



FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Naan-Controversial

November 15, 2008


Bread is one of man`s oldest sustenance. Throughout history mostly every country and nearly every culture has had its own portion of bread. Whether it is the Iranian Persian lavashs, tabuns, sangaks, Mexican tortilla, Scottish oatcake, North American jonnycake, Middle Eastern pita, and Ethiopian injera, various cultures have had their bread served with many a dish.

In the subcontinent, bread is a vital part of the three meals of the day. Whether it is the paratha, chapatti, roti or naan, we love our bread in all its forms.

In all of these, perhaps it is the naan that has gained the most fame through its time. Not just served in abundance in the subcontinent, this is one food that is found on tables in restaurants and homes around the world. It is a staple accompaniment to hot meals in Central and South Asia, including Afghanistan, Iran, northern India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and the surrounding region.

The first mention of naan can be traced to the notes of an Indian musician, scholar and a poet. That man was Amir Khusrau and it was within his notes that we discovered the culinary habits of the Mughals; the naan was accompanied by either a portion of qeema or kebab, particularly at breakfast.

Though the Mughals relished naan, they weren`t the ones who had made it. Culinary historians point towards the Persian-speaking Central Asian nations — particularly the regions around Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Tajikistan. Through conquests and trade, the recipe of the naan found its way scattered across the subcontinent.

Naan is usually leavened with yeast; unleavened dough (similar to that used for roti) is also used. It is cooked in a tandoor giving tandoori cooking its name. Which is what makes roti different from naan the former is cooked on a flat or curved pan or tava.

A typical naan recipe involves mixing white flour with salt, a yeast culture, and enough yogurt to make a smooth, elastic dough.  The dough is kneaded for a few minutes, then set aside to rise for a few hours. Once risen, the dough is divided into balls (about 100 grams or three-and-a-half ounces each), which are flattened and cooked.


Naan has been served to kings  and queens and continues to  conquer many appetites around  the world. It joins the proud  family of universal cuisine that  has brought together memorable  times and good food.

The most common of derivatives of naan are the Peshawari naan and Kashmiri naan. These are filled with a mixture of nuts and raisins and are much broader and thicker than normal ones. Popular sprinklings on naan include cumin, sesame and nigella seeds.

Besides toppings, naans also come with various stuffings. The most common is aaloo or potato naan. Served mainly in the Punjab region, it makes for a complete meal unto itself.

Sometimes, people get their naans brushed with ghee or even butter. Some even sprinkle a dash of garlic over it to give it an added taste.

The role of a naan in a meal is quite similar to that of a chapatti; it replaces the fork and knife and accompanies  curry, vegetables or meat.

In Myanmaar it is referred to as naan bya and is a popular breakfast choice served usually with tea or coffee. It is round, soft, and blistered, often buttered, topped with boiled peas on top, or dipped in mutton soup.

In Turkic languages (such as Uzbek and Uyghur), the bread is known as nan. In Tajik it is called non. Besbarmak is the most popular Kazakh dish. It consists of mutton with small pieces of pastry boiled in broth and sprinkled with parsley and coriander; naan being a vital part of this traditional dish.

Naan has been served to kings and queens and continues to conquer many appetites around the world. It joins the proud family of universal cuisine that has brought together some memorable times and good food.