naan bread in an air fryer, you'll need a few simple ingredients and a bit of time to let the dough rise. Here's a step-by-step guide to making the dough:

Ingredients

Firstly, gather your ingredients. The exact quantities may vary slightly depending on the recipe you follow, but the basic ingredients for the dough are:

• Flour (all-purpose or plain white flour)
• Liquid for mixing the dough (water or milk)
• A leavening agent (active dry yeast or instant yeast)
• A binding agent (Greek yogurt, plain yogurt, or eggs)
• Oil (vegetable, olive, or another variety of your choice)
• Salt

Optional ingredients for flavour or texture include:

• Sugar
• Baking powder
• Onion seeds
• Butter or ghee
• Garlic
• Coriander or parsley

Method

Now that you have your ingredients, it's time to make the dough:

• Combine the yeast with warm liquid: In a small bowl, mix the yeast with warm water or milk. The liquid should be warm, not hot, to activate the yeast. You can also add a bit of sugar to this mixture. Cover and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy.
• Mix the dry ingredients: In a separate large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and any other dry ingredients you are using (e.g. baking powder).
• Add the wet ingredients: Create a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add the yogurt, oil, and activated yeast mixture. You can also add any other wet ingredients like garlic or melted butter at this stage.
• Mix and knead the dough: Start mixing the ingredients with a spoon or a stand mixer until a soft dough forms. Then, turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead it with your hands for about 5 minutes. The dough should be soft, smooth, and slightly sticky. If it's too dry, add a little more liquid.
• Let the dough rise: Place the dough back into an oiled bowl and cover it with plastic wrap or a tea towel. Keep it in a warm place for at least 2 hours to let it rise. The dough should double in size.
• Punch down and divide the dough: Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air. Then, divide the dough into 8-12 smaller, equal-sized pieces. You can do this by rolling the dough into a log and then cutting it into portions, or by dividing it into portions with your hands.
• Shape the dough: Use a rolling pin to flatten each piece of dough into a round or oval shape, aiming for a thickness of about 1/2 cm to 1 cm. You may need to adjust the size and thickness to fit your air fryer. Keep the dough balls covered while you work so they don't dry out.

How to roll out the dough

Rolling out the dough is a crucial step in the naan-making process, as it determines the shape, size, and thickness of the final product. Here is a detailed guide on how to roll out the dough for air fryer naan bread:

Before you begin rolling, ensure that your work surface and rolling pin are well-floured to prevent the dough from sticking. This is especially important if you are working with a sticky dough.

Once you have your dough ready, divide it into equal portions. The number of portions will depend on the size of your air fryer and the desired size of your naan bread. For a standard air fryer, dividing the dough into 8 to 10 equal pieces is a good starting point.

Now, take one portion of the dough and gently flatten it with your hands to create a rough circle or oval shape. Use your rolling pin to roll out the dough from the centre outwards, applying even pressure. Roll the dough until it is about 1/2 cm to 1 cm thick, ensuring that it will fit comfortably into your air fryer. It is important to roll the dough to an even thickness to ensure even cooking.

If you are making plain naan, sprinkle nigella seeds on top of the rolled-out dough and gently press them in using your rolling pin. For butter naan, brush the top of the dough with melted butter, and if desired, you can also add coriander leaves to the butter. For garlic naan, brush the dough generously with garlic butter.

Repeat this process for each portion of dough, keeping the other dough balls covered to prevent them from drying out. Remember to work quickly but gently, as overworking the dough can result in tough naan bread.

Once all your dough portions are rolled out, you are ready to cook your naan bread in the air fryer!

How to cook the naan in the air fryer

Once you've made your naan dough, it's time to cook it in the air fryer! Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Preheat your air fryer: Set your air fryer to around 180°C/350°F for a few minutes before adding your naan. Preheating ensures even cooking and a perfect texture.
• Prepare the dough: Divide the dough into equal portions, usually around 8-12 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, then flatten them using a rolling pin to a thickness of about 0.5 cm to 1 cm.
• Brush with oil: Lightly brush each piece of dough with olive oil, cooking spray, or garlic butter (for a garlic naan variation).
• Cook the naan: Place the naan into the preheated air fryer, cooking one or two pieces at a time to avoid overcrowding. Cook for about 3-7 minutes, then flip and cook for an additional 3-7 minutes, depending on your air fryer's temperature and power. The naan is done when it turns golden brown and develops charred spots and bubbles.
• Brush with butter: Once the naan is cooked, remove it from the air fryer and brush with melted butter, ghee, or garlic butter for extra flavour and a glossy finish.
• Serve and enjoy: Serve your freshly cooked naan warm with your favourite curry, dip, or toppings.

Tips for cooking naan in the air fryer:

• Monitor the naan closely as air fryers vary in temperature and cooking times.
• Experiment with different toppings and flavours like garlic, herbs, or spices.
• For a traditional touch, briefly place the cooked side of the naan directly over an open flame to create characteristic blisters.
• For best results, roll the naan to a thin, even thickness.
• If making garlic naan, add the garlic towards the end of the cooking process to avoid burning.

How to make garlic butter naan

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups of Maida/APF (all-purpose flour)
• 1 tablespoon of milk powder
• 2 teaspoons of instant yeast
• 1/4 cup of warm milk, plus 2 tablespoons
• 1/4 cup of warm water
• 2 teaspoons of sugar
• 3/4 cup of plain Greek yoghurt
• 2 tablespoons of minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
• 5 tablespoons of butter
• 2 teaspoons of parsley
• Olive oil or cooking spray

Method:

• In a mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients: 1 cup of flour, milk powder, yeast, and a pinch of salt. Give this a quick mix on low speed.
• Add 1/4 cup of warm milk, yoghurt, and 2 tablespoons of minced garlic. Use a dough hook attachment to knead the mixture for 6 minutes.
• Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and continue kneading for 4 more minutes until the dough is soft. If the dough is dry, add a little more warm milk.
• Grease the dough with a bit of oil and cover it with plastic wrap. Set it aside in a warm place for 1-2 hours to let it rise and double in size.
• Prepare the garlic butter by mixing 2 tablespoons of softened butter with 1 clove of crushed garlic and 1 tablespoon of coriander or cilantro leaves.
• Divide the dough into 8-10 equal portions. Roll each piece into a ball, then flatten into a round shape, around 1/2 inch thick.
• Brush the garlic butter onto each naan.
• Preheat your air fryer to 170°C/350°F for 5 minutes.
• Brush the air fryer basket with oil. Place one piece of naan inside and cook for 6-8 minutes. Do not flip the naan.
• Brush the naan with more garlic butter as soon as it comes out of the air fryer.
• Repeat with the remaining naans.

Tips:

• If you prefer plain naan, skip the garlic butter and use plain melted butter or ghee instead.
• For a glossy finish, brush the naan with additional butter after cooking.
• You can freeze any leftover naan in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

How to store leftover naan

Storing leftover naan is simple and can be done in a few different ways.

Firstly, it is important to let the naan cool down completely before storing it. Then, you can either place the naan in an airtight container or a plastic bag. If you are using a plastic bag, it is a good idea to wrap the naan in a cotton or linen towel first. The naan can be stored at room temperature and should be consumed within 3 days.

Alternatively, you can freeze leftover naan. Place the naan in a freezer bag and remove as much air as possible before sealing. If you plan to freeze the naan for longer than a month, it is recommended to wrap each naan individually in aluminium foil, plastic wrap, or freezer wrap to prevent freezer burn. Frozen naan will keep for up to 3 months and can be defrosted and reheated in the air fryer or oven.

Frequently asked questions