Homemade buttery Naan stuffed with fresh fenugreek leaves and potatoes.
By Kankana Saxena
Naan as we all know is a famous Indian flat bread made in a tandoor oven. It’s not easy to build a tandoor oven at home but it’s not tough to make a nice soft buttery naan in your normal stove top or oven.
At the first attempt,naan may not come out perfect because it depends on what method you are using, like a stove top or oven. It also depends on the kind of stove top – a gas or an electric coil. Last but not the least, it also depends on the type of pan you are using to prepare the naans. 
I have an electric stove top and it’s not the best option for naan but I have no choice. Baking it in oven somehow makes it hard and chewy. Over the period, I also learned that cast iron pan is the best option to make naan; it adds a nice char to it.
Coming to the stuffing I used, Aalu is Potato and Methi is Fenugreek. The combination of these two is my husband’s favorite and so, I thought of using it as a stuffing. Fenugreek is used a lot in Indian cuisines – either fresh or dried or seeds. It has a very strong flavor and it is easily available in any Indian Market.
Aalu Methi Naan
- Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 to 7 Naans 1x
Description
Buttery Naan stuffed with fresh fenugreek leaves and potatoes.
Ingredients
- For the naan
- 3 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 4 tbs ghee/melted butter/oil
- 2 tbs water, for kneading
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp baking soda
- 2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 1/2 tsp sugar
- For the stuffing
- 2 large or 3 medium potatoes, boiled and mashed
- 3 cups fresh fenugreek leaves
- 1 tsp asafoetida
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp chilly powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- salt
- oil
- Few more ingredients
- ghee or butter to rub on the Naan
- 1/2 cup sesame seeds
- 1/2 cup cilantro, very finely chopped
Instructions
- For the stuffing
- In a pan, heat 2 tbs oil and add asafoetida.
- Then, add the mashed potatoes, spices (cumin, chilly and coriander) and mix them properly.
- Add fenugreek leaves, season with some salt and cook for about 5 minutes in medium heat.
- Once done, set it aside and let it cool completely before you stuff it in the naan.
- For the naan dough
- Put some warm water in a cup and add sugar and yeast. Cover and let it rest for about 10 minutes or until it’s activated and forms a nice foam on top.
- Mix the flour, baking soda, salt, ghee (or butter or oil), yogurt and the activated yeast in a bowl.
- Start kneading and add the water. If required, add more water but make sure the dough is soft but not sticky.
- Continue kneading for another 5 minutes until the dough is smooth and can be easily stretched.
- Take another bowl and grease it with some oil. Place the dough in the bowl, rub little oil on top of the dough and cover it with a clear wrap.
- Keep it in the oven with the lights on. This will keep the dough warm and helps in rising.
- It will take about 3 hours for the dough to rise to double in size.
- Take the dough out on a flat surface and knead for few more minutes.
- Divide the dough in 7 equal parts, transfer it to a plate, cover it with a clear wrap and let it rest for another 40 minutes.
- For the stuffed naan
- Take one portion of the dough and keep the rest covered (it’s important or else the dough will become dry).
- Roll it out a little, place some of the stuffing inside, seal the sides and start rolling very gently.
- Don’t roll it too thin or too thick.
- Sprinkle some sesame seeds and cilantro on top and give one last roll.
- Turn it over and brush some water very lightly (do not brush water on both the sides).
- Place the wet side down on the hot pan, cover it with a lid and bring the heat to medium. Since I use a electric stove top and it takes time to reduce the heat, I make sure that the heat is at medium all the time.
- Once you see some portion of the naan puffing up, sprinkle little bit of oil on the top and flip the naan.
- Stuffed Naan takes a little longer time to cook throughly. It took me about 4 minutes on each side at a medium heat.
- Once done, transfer it to a plate and keep it covered until you are done with the rest of the naans.
- Rub some butter on top and serve it hot.
- Prep Time: 4 hours
- Cook Time: 30 mins
this naan looks great!