Go Back
+ servings
Naan Bread with Sourdough Discard

Naan Bread with Sourdough Discard

492kcal
No ratings yet
Share Print
Prep 20 minutes
Cook 5 minutes
Rise & Rest Time 3 hours
Total 3 hours 25 minutes
This recipe yields incredibly soft, pillowy, and seriously addictive flatbreads using your leftover sourdough starter. By combining tangy Greek yogurt and a sourdough discard base, you bypass commercial yeast entirely while still achieving signature, blistered char spots and a beautifully tender chew.
Servings 6 Large Naans
Cuisine Indian

Ingredients

The Main Naan Dough
  • 100 g Lukewarm water
  • 100 g Greek yogurt
  • 150 g Sourdough discard
  • 1 Whole egg
  • 45 g Sugar
  • 12 g Salt
  • 535 g All-purpose flour
  • 50 g Whole wheat flour
The Aromatic Garlic Spread
  • 50 g Melted butter
  • 2 Cloves of garlic, finely minced

Equipment

  • Frying Pan or Cast Iron Skillet Essential for high-heat searing to create authentic blistered char spots
  • Stand Mixer Optional, though a few minutes of hand kneading works perfectly
  • Pastry Brush For spreading the rich garlic-infused melted butter
  • Rolling Pin To evenly roll the dough into thin, uniform rounds

Method

Naan Dough Preparation & Warm Proof
  1. Dough Consolidation: In a large mixing bowl (or the bowl of your stand mixer), whisk together the 100g of lukewarm water, 100g of Greek yogurt, 150g of sourdough discard, 1 whole egg, 45g of sugar, and 12g of salt until smooth and uniform. Dump the 535g of all-purpose flour and 50g of whole wheat flour directly into the wet mixture.
  2. The Kneading Phase: Knead the mixture for a couple of minutes by hand, or run your mixer on low speed, just until the ingredients come together and form a smooth, cohesive ball. (The Calibration Check: If the dough feels overly sticky to the touch, dust in a tablespoon of extra flour; if it feels excessively stiff, splash in a tiny bit of water).
  3. Bulk Fermentation Folds: Cover the container securely and let the dough proof in a warm spot set to $80text{--}84^circtext{F}$ ($26text{--}29^circtext{C}$) for 2 to 3 hours. Perform 2 gentle rounds of stretch-and-folds spaced evenly throughout the proofing window to organize gluten elasticity. By the end of this rest, the dough will look slightly puffy and display tiny surface bubbles.
Portioning, Bench Rest, and Rolling
  1. Dividing the Mass: Turn the puffy dough out cleanly onto a slightly floured work surface.
  2. Shaping Options: For small appetizer naans, divide the dough into uniform 30g pieces and roll them into smooth spheres. For traditional, large restaurant-style naans, portion the dough into 60g to 70g pieces and shape them into taut rounds.
  3. The Bench Rest: Cover the shaped dough rounds loosely with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let them rest undisturbed on your counter for 30 minutes to fully relax the gluten network.
  4. The Roll Out: While the dough rests, mix your 2 minced garlic cloves directly into the 50g of melted butter. Pre-heat your dry frying pan over medium heat. Roll each rested piece of dough out with a rolling pin into a thin, even circle.
Blistered Pan Sear & Finishing
  1. The First Side Sear: Lay one thin dough circle directly down onto the hot, dry pan surface. Let it bake untouched for 2 to 3 minutes over medium heat. You will see bubbles form across the surface as it cooks.
  2. The Flip & Glaze: Flip the naan over to cook the secondary side for 2 more minutes until distinct, deep brown char spots freckle the bottom surface. Using a pastry brush, spread a generous layer of the prepared garlic butter over the cooked top face. Flip briefly to coat the reverse side if desired.
  3. The Softening Steam Trick: Transfer the hot, finished naan onto a serving plate. Immediately cover the warm naans with another upside-down plate or plastic wrap while you finish cooking the remaining dough rounds. The trapped rising steam softens the crust, turning them incredibly pliable and tender. Serve warm alongside your favorite dishes!

Nutrition

Calories492kcalCarbohydrates87gProtein15gFat9gSaturated Fat5gPolyunsaturated Fat1gMonounsaturated Fat2gTrans Fat0.3gCholesterol49mgSodium214mgPotassium195mgFiber3gSugar8gVitamin A252IUVitamin C0.4mgCalcium46mgIron5mg

Notes

  • The Critical Trapped Steam Step: To capture that soft, bendable, authentic restaurant-style flatbread texture, do not leave the cooked naans exposed to open air on your counter. Stacking them immediately onto a plate under a tightly sealed cover traps their residual heat and moisture. This targeted steam environment softens any crispy exterior edges, turning the flatbreads perfectly pillowy.
  • Why the Sourdough Discard Mix Stays Tender: Utilizing unfed sourdough discard adds a beautiful background tang to the dough profile without requiring hours of active fermentation to build flavor. Because the wild yeasts are dormant, the rich additions of Greek yogurt, sugar, and egg work to tenderize the structural crumb matrix, preventing it from turning tough or rubbery during the fast pan-searing step.
  • Troubleshooting Sticky vs. Stiff Textures: Depending on the thickness of your specific Greek yogurt brand and the unique hydration level of your stored discard, your dough consistency may require minor adjustments during step 2. Do not hesitate to alter the feel: sprinkle in a touch of extra all-purpose flour if the mass clings heavily to your fingers, or introduce a splash of warm water if the dough feels too dense to easily stretch.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!