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Cottage Cheese and Garlic Stuffed Naan – Wholewheat Indian Flat Bread

21 November 2011 31 Comments

Naan – a popular flat bread from South Asia, always reminds me of my college days in Delhi. The time I traveled quite frequently to my home during weekends and used to eagerly wait for the bus to stop at those high way Dhabas (makeshift village side eateries) for some scrumptious meal. Charcoal smoked Naans hot from Tandoor (clay oven), generously smeared with fresh butter and served with whole creamy lentils, yogurt raita and sliced onions…Mmm. Although I often make Naan at home but nothing can beat that authentic taste of charcoal infused slightly charred stuffed Naan. If only I knew that a food blog is on the anvil…I would have asked him the recipe for sure

Naan resembles Pita bread which is baked with white flour leavened by yeast and generally baked in oven, while a traditional Naan is baked in clay oven or Tandoor which gives the characteristic smoky flavor to it. Of late I have switched to wholewheat flour baked Naans and like the more nutty flavors and crispy bake of the wholegrain. This recipe of cottage cheese & garlic stuffed Naan is all time favorite of my family who enjoy these breads with just dollops of butter. I cooked this recipe over stove top using my thick iron griddle and served them with simple Kidney beans curry also known as Rajma, a very popular North Indian curry.

First risen wholewheat dough..

Ingredients;

(makes 6 )

For the Bread

2 cups wholewheat flour
2 tbsp. yogurt/curd
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tbsp. oil
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. instant dried yeast
Warm water or milk for kneading

Filling

1/4 cup cottage cheese (paneer)
1/4 cup grated carrots
1 tbsp. crushed garlic
2 tbsp. mint leaves
1 onion sliced finely
1 tsp. red chili powder
1 tsp. coriander powder
Salt as desired

Topping

Nigella seeds (onion seeds)
sesame seeds
coriander leaves

Method; Mix dried yeast and sugar in a little warm water and leave it to rise for a few minutes and make sure that the yeast bubbles up and make frothy solution. Take the flour in a large vessel and mix it with salt. Make a well in the center and add yogurt, oil and the yeast mix into it.

Filling, nigella & sesame seeds

Knead all the ingredients into a soft dough using little water at each time. Cover the dough with a muslin cloth and keep aside for 2 hours to double. Since it has wholewheat in it, the dough will not rise as much as a dough with all purpose flour will.

Punch down the dough and make 6 balls of equal size. Smear little oil over each ball and keep side covered with muslin cloth for 10 more minutes.

Meanwhile make the stuffing ready by mixing all the ingredients for filling together.

make the filling and roll it up...

Take a ball and flatten it to about 1/4 inch round disc with a rolling pin dusting the board with dry flour, fill a little stuffing inside and close the disc from all the sides to secure the filling properly. Dust it with dry flour and roll it again into a thick round disc.
Lift the Naan and stretch it a little to give it a characteristic elongated shape. Sprinkle Nigella seeds or sesame seeds or chopped coriander leaves and slightly press the topping on it.

Plian Naan for daughter.

Flip to the other side and apply a little water on the other side (use a sprayer).

Heat a thick griddle/tawa and carefully lift the rolled out Naan and put the wet side on the griddle. Keep the flame high and see for bubbles on the Naan.

Turning the griddle in 2nd pic.to directly face the flame..

Turn the griddle at this point directly over the flame, Naan will not fall as it is struck to the griddle with water. Keep turning the tawa for even cooking and cook it for about 1 minute on high flame till brown spots appear on it.

Easy to serve..

Take out the cooked Naan with a knife, slice it into four pieces, smear it with butter and serve it hot with any accompaniment of your choice or enjoy these stuffed wholewheat flat breads just plain with extra butter.

Pair stuffed Naan with simple Kidney bean curry

Serve these cottage cheese stuffed wholewheat Naan with quick & simple recipe of kidney beans – Rajma.

Note;

Make all the balls, fill the stuffing and keep them ready to cook or bake, saves a lot of time.
Use a plastic sheet greased with oil to roll the Naan.
White flour or all purpose flour (maida) will give much fluffy and lighter Naans. Try this here.
You can avoid the filling and make plain Naan and pair it with any spicy Indian curry.

....

31 Comments »

working london mummy said:

what a delicious idea! making me hungry this lunchtime. I have never made naan bread at home but will give this a try

# 21 November 2011 at 6:12 pm

Reva said:

Lovely naan Sanjeeta..:) I like the trick of turning the griddle along with naan onto the flame… nat one..:)
Reva
Reva recently posted..Thalai Vaazhai Illai Virundhu – Mehendi Party

# 21 November 2011 at 6:19 pm

Priya said:

Omg, wat a great looking naan,feel like having rite now.
Priya recently posted..Mixed Veggies & Sprouted Greengram Cutlets

# 21 November 2011 at 6:30 pm

Pinky said:

Then Naan’s look so very good and so gr8 pics s well and substituting atta for maida makes it double healthy along with the filling. I love your blog dear .

# 21 November 2011 at 6:32 pm

sayantani said:

thats real scrumptious. such a warming bread for the winter months.
sayantani recently posted..Pasta Primavera with Fresh Basil

# 21 November 2011 at 7:31 pm

prathibha said:

I can eat this just like dat…no side dish required..looks yumm yumm
prathibha recently posted..Bangarpet Pani Puri……quite a unique Chaat!!

