irish naan

you heard me! Irish naan.... no, I'm not talking about Guiness beer bread. It's naan on the grill (no tandoor oven necessary!) made by your local irishman (or woman in my case).

Indian Naan Recipe
2/3 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
1 teaspoon white sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
6 oz plain fat-free yogurt
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (plus 2 more tablespoons for brushing the naan before cooking, alternatively to reduce fat you can use water in the dough and a pan spray on the naan before grilling - spray it on the dough, far away from the grill!)

Whisk the warm water with the yeast and sugar until the yeast is dissolved. Cover and let stand in a warm place for 10 minutes.

Sift flour and salt into a large bowl add the yeast mixture, the vegetable oil and all the yogurt. Mix into a soft dough then knead on a floured surface for 5-7 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a large non-stick bowl (spray with PAM or equivalent pan spray), cover and let stand in a warm place for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the dough is doubled in size.

Punch down dough then knead for 5 to 7 minutes. Divide dough into 8 pieces. Roll each piece out into 6 inch oval naans. (I have found this size a little unwieldy on the grill, you could divide the dough into 10 pieces and might yield a better result). Place each rolled out naan between parchment paper or on a tray so that you can carry it out to the grill.

Pre-heat grill to medium-high. Just prior to grilling, brush the naan with a little of the remaining vegetable oil and sprinkle with medium course sea salt. Cook naan on a hot grill for about 2 minutes on each side or until puffed and just browned.

Enjoy with your favorite curry or raita.

*k*