Learn how to make easy Vegan Naan (Indian flatbread), from scratch! It’s pillowy soft and fluffy, and so delectable. Homemade naan is the perfect side for everything from curries to soups, and you can even use it for wraps!

Plate of vegan naan loaves.

Vegan Naan is a treasured side dish in our household. Indian food has always been one of my favorite cuisines and, needless to say, whenever I order it, I ask for extra naan.

I love ordering extras because it means that after the rest of the takeout is finished, I have naan to eat with my chickpea curry, my lentil curry, and even as a flatbread if I want.

Easy Homemade Vegan Naan

Let’s talk about the characteristics of naan before we get any further. The basic gist is this: it’s chewy, pillowy soft, and perfectly seasoned. Dusted with herbs and garlic, this bread is downright irresistible! You can even add a little parmesan if that’s to your liking.

Naan really exemplifies how easy, delicious, and rewarding it is to make your own homemade bread. I am particularly fond of this recipe because it only takes a little over an hour to prepare (and is resting for the majority of that time), so it really is possible to make it often!

A hand holding a loaf of naan.

What is Naan Bread?

Naan is a fluffy, leavened (made with yeast) flatbread that is usually baked in the oven. It’s chewy, soft, a touch sweet, and seasoned with a sampling of herbs and spices.

Note that this time, though, we’re going to make the naan in a cast iron skillet – so no need to preheat the oven today!

Finally, naan is a great bread to have sitting on your counter because you can eat it as-is and come away totally satisfied, but you can also enjoy it with a curry, or make a sandwich with it!

Stack of naan loaves on a plate.

Notes on Ingredients

What goes into making loaves of naan bread? Nothing too complicated – just some flour, a little sugar, some yeast, and a couple more ingredients. Here’s everything you’ll need to have lined up on the counter before starting:

  • Flour: I like to use all-purpose flour. Keep in mind you’ll need up to 2 tablespoons extra for kneading and flouring the bread.
  • Sugar: A little brown sugar adds some sweetness to this bread, which makes it even more delicious.
  • Baking Powder: To help with giving the naan a little lift.
  • Active Instant Yeast: Yeast is the main agent that will help the bread rise.
  • Seasoning: Gather up garlic powder, sea salt, and ground black pepper.
  • Warm Vegan Milk: You can warm your milk up in the microwave.
  • Greek Vegan Yogurt: Thick coconut cream from a can of coconut milk will also work (see notes below).
  • Coconut Oil: Or olive oil, for brushing.
  • Optional: Add vegan parmesan cheese, extra garlic, parsley, or cilantro, for topping.

How to Make Vegan Naan from Scratch

Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, add the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, yeast, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Whisk the ingredients together. Create a well in the center of the flour.

Add Milk: Slowly add the vegan milk and vegan yogurt to the dry ingredients, and then mix together with a spatula until just incorporated. The dough should look shaggy.

Dough being mixed in a bowl.

Knead the Dough: Flour a clean surface, and then pour/add the dough onto the surface. Flour your hands and fold the dough together. Knead the dough for about 3 minutes with your hands and knuckles.

Dough on a countertop.

Let the Dough Rise: Lightly grease the ball of dough with some oil and place back into the bowl. Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let it sit for 30 minutes on the counter in a warm area. The dough should rise and double in size.

Smoothed dough in a mixing bowl.

Create 6 Balls of Dough: Divide the dough into 6 equal balls and roll each into a circle.

A semi-circle of divided dough.

On your floured surface, press each circle down with your palm, then roll into a slightly oblong shape using a floured rolling pin. It should measure about 6-8 inches. I like to do this one at a time.

Rolled out dough on a countertop.

Cook the Naan: Over medium-high heat, heat a cast-iron skillet (preferably) or a regular large skillet. Brush both sides of the naan with a bit of the oil. Add a teaspoon each per naan of coconut oil into the hot skillet, and then add the naan. Fry up for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, until you see bubbles starting to form. They will puff up a little bit, but the indicator is the slightly darkened spots. Turn the naan over and cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute on the other side, looking again for the slightly darkened spots.

Naan dough in a cast iron skillet.

Let Cool: Remove the naan from the heat and place on a wire rack to let it cool. Sprinkle with vegan parmesan cheese, garlic, cilantro or parsley and a dash more of salt if needed. Continue with the other naan pieces of bread until finished. Serve and enjoy!

Torn pieces of vegan naan.

Tips for Success

And just like that, you’ve got a basket of vegan naan to complement your favorite curry or soup! Now that you see how easy this process is, the hardest part will be telling yourself that one batch of naan is enough for the week.

