If you’re a curry lover, you’ll know that ‘naan bread’ – an Indian/Pakistani flatbread – is the perfect side dish. But have you heard of a Kashmiri naan?
Kashmiri naan
Kashmiri naan is one of the most loved recipes in Kashmiri cuisine. And it’s quite different to most other naan breads. In fact, it’s usually served at breakfast or, sometimes, with afternoon tea (especially Kashmiri tea!). This is because Kashmiri naan has a sweet, nutty taste.
Best of all, it’s super simple to make. So, read on to find out how to whip up this sweet, fruity, nutty delight.
Products you need for this recipe
Before you’re ready to make a Kashmiri naan, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got the right equipment in the kitchen.
- Stand mixer – you’ll need to knead your dough to end up with a perfectly formed naan instead of a flat, lifeless pancake. So, avoid a Kashmiri drama by letting this Acuma Stand Mixer do the work for you!
- Saucepan – a quality non-stick saucepan will be needed to heat the milk for your Kashmiri naan dough. This Utopia saucepan is great value for money
- Flour sifter – make the baking process a whole lot easier by investing in a good flour sifter such as this strong and lightweight Bellemain stainless steel one
- Rolling pin – use this Joseph Joseph adjustable rolling pin and roll your naan bread out to the ideal size
Kashmiri naan history
The word ‘naan’ comes from the Persian word nān, which means ‘bread.’ Naan breads were traditionally baked in a tandoor, a clay oven from which tandoori cooking takes its name. This way of baking the naan gives it a beautiful, unique taste. Although, when baked in a normal oven or a pan, it’ll still taste great!
In the Kashmir region, an area between India and Pakistan, it became popular to use nuts and raisins to make a sweeter naan. Kashmiri naan soon became a staple dish, enjoyed by millions of people throughout the continent.
But what makes Kashmiri naan so unique? Well, it’s renowned for its nutty taste (normally cashew, almond or pistachio) and its sweetness (usually cherries, sometimes raisins).
Different types of naan bread
There’s quite a variety of traditional Indian naan breads, all with their own special unique character. So, whatever your preferred taste, discover the range of naans and find your favourite. Here are a few of the most well known naan breads:
Peshwari naan
The ingredient that defines a peshwari naan is coconut. You can use desiccated coconut or coconut powder Take a look at my recipe for Peshwari naan.
Laccha
While not actually a naan, laccha is very similar. It is normally made with whole wheat and doesn’t use raising agents. This makes it quite thin and multilayered when cooked.
Keema naan
A soft and fluffy naan that, once cooked, is stuffed with keema. Absolutely delicious! Have a go and use my keema matar recipe for the stuffing.
Kulcha
Kulcha is made with maida or refined white flour, instead of wheat flour. It’s also a mixture of dough with mashed potato, making it a unique flatbread.
Paneer naan
A crispy, plain naan stuffed with paneer, which is a fresh soft cheese that is very popular in Indian cuisine.
All of these naan breads make a great side dish to accompany just about any curry. But for me, Kashmiri naan is special. And I’ve no doubt that if you try it just once, you’ll think so too.
What goes well with Kashmiri naan?
With its sweet nutty taste, Kashmiri naan makes a healthy, heavenly snack. That’s why it’s so popular as an afternoon tea treat in Indian and Pakistani culture. So, let’s have a look at what goes down well with Kashmiri naan.
- Kashmiri kahwa – a traditional green tea, with flavours of saffron, honey and walnuts
- Noon chai – an essential part of Kashmiri breakfast and supper, this vivid pink tea is made with green tea leaves, milk, salt and baking soda
- Kashmiri pulao – for a savoury pairing, pulao is perfect. It’s an incredibly tasty sweet and savoury rice that influenced everything from paella to biryani
Kashmiri naan recipe
My Kashmiri naan recipe uses simple ingredients that add up to something special. The taste is so wonderful that kids and adults will love it. Whether you’re a foodie with a taste for Indian and Pakistani dishes, or it’s the first time you’ve tasted naan bread, you’ll be knocked out by the flavour. And it’s so worth making Kashmiri naan breads from scratch!
