Since making our vegan take on traditional Indian naan bread a while back, I’ve significantly decreased my consumption of gluten, so naan was off the table for a while. Moment of silence as we grieve.
The gluten-free alternatives I’d tried up to this point were admittedly lackluster. I missed the pillowy, stretchy naan bread infused with garlic alongside my beloved curries, so I got to work. And the results were incredible.
Friends, behold, gluten-free vegan naan made in 1 bowl, in 20 minutes, with simple ingredients! It’s the gluten-free naan of my dreams, pairs well with SO many dishes, and is freezer friendly! Let us show you how it’s done.
Origins of Naan
Naan is believed to date as far back as 1300 AD when it was mentioned in the notes of an Indo-Persian poet. Then, around 1526, it became popular among royals of the Mughal era in India. Because naan contained yeast (which was very expensive), it was reserved for royalty. (source)
How much times can change! Once yeast became more readily available, naan’s popularity spread throughout India and to other parts of the world.
Our gluten-free version is not authentic but is inspired by the concept and ingredients. You can find an authentic recipe here.
How to Make Gluten-Free Naan
Naan is traditionally made with all-purpose (wheat) flour, which is not gluten-free. But the gluten provides a stretchy element that can be tricky to replicate with gluten-free alternatives. But friends, we’ve done the trial and error so you don’t have to!
We’ve found that the key is to use a perfect combination of gluten-free flours that achieves the right taste and texture. You can read more about different gluten-free flours here.
For this recipe, we used coconut flour for its dense, wholesome texture then lightened it up with potato starch for fluffiness and arrowroot starch for a stretchy, pliable element.
You’ll mix the flours into a fluffy, foamy mixture with coconut yogurt, coconut milk, olive oil, baking powder, salt, and garlic.
Next, you’ll roll the dough into balls (about 3 tablespoons of dough each).
Use a rolling pin on a (gluten-free) floured surface to flatten the dough.
Though naan is traditionally made in a clay oven (called a tandoor), a cast-iron skillet works well for this recipe.
You’ll want to brown it on both sides and repeat with the rest of the batch.
And for quicker weeknight preparation, you can freeze the cooked naan and reheat in a skillet or in the microwave. So easy!
We hope you LOVE this recipe! It’s:
Fluffy
Stretchy
Pillowy
Tender
Garlicky
& Versatile!
Enjoy this delicious naan as an appetizer, side, or snack! Pair with your favorite Indian-inspired dishes such as the ones below.
What to Eat with Naan
- Easy Chana Masala
- Easy 1-Pot Tikka Masala
- Vegan Palak Paneer with Curried Tofu
- Vegan Red Lentil Curry by Rainbow Plant Life
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
Fluffy Gluten-Free Naan (Yeast-Free, 20 minutes!)
Ingredients
NAAN
- 1/4 cup plain coconut yogurt (Culina is our favorite)
- 1/2 cup light coconut milk (canned), plus more as needed
- 1 tsp olive oil (if oil-free, omit and add more coconut milk as needed)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 2 small cloves garlic , minced or pressed
- 1/2 cup coconut flour (we haven’t tested almond flour, but it might work)
- 1/2 cup arrowroot starch (we haven’t tested other starches, but cornstarch might work)
- 1/2 cup potato starch (NOT flour // potato starch is pretty key here for fluffy texture, so I’d be hesitant to sub it out)
FOR ROLLING
- 1/4 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour
FOR SERVING optional
- Olive oil or melted vegan butter
- Crushed garlic
- Fresh parsley, minced
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl add coconut yogurt, coconut milk, olive oil, baking powder, sea salt, and garlic and whisk to combine. The mixture will likely fluff up and foam if your yogurt has active cultures (our favorite is Culina plain yogurt). This is normal and good!
- Next add coconut flour, arrowroot starch, and potato starch and stir with a wooden spoon to combine. It should form a dough that is moist and malleable, doesn’t stick to your hands, and also doesn’t crack easily when rolled. Add more potato starch as needed if too sticky. Add more light coconut milk as needed if it’s too dry.
- Generously sprinkle gluten-free flour on a clean surface and place 1 ball of dough (~3 Tbsp in size) in the center. Generously dust the top of the dough with GF flour. Use a rolling pin to roll into a thin oval shape, about 1/4 inch thick.
- Heat a skillet (cast iron is best, or non-stick) over medium-high heat. Once hot, spray or drizzle with a little oil (such as avocado; optional if using a non-stick pan). Then use a spatula to carefully transfer the dough to the pan.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes or until the underside is golden brown. Bubbles may form while it’s cooking — that’s normal and good. Flip carefully and cook for another 2-3 minutes (less if you prefer a more pillowy naan). Lower heat as needed to ensure it doesn’t burn. You’ll know it’s done when both sides are golden brown.
- Repeat this process until all naan dough is used (~6 large or 12 mini naans as the original recipe is written).
