“Naan bread is the perfect accompaniment to Indian main dishes. It can be eaten with or instead of rice and is great for mopping up sauces with a lot of gravy and sauce. Whether you fancy a curry in London or are ordering a takeaway, you’ll notice that there are many different types of naan bread on the menu to choose from. So here are eight of the most popular.
1. Plain Naan Bread
When it comes to food that contains a multitude of mouth-watering ingredients and spices - you’re sure to think of curries. Indian dishes are packed with rich flavours, which is why many people prefer to keep their naan bread as plain as possible. Made from all-purpose flour with added ingredients such as eggs, yeast, olive oil and salt and pepper, it goes well with many dishes and is a top choice for the more fussy eater.
2. Butter Garlic Naan
If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, butter garlic naan introduces a few more flavours. Once the dough has been baked in a hot tandoori oven, the bread is brushed with butter or ghee and topped with minced garlic. Garlic naan is a great side for all curries as well as popular dishes such as butter chicken.
3. Peshwari Naan
Bringing a moorish sweetness to Indian cuisine, Peshwari naan bread has a unique filling that consists of almonds, desiccated coconut and sultanas or raisins. The filling is ground into a paste with a bit of butter or water to keep it nice and light. Brushed with butter or ghee to finish, Peshwari naan is the ultimate indulgence.
4. Paneer Naan
If you love Indian side dishes such as saag paneer (which translates to spinach cheese), you’re sure to enjoy paneer naan. A traditional naan dough is stuffed with grated paneer cheese as well as coriander, onions, masala spices and cumin. If you go to a top curry restaurant in London, all elements will be fresh and homemade.
5. Keema Naan
Keema naan is almost like a meal in itself. It’s stuffed with a meat stew (often lamb or goat) as well as potatoes, green peas, ginger, chilli, onions, garlic and garam masala spices. You’ll often see keema naan sprinkled with black sesame seeds too. It’s extremely filling but, when shared, can be enjoyed with a main meal - unless you have a king size appetite.
6. Aloo Naan
Aloo is a North Indian and Pakistani term for potatoes. So it makes sense that aloo naan consists of traditional naan dough stuffed with a spicy combination of mashed potatoes, chilli peppers, coriander and garam masala.
7. Kashmiri Naan
Typically served for breakfast or as a yummy snack, Kashmiri naan is a sweet treat filled with dried fruits, nuts, glace cherries, raisins, almonds, cashews, cumin and fenugreek. It’s baked in a hot tava pan until cooked. When served, it looks puffy and golden brown.
8. Chur-Chur Naan
As a popular North Indian flatbread, chur-chur naan is stuffed with a mixture of boiled and mashed potatoes, grated paneer cheese, finely chopped onion, hot chilli peppers, ginger, red chilli powder, garam masala, amchur, cumin, coriander, salt and pepper. As you can see, it contains some of the most popular spices in Indian cuisine and is popular in high-end restaurants.
If you’re looking for a good place to enjoy a quality curry in London, don’t miss Little India in Kensington. With a menu packed with favourites and chef’s specials, you won’t be disappointed."