# 21 November 2011 at 7:55 pm

juniakk @ mis pensamientos said:

this naan looks SOO good! wow! is there such a thing as gluten free naan?
juniakk @ mis pensamientos recently posted..Quinoa with Roasted Grapes and Brussel Sprouts

# 21 November 2011 at 8:22 pm

Nishi said:

The naan looks so yummy and so healthy. You pics are making me drool
Nishi recently posted..Egg plant in Peanut sauce- from Sharmi’s passions

# 21 November 2011 at 9:23 pm

latha said:

nice naan very delicious sanjeetha today i tried chickpea flour fudge it came very well. easy to do also. thank u

# 21 November 2011 at 10:29 pm

Delishhh said:

I just like Naan and I am sure you can stuff it with anything and it will be good – sounds fabulous!
Delishhh recently posted..Pumpkin Fritters

# 21 November 2011 at 11:36 pm

Spandana said:

Delicious looking naan Sangeetha.. I tries making naan a few times in oven, but always they came out very hard.
These look super tasty!!

# 22 November 2011 at 1:06 am

aipi said:

Ah! I’m craving for some naan now, it looks sooooo good!

aipi recently posted..Methi Matar Malai with a Fragrant Saffron Cumin Scented Pilaf

# 22 November 2011 at 2:27 am

Shri said:

It is very hearty. Perfect for Winter!
Shri recently posted..Flan

# 22 November 2011 at 8:32 am

bhavani/ameanderingmango said:

Yum – I would love to eat this now! A perfect fluffy stuffed bread – so comforting and delicious. Thanks for sharing!
bhavani/ameanderingmango recently posted..Sublime smoothie

# 22 November 2011 at 9:17 am

sanjeeta kk (author) said:

@Latha, Thanks for trying out, and happy that it came out well!

# 22 November 2011 at 9:26 am

anu said:

wow awesomely healthy recipe with yummy stuffing!

anu recently posted..Mixed Berry Cake (Strawberry, Blueberry, Blackberry and Raspberry)

# 22 November 2011 at 10:35 am

Sharmilee said:

Wow…cant be any better..looks perfect

# 22 November 2011 at 11:09 am

EA-The Spicy RD said:

This looks amazing Sanjeeta! I recently bookmarked a recipe for gluten-free naan bread that I am dying to try-Your filling would be perfect with it!
EA-The Spicy RD recently posted..Recipe ReDux: Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Maple Buttercream Frosting

# 22 November 2011 at 11:50 am

Raks said:

Good idea to use whole wheat flour,looks wonderful,thanks for sharing
Raks recently posted..GOBI 65 RECIPE | CAULIFLOWER RECIPES

# 22 November 2011 at 12:45 pm

Anu said:

naan looks yummy

# 22 November 2011 at 8:16 pm

Magic of Spice said:

I already adore garlic naan, but garlic and cottage cheese stuffed…oh wow! So delicious!
Magic of Spice recently posted..What’s on the side? Roasted Golden Beets with Lemon and Mint Cream

# 23 November 2011 at 5:02 am

mjskit said:

Fabulous! You’ve taken nan to a whole new level. It’s not just a bread, it’s a meal! Love, love, love it!
mjskit recently posted..Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

# 23 November 2011 at 9:47 am

Shannon | Just As Delish said:

I love naan. This is so beautiful and delish, makes me hungry even though I just had my lunch
Shannon | Just As Delish recently posted..Ginger Tea – Home Remedy

# 23 November 2011 at 12:52 pm

Faith said:

Your naan looks amazing! I also LOVE cottage cheese…this is something I could happily eat for any meal!
Faith recently posted..Chai-Spiced Ricotta Cake {With Nutmeg-Scented Glaze} & Happy Thanksgiving!

# 23 November 2011 at 8:57 pm

Michael said:

Love bread of all sorts. When we do an Indian night at home, we either have Naan bread or Basmati rice. Thanks for this recipe! Simply yummy!
Michael recently posted..Caprese Salad – Tossed (Insalata Caprese)

# 24 November 2011 at 7:12 am

Lubna Karim said:

Wow….love it….a naan is perfect winter warmer recipe to me….love that spicy and filling stuffing…..
Lubna Karim recently posted..Jeera-Tomato Pulao/ Jeera-Tomato Pilaf

# 24 November 2011 at 5:25 pm

kadhyaa said:

Thats such a wonderful bread..yummy

# 24 November 2011 at 5:41 pm

Padhu said:

Healthy and delicious naan.Looks so tempting

# 25 November 2011 at 12:37 pm

a spoonful of yumm said:

i love naan…this is perfect for anyday garlic flavor makes it even better
a spoonful of yumm recently posted..{ Sippity Sip Fridays } Purple Fruit Shots

# 25 November 2011 at 1:59 pm

minal said:

thanks for this spacial recipe looking very tempting and healthy too:)

# 26 November 2011 at 4:35 pm

Jayalakshmi said:

Hi sanjeeta
This recipe looks awesome and want to give it a try as I love naan n we get it shop brought. Yours seems to b a healthy option. Just wondering whether this could be made in a hot plate stove as compared to flame ones ( I stay in UK and we have hot plate stoves here). If not, can you provide me with baking details for the same.
Thanks& regards,
Jaya