This Cheese Garlic Naan is a no yeast, cheesy, tasty naan variation that takes any meal consisting of rich curries, creamy lentil-based or rustic vegetable dishes to another level. The best part about this recipe is that it can be easily cooked on a tawa or skillet on your stovetop. You really don’t need an oven to bake this flat bread.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 150 minutes
  • Cook time: 30 minutes
  • Total time: 180 minutes
  • Yield: 8 · 8 Cheese Garlic Naan
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: North Indian

Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole wheat flour (- 240 grams)
  • 1 cup all purpose flour (- 125 grams)
  • 1.5 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons buttermilk (or curd (yogurt))
  • 3 tablespoons oil (or butter)
  • ⅔ to ¾ cup water (or add as required)
  • 10 to 12 garlic cloves (- large or 2 tablespoons garlic paste or minced garlic)
  • 100 grams cheese (or 1 cup grated cheese - mozzarella, cheddar or an equal mix of both)
  • white sesame seeds (- as required)
  • butter (softened, as needed to spread on the cooked naans)

Method

Preparing naan dough

  1. Take whole wheat flour and all purpose flour in a mixing bowl or pan.
  2. Add baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt. Mix very well.
  3. Now add 3 tablespoons buttermilk or 3 tablespoons curd.
  4. Add ⅔ to ¾ cup water in parts.
  5. Mix well and then add 3 tablespoons oil or butter.
  6. Mix and begin to knead the dough. Knead to a soft, smooth and pliable dough.
  7. Flatten the dough. Brush some water or oil all over the dough. Cover the bowl and allow dough to leaven for 2 hours.

Assembling, rolling and stuffing

  1. In a mortar-pestle take the peeled and rinsed garlic cloves. Crush them to semi-fine or fine paste. Keep aside.
  2. Make medium sized balls from the dough. Dust some flour on the dough ball. Roll into a 5 to 6 inches diameter circle.
  3. Spread ½ teaspoon garlic paste. For a more garlic taste, you can also spread 1 teaspoon garlic paste on the rolled dough.
  4. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons grated cheese. You can also add 1 tablespoon and less amount if you like. But it will be like a cheese flavoured naan and not cheese naan.
  5. Fold the edges of the rolled dough from all around as shown in the step-by-step images in the post.
  6. Bring the edges in the center and then join them. Press the joined edges back onto the dough.
  7. Dust some more flour and roll the stuffed naan.
  8. Roll to 7 to 8 inches circle. Brush some water lightly on the side of the dough that is facing you.
  9. Sprinkle some sesame seeds all over and press them with the brush or with your fingers, so that they stick to the cheese garlic naan.

Making cheese garlic naan

  1. Heat a tawa or a flat skillet or griddle on medium to high heat.
  2. Now place the stuffed and rolled naan bread with the sesame seeds side touching the hot tawa or skillet.
  3. Roast naan on a medium to high heat for about a minute or so. It will begin to puff up.
  4. When you see some blisters and the naan begins to puff up, flip it using a spatula. Cook the other side for about 1 to 2 minutes.
  5. Flip again when this second side is cooked.
  6. Flip a couple of times more for even roasting and cooking.
  7. Once done, take the cheese garlic naan in a plate and spread some butter on top. This way assemble, roll and cook all the naan bread in batches.
  8. You cans serve them hot or stack them in a roti basket or hot pot/casserole and then serve later.
  9. Serve Cheese Garlic Naan hot or warm as is. They make for a good snack. You can also opt to pair them with your favorite curries or stir-fries or lentils.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.