This is my favorite flatbread recipe: gluten-free naan! This recipe goes perfectly with dairy-free butter chicken - find that recipe right here.
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Naan is a flatbread commonly served in India. While we didn't visit India in our travels last year, it's a bread that's always intrigued me and is very similar to pita bread. Perfect with curries, this dairy-free butter chicken, or even to serve with kabobs, you can't go wrong with this gluten-free naan recipe, and that's what you'll find here.
All you need to make this easy gluten-free naan flatbread is:
Gluten-free flour blend: (I prefer Cup4Cup multipurpose flour for best results)
Plain yogurt: I just use the store brand. You can use dairy-free if necessary, it works fine!
Instant yeast: You can check the recipe notes for how to make this with active dry yeast, but instant is easiest. Make sure it's gluten-free.
Olive oil: I use extra virgin olive oil in all of my recipes.
Salt (optional): You can always salt the gluten-free naan when it's done, but a little salt in the dough helps give it more flavor.
The steps for making gluten-free naan are fairly simple. You form the dough into a ball, let it rise for 1 hour, then roll it out and fry it up. The longest part of the process is waiting for the dough to rise. Once you fry the naan, it cooks very quickly (about five minutes).
The naan has a crispy outer shell, but a soft inside, and when topped with melted butter sea salt, you might just want to eat it for every meal of the day! Plus, it bubbles up PERFECTLY like you expect regular naan to do!
Gluten-Free Flour Blend Test
I tested the naan with four different flour blends: Bob's Red Mill (blue bag), Pillsbury, Cup4Cup, and previously, King Arthur Measure for Measure flour. I also shared these results on my Instagram stories - did you catch it? Be sure to follow me so you don't miss another recipe test!
Let's see how they turned out!
The Results
1st place:
Cup4Cup
Cup4Cup produced the best naan overall. It broke apart easily, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. It tasted the most like regular naan and is my preferred flour for this recipe and for most of my gluten-free baking experiments. Please be aware Cup4Cup contains milk powder, so this version is gluten-free, but not dairy-free.
2nd place:
Bob's Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-Free Flour
Bob's Red Mill also produced a great naan, and when it broke in half, so soft and perfect! The underlying flavor of sorghum flour was why it didn't take the first place position. Overall, it had my favorite texture, but not flavor. Make sure to use the blue bag, not the red bag. There are two different Bob's gluten-free flour mixes!
3rd Place:
Pillsbury Gluten-Free Flour
Pillsbury didn't make great naan. While rolling it out, it broke apart, and then cracked when frying as well. It was very plain and tasted okay, but the texture was the worst of the three.
Not Recommended:
King Arthur Measure For Measure
I also made this same naan recipe back in March with King Arthur Measure for Measure flour. I was very unhappy with the final results, and making the dough stay together was almost impossible (as seen by the photo above!).
Please don't take this post as me hating on King Arthur. I don't!
I think their Measure For Measure flour is great for muffins and quick bread, and have used it for recipes like this gluten-free pumpkin chocolate chip bread. However, the texture was far too gritty to make a solid gluten-free naan, and it tasted so poorly, we ended up throwing it out. I think their All-Purpose Gluten-Free Flour Blend would work much better here instead.
I share these results to remind you that gluten-free flour blends aren't all the same! They all react differently and can produce different end results. If you are frustrated that a recipe isn't coming out the way you hoped, try experimenting with a different flour blend to see what happens.
Dairy-Free Version
You can also make this naan recipe dairy-free. Use Bob's Red Mill Flour (Or another GF & DF flour blend), and try lactose-free yogurt from Green Valley or coconut yogurt from So Delicious. Both created excellent gluten-free and dairy-free naan flatbreads without any difference or issue in taste, texture, or quality.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Dough was too dry: If the dough seems too dry or crumbly, add the additional 1 tablespoon olive oil. If it still doesn't form, add ¼ cup more of yogurt. The dough will be ready to "rise" when it seems shiny and stays together well. When it forms into a ball easily, you are good to go. Check the recipe notes for more details. And be mindful if you are using a different gluten-free flour blend than Cup4Cup as I recommend, it may turn out differently.
Dough didn't rise: This dough should rise and expand a bit, but it will not rise anything close to regular bread dough, due to the fact there is no gluten. If you don't get a rise at all, double-check your yeast as it may be expired. Also, did you place the dough in a warm enough place to rise? Yeast is finicky and needs the right elements to work properly. Check this article for more troubleshooting with yeast.
There is further information in the recipe here to help you make your own gluten-free naan bread. Please let me know if you have any questions or need help troubleshooting!
Here's how to make gluten-free naan!
If you love this recipe, please leave a review! Thank you so much!
Gluten-Free Naan Recipe
Gluten-Free Naan
This naan tastes just like the real thing - but without the gluten!
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups Gluten-Free Flour blend, like Cup4Cup
- 2-3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (see notes)
- 1 ¾ teaspoon instant yeast - this is a little less than what's in one of the square packets (see notes if using active dry yeast)
- 1 cup plain yogurt (use a dairy-free alternative if needed,)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (Optional - see note)
- 1-2 tablespoon melted butter or olive oil, for serving
- sea salt, to taste, for serving
- freshly chopped parsley, for serving
Instructions
Into a small bowl, pour the gluten-free flour and salt (if using - check the notes section). Create a well in the center (essentially, a large hole). Into the hole, pour the yeast, followed by the yogurt and the 2 tablespoon olive oil.
