Trendy because it's simple and tasty: Naan bread (2024)

Light and loose Indian flatbread with the Handtmann system

When the question arises as to which food is trendy at the moment, naan bread always comes up. The flatbread actually became a hit in the context of ethnic food (similar to the hyped cloud bread, a gluten-free/no-carb bread). Anyone who regularly goes for Indian food knows about naan bread. Naan is a type of bread that is usually eaten as an accompaniment to hot meals on the Indian sub-continent. Why is naan bread suddenly so popular here? Because it is the simplest and also most versatile bread in the world!

What is naan bread?
Typically, naan bread is flat and teardrop-shaped with a curved edge. Naan is made from the basic ingredients of wheat flour, water/milk, salt and yeast. It is shaped in artisan production, mostly by hand. The secret to the special taste is a combination of the baking process in the traditional tandoori oven and the addition of Indian yoghurt, which makes the dough light and loose. During baking in the tandoori over, heat is transferred to the clay walls of the oven via a charcoal fire. After the final proof, the piece of dough is pressed directly onto the oven wall for final baking and thus receives its special bread character. Many variants exist with added spices: Sometimes the bread is merely refined with salt and pepper; other times garlic, caraway or coriander is added. The tasty, trendy flatbread with Indian spices can increasingly be found in supermarkets across Europe.

Naan pizza: A fantastic fusion
Why is naan so trendy? Because it is the ideal partner for unusual food creations! Best example: Naan pizza. Once around the whole world and it's on with Orient meets Occident: Fusion cuisine can be tastily fantastic, just like this combination of favourite Indian and Italian foods. Naan pizza is now the latest trend. As a party snack, street food or a quick lunch. It is super fast and comes in countless tasty variations.

Naan dough pieces with Handtmann SE 442
The SE 442 cutting unit divides dough accurate to the gram. It is equipped with a pneumatically operated blade and can divide as many as 200 portions a minute depending on the scaling weight, dough consistency and the vacuum portioner used. Thanks to the modular design, all product-handling components can be very quickly cleaned with a jet of water. This is a big advantage in the production of gluten-free dough, such as trendy cloud bread.

Capacity example for naan bread
VF 608 B vacuum portioner with SE 442 cutting unit
Production capacity up to 627 kg/h or 6,000 pieces/h

Test naan bread and other products at the Handtmann Forum
Are you interested in the production of naan bread or other trend products? Then we would love to see you at the Handtmann Customer Forum. Join our experts and test innovative products on our systems and secure new market shares. Contact us.

Trendy because it's simple and tasty: Naan bread (2024)

FAQs

What is an interesting fact about naan bread? ›

The word naan comes from the Persian nân-e sangak, meaning “bread baked on [hot] pebbles.” In 1300 ce, Indian poet Amīr Khosrow documented two kinds of naan: naan-e-tunuk (light or thin bread) and naan-e-tanuri (bread cooked in a tandoor oven).

Is naan bread unhealthy? ›

While it may contain more carbs and sugars, it earns its reputation as a healthy alternative with its relatively generous amounts of protein and fiber. Despite its high carb content, naan can be considered a more nutrient-dense alternative to white bread and pita.

What makes naan bread so good? ›

The bread flour gives the naan “chew”; the yogurt imparts a slight tang; and the use of a cast iron pan gives the bread its distinctive char and smokiness. (Cast iron pans get very hot, plus they retain heat much better than stainless steel or nonstick skillets, making them the ideal stand-in for the tandoor.)

How would you describe the taste of naan? ›

NAAN, often pronounced as nah-ahn is an Indian flatbread legend known for its soft, pillowy texture and rich buttery flavor.

What race eats naan? ›

today, naan has traveled a long way in becoming a favorite with multiple gravy-based dishes in indian cuisine and a staple in iran, south asia, and many middle eastern countries.

Which is healthier bread or naan? ›

Which is healthier: bread or naan? Naan is a flatbread, whereas bread comes in loaves. Naan is higher in fat, protein, and carbohydrates than loaf bread. The higher protein content of naan will allow you to feel fuller for longer and curve cravings.

What happens if I eat naan everyday? ›

On the daily basis, if consumed, it can give rise to many stomach disorders like constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. It can kill your appetite giving rise to many undesirable health issues. So, it should be avoided daily. You can eat occasionally.

Is naan bread good for gut health? ›

Naan made from whole grain, sourdough, rye, or other grain alternatives is richer in dietary fiber than those made with enriched flour or refined grains. Fiber helps to maintain bowel health and regulates bowel movements.

Can you eat naan by itself? ›

No problem. Just like at your favorite restaurant, why not warm up some naan for the table to snack on?

What makes naan unique? ›

It is different from pita bread, as it is soft, pillowy and full of bubbles. It is usually cooked in a clay oven called a tandoor. Since the bread is stuck on the sides of the oven to cook, it begins to stretch, giving the naan its traditional teardrop shape.

What is the most popular naan bread? ›

Plain Naan Bread

The Big Plain Naan is a flatbread made from wheat flour and is thick on the outside with a fluffy inner texture and when it comes to different types of naan breads, plain naan is one of the most popular.

What are some fun facts about bread? ›

Bread was so important to Egyptians a long, long time ago that it was used a currency, or money! Kansas wheat farmers provided enough wheat to make bread in 1997 to give everyone on earth six loaves of bread – that's 36.5 billion loaves of bread! Bread is a universal sign of peace in many cultures.

How did naan get its name? ›

The term "naan" comes from Persian nân (Persian: نان), a generic word for any kind of bread.

How old is naan bread? ›

Although it is believed that the dish could have been a staple in India centuries earlier, the first recorded mention of naan bread is around 1300 AD from Amir Kashrau (1253-1325 AD).

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