Soft Gluten Free Naan Bread Indian Flatbread Food

SOFT GLUTEN FREE NAAN BREAD (INDIAN FLATBREAD)

Steps:

• If using milk, whether cow's or rice milk, with vinegar, mix and set aside for 15 minutes until thick. If it does not reach the consistency of butter milk, use less than 1/2 cup.
• Add warm water to a medium sized bowl; add sugar or honey; stir to dissolve; add yeast; stir; and set aside until frothy, about 5 minutes. If it does not bubble start over with fresh yeast.
• In a large bowl, add remaining dry ingredients; whisk thoroughly.
• Add buttermilk, beaten eggs, to yeast mixture; whisk well.
• Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients; using a rubber spatula, stir until it reaches a soft dough the consistency of creamy mashed potatoes; allow to rest for 20 minutes.
• Scatter 2 tablespoons potato starch to a clean, flat surface; scoop 1/3 cup at a time of dough; add to floured surface; knead with dusted hands; shape into a disk as wide as your spatula.
• Using a wide, thin spatula, transfer to preheated cast iron skillet.
• Using the back of your fingers or a pastry roller dusted with starch, immediately flatten and distribute dough in pan working from the center, moving outwards.
• Fry on each side for approximately 2 1/2 minutes; coat tops of fully cooked naan with salted butter.
• Repeat with remaining dough adding additional potato starch as needed for kneading.
• Serve warm and store uncooked dough covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

NAAN

Steps:

• In a large glass, dissolve the dry yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar with 3/4 cup warm water (about 100 degrees F). Let it sit on your counter until it's frothy, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, sift the flour, salt, remaining 1 teaspoon of sugar and baking powder into a large, deep bowl.
• Once the yeast is frothy, add the yogurt and the olive oil into the glass, and stir to combine. Pour the yogurt mixture into the dry ingredients and add the kalonji and fennel seeds, if using, and gently mix the ingredients together with a fork. When the dough is about to come together, use your hands to mix. It will feel like there isn't enough flour at first, but keep going until it transforms into a soft, slightly sticky and pliable dough. As soon as it comes together, stop kneading. Cover the dough with plastic wrap or a damp tea towel and let it sit in a warm, draft-free place for 2 to 4 hours.
• When you're ready to roll, make sure you have two bowls on your counter: one with extra flour in it, and one with water. The dough will be extremely soft and sticky-this is good! Separate the dough into 6 equal portions and lightly roll each one in the bowl of extra flour to keep them from sticking to each other.
• Shape the naan. Using a rolling pin, roll each piece of dough into a teardrop shape, narrower at the top than at the bottom. It should be 8 to 9-inches long, 4-inches wide at its widest point and about 1/4-inch thick. Once you've formed the general shape, you can also pick it up by one end and wiggle it; the dough's own weight will stretch it out a little. Repeat this method with the rest of the dough. (If you're making the gluten-free version, you'll have better luck pressing the dough out with your fingertips, than rolling.)
• Warm a large cast-iron skillet over high heat until it's nearly smoking. Make sure you have a lid large enough to fit the skillet and have a bowl of melted butter at the ready.
• Dampen your hands in the bowl of water and pick up one of your naans, flip-flopping it from one hand to the other to lightly dampen it. Gently lay it in the skillet and set your timer for 1 minute. The dough should start to bubble.
• After about 1 minute, flip the naan. It should be blistered and somewhat blackened, don't worry - that's typical of traditional naan! Cover the skillet with the lid and cook 30 seconds to 1 minute more.
• Remove the naan from the skillet, brush with a bit of butter and sprinkle with a little coarse sea salt. Place the naan in a tea towel-lined dish. Repeat with the rest of the naans and serve.

GLUTEN-FREE NAAN / ROTI (INDIAN FLAT BREAD) - VERSION #1

Steps:

• In a bowl mix tepid milk with 1 teaspoon sugar and the yeast, then sit bowl in warm place for 4-5 minutes.
• Sift the flours, Xanthan gum, salt, baking powder into a bowl or food mixer. Add remaining sugar, oil, yogurt, egg and mix until smooth.
• Preheat oven to the highest setting. Make dough into 6 equal sized balls. Roll out balls into a tear shape that is ¼ inch thick (use rice flour if necessary to prevent sticking).
• Preheat a heavy baking tray in oven. Remove tray and put the naan on it. Return to the oven for 3 minutes or until the naan puffs up and turns light brown. Place tray under the broiler 30 seconds to 1 minute for extra browning.
• Brush with ghee or olive oil before serving.