My recipe for the Kashmiri filling uses cashews and ground almonds, mixed with glacé cherries and honey.
The dough uses baking basics like flour, baking powder and dried yeast. It also uses a classic Indian ingredient – ghee, which is a type of clarified butter.
Ghee is key!
The secret to a wonderfully tasty naan, is to brush ghee on it after it’s cooked. Never heard of ghee? Let’s delve a little deeper.
An essential ingredient in Indian cooking, ghee is made by melting butter. Once melted, the butter separates into liquid fats and milk solids. Then, the milk solids are removed. Voilà! Now you have ghee.
As it has no milk solids, ghee has less lactose than butter. So, it’s definitely better than butter if you’re lactose intolerant.
Ghee also has a much higher melting point than butter. This means it’s great for frying or sautéing. As it’s heated for longer than other types of clarified butter, ghee has a rich nutty flavour. This explains why it’s the first ingredient on the list when it comes to making an authentic Indian curry.
It also contains a fatty acid known as butyrate, which helps digestion and may also have anti-inflammatory effects.
You can find ghee online on Amazon, at any large grocery store/supermarket, or any Indian food store.
Curries that go perfectly with Kashmiri naan
Kashmiri naan is not just delicious for breakfast or as an afternoon tea snack. Its subtle sweetness and lovely nutty flavour makes it the perfect side dish for a tasty curry. So, try some of these delicious curry recipes, all of which make a perfect pairing with a Kashmiri naan.
- Mung bean curry – a nutritious and delicious treat
- Mixed vegetable curry – a vegetarian delight
- Beef kofta curry – full of flavour with a nice kick
- Beef madras – an intense, spicy curry
- Lamb pasanda – creamy, spicy and dangerously tasty
- Gluten Free Puri – A wonderfully tasty Indian starter
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Kashmiri Naan
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 10 naan 1x
Description
Kashmiri naan is one of the most loved recipes in Indian cuisine. This fruity and nutty delight is best served with saucy curries.
Ingredients
Kashmiri Filling
- 150g (1 cup) cashews, crushed
- 65g (⅔ cup) glazed cherries, finely chopped
- 50g (½ cup) ground almonds
- 25g (1 tbsp) honey
Naan Dough
- 900g (7 cups) flour
- 15ml (1 tbsp) salt
- 30ml (2 tbsp) baking powder
- 300ml (1¼ cups) milk
- 7g (2½ tsp) dried yeast
- 30ml (2 tbsp) sugar
- 3 eggs
- 270g (1¼ cups) Greek yogurt
- oil, for frying
- 45ml (3 tbsp) ghee, melted
Instructions
- For the Filling: Place all the ingredients in a bowl and stir until everything is well incorporated. Set aside.
- For the Naan: Sift the flour, salt and baking powder into a large bowl.
- Gently heat the milk in a saucepan until warm to the touch. Don’t boil it!
- Pour the milk in a large bowl and whisk in the yeast and sugar.
- Cover the bowl of milk mixture with a cloth and keep in a warm place for 30 minutes. Ideally, it should foam.
- Beat the eggs and yogurt together.
- Pour the milk mixture into the flour, plus the egg mixture. Stir until well combined.
- Tip the dough out onto a clean, flour-dusted work surface and knead until the dough is soft and sticky, which should take around 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can use a stand mixer to do the job.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover it with a cloth.
- Wait for at least 1 hour, but no more than 24 hours, for the dough to rise.
- Filling the Naan: Divide the dough into 10 balls. (Use extra flour for dusting purposes to get this part of the recipe done. Things can get sticky!)
- Roll out each of the 10 portions of dough balls into thick circles.
- Fill half of each circle with one portion of the filling leaving about an inch around the edge.
- Wet the dough around the edges with a little water and fold each circle in half to enclose the filling.
- Pinch the dough around the edges to close.
