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    Home » Snacks & Sides

    Easy Vegan Naan (Indian Flatbread)

    Updated: Jul 27, 2019 by Verna Rindler · This post may contain affiliate links · 14 Comments

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    close up of two vegan naan breads on wooden cutting board

    You'll love my Easy Vegan Naan Recipe. It's an Indian flatbread that's soft, pillowy and airy with the perfect chew!! Just like your favourite Indian Restaurant! It’s made with yeast and vegan yoghurt and is Dairy free and egg free. Top with garlic butter and serve with curries, soup or with your favourite dip. Makes great pizza! Freeze the dough for fresh Vegan Naan any time!

    close up of two vegan naan breads on a wooden cutting boardI love Indian dishes and you cannot eat them without some kind of Indian flatbread to sop up all that curry - Am I right! You bet I am?

    This Vegan Naan Recipe is the best bread for curry! It’s Super easy to make at home and tastes just like the real deal.

    three vegan naan breads on a wooden cutting board

    What is Naan:

    It's an authentic leavened Indian yeast bread recipe originating from India, most popular with curries. It's one of the simplest doughs to make and comes together easily in a bowl.

    There is no need for a stand mixer. Naan is traditionally cooked in a tandoori oven. For my homemade version I use a cast iron frying pan, which works great!

    vegan naan bread in a cast iron pan

    I add fresh herbs and spices to my dough which makes it even more flavourful and once the dough is cooked I top it off with vegan garlic butter! OH it is over the top good!!

    My husbands favourite way to eat this Vegan Naan is topped with veggies (like a personal pizza) and baked. I must say it makes the best pizza dough, chewy and slightly crispy like a New York style pizza.

    So not only is it delicious with curries, soups and dips it makes great pizza crust too! Bonus?

    vegan naan bread being brushed with vegan garlic butter

    How to freeze Vegan Naan:

    To Freeze dough: After the first rise and once you have divided the dough into 6-8 equal portions place them on a parchment lined baking tray and freeze. Once frozen wrap them individually in plastic wrap or a freezer bag. They will keep for 2-3 months in the freezer.
    To Thaw dough: Defrost in your fridge overnight, or on your counter for 3 hours or until room temperature, then follow recipe instructions in recipe card below.

    How to Make Easy Vegan Naan:

    Add the warm water (not hot), yeast and sugar to a large mixing bowl. Give it it a stir and let sit for about ten minutes to proof. The yeast should rise to the top and become frothy. (If this does not happen it means you water wasn't hot enough or your yeast is expired and you will have to start again).

    While the yeast is proofing add the dry ingredients and fresh herbs to a medium bowl, stir to combine and set aside.

    When yeast is ready add in the oil and yoghurt and whisk together. Next add dry ingredients and stir until combined, (I usually use a wooden spoon).

    Sprinkle a little flour on your counter and turn out the dough. Kneed for a minute. Form the dough into a ball.

    four photo step by Step how to make vegan naan

    Lightly grease the large mixing bowl you just used and add the dough ball. Add a little oil to the top of the dough and spread it around the surface.

    Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or so until roughly doubled in size (depends on how warm your house is). It usually takes 1 and 1/2 hours for my dough.

    While dough is rising make Vegan Garlic butter (if using).

    vegan garlic butter for vegan naan

    Lightly flour your countertop again. Turn out the dough and form it into a disk. Divide the disk into roughly six or eight equal portions and form into balls (at this point you can freeze dough individually in plastic wrap or refrigerate for up to 3 days for later use). Set on counter top until ready to cook.

    four photo step by step how to make vegan naan

    Heat your cast iron pan or non stick pan to medium heat and brush very lightly with oil ( make sure pan is good and hot). Roll out one ball at a time as you cook them, (round, oval shapes, approximately 1/4 of an inch thick or thinner). If dough springs back a little as you are rolling it , that's ok just keep rolling, it'll get there.  If dough is sticking to your rolling pin, sprinkle very lightly with more flour if needed as you go.