- Drizzle with a little olive oil and garnish with more minced garlic and/or some fresh parsley if desired (all optional). Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 2-3 days, though best when fresh. To freeze, place cooked, cooled naan in a freezer-safe container or bag (adding parchment paper between each naan will prevent sticking) and freeze for up to 1 month. To serve, either heat from frozen in a toaster oven, thaw overnight and then heat in a skillet, or microwave from frozen until warm. As with most bread, best when fresh.
- This naan is perfect for serving with any Indian-inspired dish, such as Chana Masala, Tikka Masala, Vegan Palak “Paneer,” and more!
Amanda R. says
Oh how I have missed naan. This is fantastic! I even flubbed the recipe a little and it was still delicious. Thank you so much for this delicious recipe!
We’re so glad you enjoyed the naan, Amanda! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Jen says
I have made these many times now. Always a double batch. Never with all the stated ingredients so far. I have used full fat dairy, haven’t had enough of each kind of flour so I have used combos of cup for cup, and tapioca starch, and almond flour, maybe cassava. My family really likes them and only one out of five is actually gluten free. I am going to embark upon trying them as a sandwich bread next. And I am actually going to make them dairy free from now on. :) Thank you for the recipe!
Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing, Jen!
Elle says
Hi Minimalist Baker Team! I made this recipe last night and the bread turned out gummy. My thoughts about why that would be is that I used Harmless Harvest coconut yogurt, which is fairly dense and perhaps “wetter” than Culina coconut yogurt. Aside from that, I followed the recipe and used the ingredients as outlined in the recipe so my only other thought would be that altitude could possibility affect the texture? I’m not sure. Could you let me know what you think? Thanks!
Hi Elle, We’re so sorry it didn’t turn out right! We wouldn’t think that type of yogurt would make a huge difference, but it’s possible! Altitude is more likely the issue. We’d recommend trying more potato starch to see if that helps! That’s the key ingredient adding fluffiness here. Keep us posted!
JEANNIE says
Could I use dairy greek yogurt (Fage) instead of the culina?
That should work well!
Aimee says
Um, wow. WOW! My husband is GF and I am not. GF recipes have been getting so good in recent years. I decided to try this one out. I also used dairy yogurt because I had that, but everything else the same. I think next time I’ll add a slight bit more coconut milk and roll them thinner, but even if I did it the same as this time they were amazing! I held the first one out to my husband and he said, these are gluten free?? And then he proceeded to eat a whole bunch of them! As a gluten- eater, I’d say these aren’t exactly like Naan you get in a restaurant – they’re kind of their own thing, but close and so darn tasty I’m perfectly happy to make them and eat them any time! I think these will be added to our regular round of dishes. Thank you!
Aw, yay! We’re so glad you both enjoyed them, Aimee. Thank you for sharing! xo
Danielle Fortier says
The best gluten-free naan/pita ever! It is very light and it is also versatile. With the price of gluten-free bread, I started to use it even for hamburgers 😊
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoy the recipe, Danielle. Thank you for sharing! xo
Lynn says
Can I make this with almond milk instead of coconut milk?
Hi Lynn, we haven’t tried it, but it should work!
Erica Phillips says
This is an amazing recipe! So good even the gluten eaters in your home will prefer these! Texture is amazing and taste, wow! That garlic is kicker. They are perfect for scooping up curry or stews! Or on their own! Hard to not eat them while cooking’
We’re SO glad you and your family enjoy them, Erica! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review! xo
Jen says
Thank you! I’ll try it and report back! :)
Jen says
If I want to swap out the arrowroot (which I rarely have!) with tapioca flour (which I always have!) would you recommend the same amount or should it be more/less? All the other ingredients I’ll leave as is!!
Hi Jen, tapioca might make them a bit too gummy, but it should be the same amount if you are swapping them! Otherwise cornstarch is your best bet!
Steffani Rideau says
Super easy to make and so delicious! I was lazy and just rolled/flattened in my hands, but next time I’ll roll them. They puffed up a bit during cooking so ended up pretty thick. Still so good though! I only had 3/8 c coconut flour so used 1/8 c almond flour and I had no issues.
Thanks for the review and for sharing your experience, Steffani!
Gaye says
Oh yay, this was such a treat! I made it just like the recipe said, and then looked up “how to eat naan” with our Butter Chicken recipe and did as instructed. We all liked it very much. Thank you!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Gaye! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Tiffany says
Hi- quick question. How “coconut-y” is the flavor? I’ve got a house full of folks who do NOT like coconut. I’ve made a couple other gf naan recipes, and I’ve enjoyed the flavor. But I miss the texture of traditional naan. Thanks!
Hi Tiffany, we don’t find the coconut flavor noticeable, maybe if one was very sensitive to it you would taste it, but it is very subtle! Let us know what you think if you give it a try!
Sandra says
I saw this recipe just as I was about to try a black cod dish with a coconut milk curry! I was so excited! I’ve made them twice now – only a half a recipe at a time and really enjoyed them. I’m curious if my batter is not thin enough as I got no “bubbling” either time. Since my batch was so small, I just divided it into three balls and flattened with my hands instead of rolling them. They were so quick and easy. Should I try making my batter thinner to get the bubbling effect? Thanks so much!