- Gently roll out each naan into a round shape. Shake off excess flour.
- Cooking the Naan: Heat a dry frying pan over a high heat. When very hot, place a naan in it.
- Check the bottom regularly to ensure it doesn’t burn. What you’re looking for is a golden sheen with a brown toasted look. If it starts to look too dark, turn it over to cook on the other side. The average cooking time for a naan is between 3 and 5 minutes. If you prefer your naan more charred, finish it off under a grill.
- Place the naan on a plate and brush with ghee. Serve immediately with your favourite Indian curry. Enjoy!
Notes
If you love this naan, be sure to check out Peshwari Naan, which has a coconut filling!
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Pan Fry
- Cuisine: Indian
Keywords: kashmiri naan, kashmiri naan bread recipe, how to make kashmiri naan, indian naan bread recipe, naan with cashews and cherries
melanie stirling
Garlic butter naan is my favourite.
Solange
Garlic Naan Bread.
Michael Fisher
Kulcha Naan please
pete c
I’ve only had about 3 types but a keema naan would be my fave
Natalie Burgess
Peshwari is my favourite naan
Peter Watson
Peshwari is my favourite naan.
★★★★★
Margaret Clarkson
Garlic Naan
★★★★★
Jo m welsh
I like a Peshwari Nan bread
Iain maciver
Peshwari is my favourite naan.
★★★★★
Karen Richards
I like a garlic & coriander nan.
Sheena Batey
Garlic & coriander nan is my favourite
★★★★
Susan Lloyd
I make a gorgeous gluten free Naan with yoghurt, gf flour garlic and oil.
Michelle Ptak
Garlic & Coriander Naan … even better when they are homemade!
★★★★★
Alice Dixon
I make a garlic naan for our curry each week
ROBERT MCINTOSH
Garlic naan
Natalie Charman
Garlic and herb naan
Angela Kelly
Any type is great, but I love garlic.
Jen oconnell
Keema naan is my favourite
Mel Pennie
Garlic and Coriander Naan bread for me 😋
Kristie Metcalfe
Garlic naan is always ordered when I have a curry!
Keith Hunt
Founds some in a shop with just garlic in it.
Rebecca John
Am very boring I love plain naan, so it doesn’t compromise the flavours of the curry.
Laura Pritchard
A garlic & herb naan!
★★★★
Tina Lawton
My favourite naan bread is peshwari.
Emma Wolski
Peshwari
claire woods
Garlic Naan Bread.
fiona waterworth
garlic naan
Melanie Pugh
pashwari naan is my favourite! This one looks like a winner too!
Juli Savage
My favourite Naan bread is Peshwari – love the coconut flavour
★★★★
Suzanne
Garlic naan
kathleen warwick
Garlic and Herb is my favourite
clair downham
Garlic & Coriander Naan
laura stewart
Garlic Naan xx
HowToDrawAnOwl
dont know, never try any!
Elizm
peshwari for me
Mark R
I usually choose a garlic naan
Tammy Tudor
My favourite is garlic naan
Elizabeth Bazley
peshwari
Emilia Nastaly-Howard
garlic and corriander
Sharon Hirst
Garlic and coriander Nan is my favourite
Annabel Greaves
I love a peshwari naan
TonyG
Always keema naan got one coming with tonight’s takeaway
★★★★★
lynn neal
Garlic Naan Bread is my favourite!
★★★★★
Claire Reavy
I love a peshwari naan
Ursula Hunt
I like Peshwari naan
Adrian Bold
I love a garlic naan the most.
John Rossington
Garlic and Corriander Naan for me
Julie Ward
Garlic naan, its my sons favourite
Ruth Harwood
A lovely garlic and herb naan is lovely with a curry!
★★★★★
Julie Camm
Garlic naan is what I always choose, but I am keen to branch out…
Michelle Smith
Peshwari naan is my favourite
Carole Nott
I like plain naan best – great for using with dips
Irene Gilmour
Has to be garlic & coriander
Willow Calder
Peshwari naan is my favourite
Wendy Smith
Always Peshwari for me
Tina H
This looks sooooo good. I love naan bread. I like peshwari nann if I’m having a particularly hot curry or garlic nann otherwise.
