Butter Naan

 This naan is soft, chewy, and delicious, especially when brushed with melted butter.  

Naan

Makes 16 medium naan

Ingredients:

4-4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon instant dry yeast

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 cup buttermilk

1 cup warm water

3 tablespoons butter, melted

1 tablespoon minced cilantro, optional

Directions:

1. Combine flour, yeast, salt, baking soda and baking powder in a stand mixer and mix on low speed to combine.

2. Add buttermilk and water.  Knead with a dough hook.  The dough will be quite sticky, but needs to be dry enough to be formed into balls.  After 4-5 minutes, with water or a little oil on your hands, take out a piece of dough and see if you can form it into a ball.  Add more flour as necessary so you can form the dough into balls.  Knead for a total of about 7-8 minutes.  

3. Put a piece of parchment paper on the counter and spray with nonstick spray.  Turn dough out onto parchment and cut into 16 pieces, using a bench scraper.  (Again, it can help to dampen your hands with water or spray them with a little oil.)  Roll each dough piece into a ball and cover them with plastic wrap.  Let rise for 1 hour.

4. After dough has risen, spray countertop with nonstick spray and press into a thin naan shape.  (I do this in batches while starting to cook.)  Allow dough to rest for about 10 minutes in the stretched out shape before cooking.

5. Preheat a cast iron skillet over medium heat.  You'll know the pan is ready if you flick a little water in it and the water immediately sizzles and evaporates.  Add one naan to the pan and cook for 30-60 seconds.  Once the bottom has some nice brown spots, flip and cook for another 30 seconds or so until it doesn't look doughy anymore and both sides have brown spots.  

6. Transfer to a kitchen towel and brush top of naan with melted butter.  Sprinkle with minced cilantro, if desired.  Keep naan wrapped up in towel until serving.

Source: adapted slightly from www.foodess.com