Hi Sandra, we’re so glad you enjoy these! How hot is your pan when you add the Naan?
Sandra says
My iron skillet was very warm. They cooked quickly. Do I need to lower the heat?
No, medium-high heat is best. Rolling them thinner vs forming with your hands could be the solution!
Lauren says
I’m so happy to find a delicious gluten-free naan recipe! I didn’t have potato starch so I used white rice flour instead and it came out great. And I added a bit more coconut milk to make it stick together a little more. I will make these again for sure!
Amazing! Thank you for sharing, Lauren! xo
Jessie says
Could your gluten free flour mix be used instead? And if so, should I still add arrowroot? And is it 1-1? Thank you!
Hi Jessie, we don’t think it would work in this recipe! The texture of coconut flour is hard to replicate with a blend!
Emily says
This recipe was INCREDIBLE! I used whole milk yogurt rather than coconut yogurt but otherwise stuck exactly to the recipe, and I could not believe how stretchy and squishy the final product was – really such a similar texture to the naan I’m used to. They cooked up so perfectly and quickly and paired so well with some leftover curry I’d made the night before. This will absolutely be a repeat weeknight recipe in our house! I’m so impressed!!
Aw, thank you SO much for the lovely review, Emily! We’re so glad you enjoyed it! xo
Debi says
Made these twice this week. The second time was a charm! Used my Tortilla press and a little extra flour and they were great! My coconut yogurt was So Delicious as none of our stores had your suggested brand. I also couldn’t find potato starch so I subbed tapioca and they were amazing! Thanks so much. Served with falafel with roasted veggies.
Woohoo! Thanks for the great review and for sharing your substitutions, Debi!
Angela says
I’ve only been gluten free for about a year. So I’m used to regular, traditional naan. I still prefer the flavor & texture of traditional naan, but this is a good substitute. I loved the texture & it smelled lovely as I was making the dough. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Yay! We’re glad this was a tasty alternative for you, Angela. Thanks for the review!
Carrie says
Great recipe! It’s quite easy to make and it tastes great! I’m thrilled to be able to eat naan again. I had to use almond flour since the store didn’t have coconut flour..and I agree with Sara… you will have to use more in order to get it to a dough consistency. I ended up adding 1/2 cup more of almond flour and 1/2 cup more of potato starch than the recipe called for but it did the trick! I used plain Greek yogurt instead of coconut yogurt and cornstarch instead of arrowroot. But I’m happy to say it still turned out great despite all the alterations! I found the dough held it’s shape if you don’t roll it too thin… just a couple quick rolls each direction and that should do the trick! Thanks for this fantastic great tasting recipe I will happily make again!!!
Stephanie K says
So delicious! I added Italian seasoning to the dough to give it some extra flavour! This is a must have alongside homemade butter chicken!
Yum, sounds amazing! Thank you for sharing, Stephanie! xo
Brionna says
Loved this naan! Very easy to make and it came out great. I was too lazy to get involved with a rolling pin so I flattened each piece out with my hand and then did the rest of the work with a spatula once I put the naan into the skillet to cook. Worked great! (make sure your spatula isn’t slotted).
Love it! Thanks so much for the great review and for sharing your modifications, Brionna!
Kiersten says
This was good! I haven’t had real naan in so long since I have been avoiding gluten for years, but my husband eats regular naan, and he loved this.
In case anyone is wondering, it worked well with dairy yogurt instead of coconut yogurt and cornstarch instead of arrowroot starch.
Amazing! We’re so glad you got to enjoy naan again =) Thank you for sharing, Kiersten!
The Vegan Goddess says
This is flavorful and delicious; you can taste the garlic and coconut yogurt. I used a different brand of coconut yogurt than Culina.
I had trouble forming the flatbread without it falling apart but was attempting to do so without using flour. I adjusted them by making them a bit thicker with flour on them and it made the difference. You have to make sure that they are solid before you put them on the stove or they will stick to the pan and be a mess. It works if you make the right adjustments.
Very tasty!
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so glad you enjoyed them with the extra flour! xo
Anthony Mc Gaughey says
Didn’t have success with this – too wet to handle even free adding heaps of arrowroot and using gf self raising when rolling out – ended up tossing in bin
Hi Anthony, so sorry to hear it didn’t turn out well for you. Did you make any modifications to the flours? What type of yogurt did you use?
Elise Cranston says
Can you make the dough the night before and roll out and cook the next day?
Hi Elise, that should be okay, but the baking powder might not be quite as active. Let us know how it goes!
Chelsea says
This was amazing! I made it with no substitutions (same brand recommendations and everything) and my whole family loved it! I recently found out I had a gluten allergy and was missing naan bread so much but this tastes just like the regular, gluten-filled version!
Amazing! So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Chelsea. Thanks for the great review!
candice says
Perfect every time! I have made these several times and they taste so so so good! My whole family loves to enjoy them. I reheat any left overs in the toaster oven and they taste so good!
Whoop! Love that, Candice! Thank you for sharing your experience! xo