    Place dough in the pan and cook until air pockets form on top of dough and the underneath is getting brown. Flip and cook and additional one to two minutes. Repeat with remaining dough.  I usually add a little more oil to the pan after the third Naan bread has been cooked.

    four photo step by step how to make vegan naan

    vegan naan on a metal cooling rack

    Brush with vegan garlic butter ( if using) and serve with your favourite Indian curries, soups, dips or make a wrap or some personal pizzas! For full ingredients and instructions see recipe card below.

    Ok let's make some Easy Vegan Naan Bread! You'll love it, it's:

    soft & pillowy

    easy

    slightly chewy

    perfect for personal pizzas

    delicious with soups

    so tasty with hummus and dips

    great with curries

    garlicy

    healthy

    delicious

    Enjoy guys! Happy day to you? feel free to leave a comment and a rating below. I would love to hear from you.

    Follow me on PINTEREST and INSTAGRAM for more tasty Plant Based Vegan Recipes❤️

    Here's a few more Vegan Snacks & Sides for you to enjoy:

    Tex Mex Vegan Taco Meat
    Breakfast burritos (Tofu & Potatoes)
    Best & Easiest Marinated Tofu
    Cauliflower buffalo Wings

    Recipe adapted from Jo cooks and Budget Bites

    Print
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    close up of two vegan naan breads on a wooden cutting board

    Easy Vegan Naan (Indian Flatbread)


    ★★★★★

    5 from 4 reviews

    • Author: Verna
    • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
    • Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    You'll love my Easy Vegan Naan Recipe. It's an Indian flatbread that's soft, pillowy and airy with the perfect chew!! Just like your favourite Indian Restaurant! It’s made with yeast and vegan yoghurt and is Dairy free and egg free. Top with garlic butter and serve with curries, soup or with your favourite dip. Makes great pizza! Freeze the dough for fresh Vegan Naan any time!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 cup warm water
    • 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
    • 1 teaspoon sugar
    • 1/3 cup vegan yoghurt, (I used Silk Plain unsweetened coconut yoghurt)
    • 2 and 1/2 tablespoons oil
    • dry ingredients:
    • 2 and 1/3 cups flour
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
    • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
    • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
    • 1/2 cup fresh herbs, finely chopped ( I used cilantro and parsley) (optional)
    • vegan garlic butter ingredients (optional):
    • 3-4 tablespoons vegan butter (I used Earth Balance)
    • 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped ( around 2 tablespoons)
    • 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
    • 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
    • pinch of salt

    Instructions

    1. Add the warm water (not hot), yeast and sugar to a large mixing bowl. Give it it a stir and let sit for about ten minutes to proof. The yeast should rise to the top and become frothy. (If this does not happen it means you water wasn't hot enough or your yeast is expired and you will have to start again).
    2. While the yeast is proofing add the dry ingredients and fresh herbs to a medium bowl, stir to combine and set aside.
    3. When yeast is ready add in the oil and yoghurt and whisk together. Next add dry ingredients and stir until combined, ( I usually use a wooden spoon).
    4. Sprinkle a little flour on your counter and turn out the dough. Kneed for a minute.  Form the dough into a ball.
    5. Lightly grease the large mixing bowl you just used and add the dough ball. Add a little oil to the top of the dough and spread it around the surface. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or so until roughly doubled in size (depends on how warm your house is). It usually takes 1 and 1/2 hours for my dough.
    6. While dough is rising make Vegan Garlic butter (if using): mix garlic butter ingredients together in a small bowl and cook in the microwave for 45-60 seconds. (you don't want the garlic raw).
    7. Lightly flour your countertop. Turn out the dough and form it into a disk. Divide the disk into roughly six or eight equal portions and form into balls (at this point you can freeze dough individually in plastic wrap or refrigerate for up to 3 days for later use). Set on counter top until ready to cook.
    8. Heat your cast iron pan or a non stick pan to medium heat and brush very lightly with oil (make sure pan is good and hot). Roll out one ball at a time as you cook them, (round, oval shapes, approximately 1/4 of an inch thick or thinner). If dough springs back a little as you are rolling it , that's ok just keep rolling, it'll get there. If dough is sticking to your rolling pin, sprinkle very lightly with more flour if needed as you go.
    9. Place dough in the pan and cook until air pockets form on top of dough and the underneath is getting brown. Flip and cook and additional one to two minutes. Repeat with remaining dough. I usually add a little more oil to the pan after the third Naan bread has been cooked. (for step by step photos refer to the post above)
    10. Brush with melted vegan garlic butter ( if using) and serve with your favourite Indian curries, soups, dips or make a wrap or some personal pizzas!

