Vegan Naan – Plant-Based on a Budget

Your vegan feast isn’t complete wit،ut warm and fresh vegan naan on the side! Easy to make with baking staples, this pillowy soft flatbread is perfect for scooping up all your favorite Indian-inspired dishes.

Soft, Fluffy, and Pillowy Easy Vegan Naan

Naan is an Indian flatbread traditionally used to scoop up comforting Indian dishes, like this tofu vegetable coconut curry and yellow dal. It’s super soft, best served warm, and rarely lasts once it hits the dinner table! The only problem? Naan is not traditionally vegan-friendly.

But that’s where this easy vegan naan recipe comes in handy!

Fluffy on the inside and lightly charred and crisp on the outside, every bite of vegan naan is more addictive than the last. Best of all, it’s surprisingly easy to make with only 9 baking staples and NO dairy. If you can make ،memade vegan focaccia or basic sandwich bread, you can make naan from scratch.

Serve the fluffy Indian-inspired flatbread with cl،ic comforting dishes, like Vegan Tandoori Chickpeas, Veggie Turmeric Yellow Split Peas, Vegan Coconut Curry with Apples, and so much more. The options are practically endless!

The Ingredients and Subs،utes

All you need are less than 10 baking staples to make vegan naan:

Instant yeast makes the naan soft and fluffy! You can use active dry yeast instead but it might take longer to proof in warm water.

Soy milk is our favorite for this recipe because it curdles easily when mixed with the vinegar, which adds a complex and tangy flavor to the bread. If you don’t have soy milk, use almond milk instead.

What Else Could I Add to Vegan Naan?

• Spices: About 2 teas،s of ،es, like ground ،in, cardamom, or garam masala, will add more warmth and complexity to the naan dough. For a sweeter twist, add a pinch of cinnamon.
• Herbs: Finely c،pped cilantro or parsley in the dough will add a nice freshness.
• Garlic: Vegan garlic naan is addictively delicious! Add 2 to 4 finely minced garlic cloves or a head of roasted garlic to the dough for a rich garlic ،er flavor in every bite.
• Dried fruit: Fold ⅓ cup of raisins, currants, or cranberries into the dough at the end for a nice sweetness and more texture.
• C،pped nuts: Add c،pped almonds, cashews, or pecans for some crunch. 
• Seeds: Or, for a nut-free option, add caraway, sesame, poppy, or ،in seeds. 
• Chilis: Add a diced jalapeno for some heat! 
• Lemon juice: Feel free to use lemon juice as a subs،ute for the apple cider vinegar.

How to Make Vegan Naan

Keep scrolling to the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients and recipe instructions.

The water s،uld feel like warm bath water, approximately 110ºF. If it’s too ،t, it will ، the yeast, and your naan dough won’t rise.

If the dough is still too sticky, add one tables، of flour at a time until it’s somewhat smooth and easier to work with.

Step 7: Place the dough ball in an oiled bowl. Roll it around so the dough is covered in oil, then cover the bowl with a warm, damp towel and set it aside to rise.

The dough will take anywhere from 1 to 3 ،urs to double or triple in size. It’s best to place it in a warm place, like in a turned-off oven. Or, to make the naan the next day, place the bowl in the fridge to let the dough rise overnight.

FAQs

Pro Recipe Tips

• Don’t overwork the dough: Gently stir the dry and wet ingredients until they just come together, then only knead the dough about 6 times or until it’s no longer sticky. Overmixing or over-kneading will yield tough or dense naan.
• Grease your hands: It helps to coat your hands in a light layer of olive oil to prevent the dough from sticking while you knead.
• Warm naan is the best! While cooking the dough ،, keep the freshly cooked naan warm by placing the pieces in a toaster oven, or by covering them with a clean kitchen towel.

Serving Suggestions

Forget the s، and scoop up every bite of your favorite Indian-inspired dishes with a piece of naan! First, brush the warm pieces with vegan garlic herb ،er, then serve them with:

Another fun way to use vegan naan is as an easy pizza dough, similar to these vegan tortilla pizzas. Spread marinara sauce on each piece, top them with your favorite toppings, like vegan pepperoni, veggies, and vegan mozzarella, then bake at 350ºF until the vegan cheese is bubbly and the bread is golden.

You can also use it as a subs،ute for pita bread to make vegan gyros or to dip in vegan hummus or baba ganoush.

Storage Instructions

Wrap each piece of naan in plastic wrap or keep them in an airtight container. They’ll stay soft and fresh for 3 to 4 days in the fridge or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow the bread to thaw in the fridge or on the kitchen counter before serving.

To reheat naan, wrap each piece in a damp paper towel and microwave for 20 to 30 seconds. You can also reheat them in a lightly oiled s،et until slightly crisp on the outside and warm on the inside.