Slowly, begin mixing together, incorporating a little bit of flour at a time, and eventually, turn the mixture out onto a clean countertop and knead for 1-2 minutes, forming the dough into a ball. If the dough does not stick together and is too crumbly, refer to the Notes section for how to troubleshoot. The dough should become smooth, form a ball, and will be a little shiny.
Cover the dough with a damp cloth in a small bowl and place it in a warm location, such as a sunny window. Let the dough rest to rise for 1 hour.
After the 1 hour rise, cut the dough into quarters, and then into eights. Roll each piece with a rolling pin into a circular disc about 6" in diameter. These pieces do not have to be perfect - just a roundish shape will be fine. Feel free to use your fingers to help form the dough into a disc shape if it starts to break apart at the edges - just keep pinching the dough together to help it stick.
In a frying pan over medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon olive oil. When the pan is hot, place 1 of the discs of dough into the pan. Cook for 3 minutes and then check underneath when you see bubbles appear and brown spots on the bottom of the dough - that's what we want! Flip over carefully with a spatula and cook for another 3 minutes on the other side then remove to a plate. Usually, the second or third piece of naan comes out better than the first one. That's okay!
Brush the naan with melted butter or oil, and sprinkle with sea salt or freshly chopped parsley if desired. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the remaining discs of dough.
Notes
Gluten-Free Flour
This recipe worked best with Cup4Cup, but it might take some adjustments if using a different gluten-free flour blend. I had success making this with Bob's Red Mill 1:1 Flour (blue bag), but the dough needed extra yogurt (¼ cup) and olive oil (1 TBSP) to come together. DO NOT try this recipe with one gluten-free grain (such as almond flour, oat flour, coconut flour) and expect positive results. You need a blend of GF grains to get the job done.
If the dough seems too dry or crumbly, add the additional 1 tablespoon olive oil. If it still doesn't form, add ¼ cup more of yogurt. The dough will be ready to "rise" when it seems shiny and stays together well. When it forms into a ball easily, you are good to go. If you still have issues, you can continue adding additional olive oil and yogurt if needed, just go slowly and use the amounts listed here.
Dairy-Free
Make this naan gluten-free by using a gluten-free flour blend and substituting the plain yogurt with lactose-free yogurt or dairy-free yogurt like coconut yogurt from So Delicious. Both work well.
Yeast
I use instant yeast in this recipe to make it as easy as possible (no proofing required). If you want to convert to active dry yeast, check this chart for the proper conversions, and be sure to proof the yeast in ¼ cup of water with 1 teaspoon of sugar for 10 minutes until bubbly. Double-check your yeast is gluten-free, too, as some can be "enriched".
Salt
You can omit the salt and just sprinkle it on at the end if you like.
Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 293Total Fat 16gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 11gCholesterol 9mgSodium 196mgCarbohydrates 32gFiber 1gSugar 2gProtein 6g
The nutrition information on each recipe card is provided as a courtesy and for your convenience. The data is calculated by Nutritionix. You are encouraged to make your own calculations based on your ingredients and preferred nutritional facts calculator. While I try to make sure they are accurate, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of these calculations.
What did you think of this gluten-free naan!?
Leave a comment below and let me know how this recipe worked for you!
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Dylan says
Fantastic Naan GF flour option breakdown, perfecting the science of gluten free cooking.
Jennifer Fitzpatrick says
Thank you good sir 🙂
Tierra says
Did I miss the part in the recipe on where the yeast is added? I’m making it now and am just throwing along with everything in the beginning
Jennifer Fitzpatrick says
Hi Tierra, you didn't miss anything. It's in the first paragraph - after the flour and salt.
Taylor says
Hi! If I make this the day before eating, should I keep cooked Naan refridgerated?
Jennifer Fitzpatrick says
Hi Taylor! Yes, I would keep it refrigerated. I would soften it in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds just before eating though, as gluten-free baked goods can harden over time. I hope that helps! I'll add this to the recipe notes as well.
Bethany Martell says
Hi! I followed the recipe but my dough didn't rise at all.. 🙁 Should I have added water to the yeast?
Jennifer Fitzpatrick says
Hi Bethany, what type of yeast did you use? And how long have you had it? Yeast can expire, which could be the cause of the dough not rising. Also, when leaving the dough to rise, make sure it’s in a warm location - yeast like warmth. Did you try frying up the naan?
Julie says
Wonderful recipe! I used Namaste brand GF flour It turned out a bit fluffy with a perfect amount of chewy and crispy.
Jennifer Fitzpatrick says
Thank you Julie for your comment! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Melissa Bebee says
Thanks for the recipe. I like to batch cook. Have you experimented with freezing this naan after cooking? If so, did it turn out well after being frozen and then thawed?
Thanks a bunch!
Melissa
Jennifer Fitzpatrick says
Hi Melissa, thanks for your comment! I have not experimented with freezing it but I imagine it would do fine! I will try this out and report back.
Emma says
This didn't rise at all 😔 made this alongside bread with gluten in it for a party- same yeast, same rising location. While the other bread rose beautifully, this one did not.
Jennifer Fitzpatrick says
What gluten-free flour blend did you use? And it will not rise as much as regular bread, due to the lack of gluten.