Lucinda Fortune
I love peshwari
Dale Dow
I love all flavours but the rest of the house only eats plain ones…they’re strange that way lol
Jane Willis
I like the savoury fillings best, with keema naan being my absolute favourite
★★★★★
Stephanie
Love all of them favourite is coconut
Janine Phillips
I like a garlic & coriander naan.
Stef Acaster
Garlic naan
Angelique G
Love Paneer Naan! Thank you for this giveway and recipe!!!
Kate Cunningham
I love garlic naan
Rebecca King
Garlic and coriander naan is my favourite 😋
Jodie Green
cheese and onion naan
Ross Leech
Peshwari Naan.
Lyn Geddes
Peshwari naan
Michelle Ferguson
Garlic and coriander
Adele
Kashmiri naan is my favourite
Gaynor Vincent
I love a garlic nan – then my second fav is a peshwari
Glynis O'Halloran
My favourite is Peshwari
Angela Macdonald
I love garlic naan
Charmaine Dance
Garlic Nann
dana
I like garlic naan
Angela Morgan
Peshwari yum
Mark Mccaffery
A garlic naan is my favourite.
Margaret Mccaffery
Peshwari naan
Sheri Darby
I love plain naan all warm and buttery
Pam Smith
Peshwari…always!
Erica Field
Garlic naanbread
Laura Green
love a garlic naan!
Patricia Barrett
Garlic & coriander nan is my fave.
louise l
I love keema naan
Sallyanne Rose
Peshwari naan
Stephanie
Garlic
Robyn Clarke
Peshwari
Wendy Guy
Peshwari naan is my favourite.
Ian Yates
Plain is fine by me.
Kim M
Peshwari Nan x
ADEINNE TONNER
For me it has to be garlic naan
Marie Rungapadiachy
I love a peshwari naan. The combination of flavours are great.
Karen Dixon
Pashwari naan – sorry if my spelling in wrong
Josephine Pett
Peshwari is my favourite bread 😋 looking forward to trying some of your recipes. Making a fish curry this week, so hopefully I’ll be licking my lips soon 😋🍛🤞
Amanda S
Keema naan is my favourite
Fiona Johnstone
A garlic naan is my favourite. Nothing fancy buy delicious.
Victoria Bazley
I love a garlic and coriander nann
Laura Napier
Garlic & cheese
Richard Eldred Hawes
Keema Naan
Joan Hewes
Peshwari naan is mouthwatering 💕
★★★★★
Victoria Prince
I’ve only ever had garlic naan, so that would have to be my favourite!
Susan Hoggett
I love cheese naans
carol boffey
garlic and cheese
Sarah Hold
I like Keema naan or Peshwari…depending on where I am xx
Alison Rees
Garlic and coriander is my favourite
Richard Saunders
Kashmiri 🙂
Amy D
keema naan
Julia Linsley
I love Peshwari Naan
sue
garlic butter naan
★★★★★
Janine Hann
I like garlic and coriander naan.
Troy Easton
Garlic and coriander naan.
Caroline J Robinson
I love the sweetness of a Peshwari Naan
Laura Whittle
Garlic and coriander naan
Aaron Milne
Garlic and coriander naan is my favourite
sharon martin
i like a garlic and coriander naan
Jo Nichol
Peshwari naan
Louise Whittaker
I love a keema nan but to be fair I enjoy all of them!
Janine H
Garlic and paneer home made naan
Emma Davison
Garlic and coriander
Aileen
Garlic and coriander naan
Kirsty Fox
I love a plain Naan dipped in mango chutney
Sue Clarke
Peshwari naan ❤️ with Goan curry ❤️
Tracey Anderson
Garlic and cheese is my favourite 🙂
★★★★★
Janet Richardson
Paneer naan