    Notes

    • fresh herbs are optional if you don't have then don't worry
    • if you don't want to make garlic butter just brush cooked naan with melted butter and season with sea salt and fresh chopped herbs if you have them.
    • To Freeze dough: After the first rise and once you have divided the dough into 6-8 equal portions place them on a parchment lined baking tray and freeze. Once frozen wrap them individually in plastic wrap or a freezer bag. They will keep for 2-3 months in the freezer.
    • To Thaw dough: Defrost in your fridge overnight or on your counter for 3 hours or until room temperature, then start at number 8 in recipe instructions.
    • To Freeze cooked Naan: let cooked naan bread cool to room temperature (don't add garlic butter) then freeze in freezer bags or wrap in plastic wrap. Reheat in oven or microwave.
    • To use Vegan Naan as a pizza crust: add desired sauce and toppings to cooked Naan and cook on pizza pan or baking sheet at 400° for 8-10 minutes and broil for a couple minutes if necessary.
    • Recipe adapted from Jo cooks and Budget Bites
    • Nutritional chart does not include vegan garlic butter
    • Prep Time: 1 hour
    • Cook Time: 20 minutes
    • Category: Snacks & Sides
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: Indian

    Keywords: vegan naan, naan, vegan naan bread, easy vegan naan, recipe, Indian, curries, bread,

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @cheeky_chickpea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #cheeky_chickpea_

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Angela

      June 20, 2021 at 5:32 pm

      Hi, can this recipe be made 7sing chicken pea flour?

      Reply
      • Verna

        June 21, 2021 at 7:16 am

        Hi Angela, I have not tested with chickpea flour so I cannot say.

        Reply
    2. Greg Wood

      July 03, 2020 at 4:55 pm

      What type of flour should be used for this recipe?

      Reply
      • Verna

        July 03, 2020 at 7:25 pm

        Hi Greg, all purpose flour. Enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Allyson Ross

      July 29, 2019 at 1:12 am

      FAB!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        July 29, 2019 at 2:35 am

        thank you so much for your comment Allyson! glad you enjoyed it?

        Reply
    4. Geoff

      May 05, 2019 at 4:37 pm

      The nann bread turned out so good. I didn’t have any herbs but I did make some butter for it. Really impressed. Appreciate your recipes thx

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        May 05, 2019 at 8:02 pm

        glad you liked the recipe Geoff. Thanks for your comment.

        Reply
    5. Vanessa

      April 09, 2019 at 11:19 pm

      These look amazing! Any suggestions for making them gluten free? I'm making them as I tried with Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Baking Flour, but they aren't bubbling up and they're a bit gummy. Still taste amazing, but I'd like to have a better texture.... Thank you in advance for any advice you can offer!

      Reply
      • The Cheeky Chickpea

        April 10, 2019 at 12:44 am

        Hi Vanessa I have not tried making this recipe gluten free, I'm sure there are gluten free recipes out there. good luck! One suggestion would be to reduce flour to 2 cups (gluten free,I like Robin Hood blend) and add 2 tablespoons cornstarch.

        Reply
    6. Mindy

      April 06, 2019 at 6:01 pm

      So fresh and tasty ,

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • The Cheeky Chickpea

        April 06, 2019 at 8:30 pm

        Thanks so much Mindy! It is super tasty!

        Reply
    7. Caroline

      March 19, 2019 at 8:20 pm

      Oh I'm excited to make this! We make curry often in our house.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • The Cheeky Chickpea

        March 19, 2019 at 8:47 pm

        oh nice! Enjoy the recipe Caroline, thanks for your comment!

        Reply

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    Hi, I’m Verna! Major foodie of all things vegan! Welcome to The Cheeky Chickpea; here, you’ll find hundreds of restaurant-worthy easy vegan recipes. Some oil-free and gluten-free, from veggie-powered plant-based comfort foods to decadent desserts. Lots of tricks and tips up my chef sleeve…Grab your apron let’s get cooking!

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