Read through these tips and tricks on naan to make life in the kitchen even easier:

  • Use Fresh Yeast: As with all bread recipes, ensure your yeast is fresh and active and your baking powder is fresh, too!
  • Possible Yogurt Substitutions: If you don’t have vegan yogurt, no problem! Stick a can of high-quality, full-fat coconut milk (don’t shake it) in the freezer for about 30 minutes, or leave it in the fridge overnight. Then scoop the thick part of to the equivalent (1/2 cup). It should be as thick as the consistency of yogurt. You can also sub vegan sour cream, buttermilk, or mayonnaise! For the buttermilk you can use the vegan milk + 1 tbsp of vinegar to the ½ cup mark, and let it sit until it gets like buttermilk. Start with 1/4 cup buttermilk, then add in the rest if the dough needs it!
  • If Your Dough is Too Sticky: The dough can get kind of sticky, so you may need to add a little more flour to the mixture before kneading it (up to 2 tbsp). Don’t add too much, though, or the dough will become dry.
  • Keep Loaves Warm in the Oven: I know, I know, I told you that you didn’t need to preheat the oven. But, since you’re cooking the naan loaves one at a time, you can use the oven to keep the warm if you want!
A pile of vegan naan on a plate.

Serving Suggestions

One of the many wonderful qualities of naan is its versatility as a side dish. You can eat naan:

How to Store Naan

Naan can be stored at room temperature for 2-3 days in a tightly-sealed container, or a tightly-sealed plastic bag. Toast a couple loaves in a toaster oven to reheat, or simply use a regular oven.

Can I Freeze Naan?

Freezing Naan is so simple. I recommend flash-freezing it, or wrapping it separately in parchment paper, cling film or foil, then into a freezer-safe bag. Thaw them in a toaster oven or on the counter or in the fridge. 

A pile of easy vegan naan.

Enjoy friends! If you make this Vegan Naan Recipe, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!

Overhead shot of stack of naan bread on a table.

Vegan Naan Recipe

Learn how to make easy Vegan Naan (Indian flatbread), from scratch! It's pillowy soft and fluffy, and so delectable. Homemade naan is the perfect side for everything from curries to soups, and you can even use it for wraps!
5 (from 53 ratings)

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour, + an extra up to 2 tablespoons for kneading and flouring
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon instant yeast
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/3 cup warm vegan milk, you can warm it in the microwave
  • 1/2 cup greek vegan yogurt, or thick coconut cream from a can of coconut milk (see notes below)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil or olive oil, for brushing
  • optional vegan parmesan cheese, extra garlic, parsley or cilantro, for topping

Instructions 

  • In a bowl, add the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, yeast, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Whisk the ingredients together.
  • Create a well in the centre of the flour. Slowly add the vegan milk and vegan yogurt to the dry ingredients, and then mix together with a spatula until just incorporated. The dough should look shaggy.
  • Flour a clean surface, and then pour/add the dough onto the surface. Flour your hands and fold the dough together. Knead the dough for about 3 minutes with your hands and knuckles. The dough will be sticky at first, but you add up to 2 tablespoons while flouring and kneading to make it easier to manage.
  • Lightly grease the ball of dough with some oil and place back into the bowl. Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let it sit for 30 minutes on the counter in a warm area. The dough should rise and double in size.
  • Divide the dough into 6 equal balls and roll each into a circle. On your floured surface, press each circle down with your palm, then roll into a slightly oblong shape using a floured rolling pin. It should measure about 6-8 inches. I like to do this one at a time.
  • Over medium-high heat, heat a cast-iron skillet (preferably) or a regular large skillet. Brush both sides of the naan with a bit of the oil and here you can add even more seasonings on the outside of the naan.
  • Add a teaspoon each per naan of coconut oil into the hot skillet, and add the naan. Fry up for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, until you see bubbles starting to form. They will puff up a little bit, but the indicator is the slightly darkened spots.
  • Turn the naan over and cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute on the other side, looking again for the slightly darkened spots.
  • Remove from heat and place on a wire rack to let the naan cool. Sprinkle with vegan parmesan cheese, garlic, cilantro or parsley and a dash more of salt if needed. Continue with the other naan pieces of bread until finished.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

As with all bread recipes, ensure your yeast is fresh & active and your baking powder is fresh, too!
Yogurt Substitutions
If you don’t have vegan yogurt, no problem! Stick a can of high quality full fat coconut milk (don’t shake it) in the freezer for about 30 minutes or in the fridge overnight, then scoop the thick part of to the equivalent (1/2 cup). It should be as thick as the consistency of yogurt.
You can also sub vegan sour cream, buttermilk or mayonnaise! For the buttermilk you can use the vegan milk + 1 tbsp of vinegar to the ½ cup mark & let it sit until it gets like buttermilk. Start with 1/4 cup buttermilk (& follow the photos) then add in the rest if the dough needs it!
Serving: 1g, Calories: 212kcal, Carbohydrates: 37g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 429mg, Potassium: 73mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 165mg, Iron: 2mg

Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.

More Vegan Bread Recipes to Try

Looking to experiment with more easy vegan bread recipes? Here are a few of my favorites: