Aalu Methi Naan - Guest Post for Chef Dennis @ A Culinary Journey with Chef Dennis

How is the festive season going for you guys? I can feel it everywhere; shopping malls are always packed, halloween costumes are getting stitched and kids are all excited about the 'treat or trick'; it's the fun time of the year 🙂

A delicious meal doesn't call for any celebration or festival but all celebrations or festivals calls for a delicious meal. This festive month, for the first time in my life, I have been cooking non-stop and enjoying every bit it. Few days back, I tried making Stuffed naan and kind of surprised myself with how perfect they came out!

When Chef Dennis asked me to do a guest post, I almost jumped from my chair! I am sure that you don't need any introduction about this food blogger who is the Director of Dining Services at Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Flourtown, PA. In his blog A Culinary Journey with Chef Dennis, he not only shares his delicious recipes but also talks about interesting topics related to blogging, like photography or blogging ethics.

There is a lot that we can learn from him and if you haven't visited his blog yet, you should do it right away.

Chef Dennis left it on me to decide the dish and so I thought, why not share something from India and what better than a soft buttery naan. It's one of our favorite and perfect for this season.

I never knew making naan was even possible at home until I started reading about it in the blogs. I was one silly person who was scared of working with yeast but over the time, we became friends. Now, they behave and work with the dough to rise it neatly and that makes my naan soft and delicious.

I didn't learn making naan by myself. It's my dear friend Soma at eCurry whose recipe makes my naan the way I like.

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.

The only tiring part is to tear off the leaves from the stems, but it can help you pass the time as you wait for the naan dough to rise 🙂

Stuffed naan is a meal on it's own and you really don't need any sides. You can serve it with some plain yogurt and butter or some Indian pickle. It's warm, it's hearty and it's absolutely delicious!

It may not look absolutely authentic but it was delicious,buttery and super soft.

Aalu Methi Naan – Guest Post for Chef Dennis @ A Culinary Journey with Chef Dennis

Kankana Saxena

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Ingredients

 

For the naan

• 3-½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 4 tbs ghee/melted butter/oil
• 2 tbs water (for kneading)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
• 2-½ teaspoon active dry yeast
• ½ cup warm water
• 1-½ teaspoon sugar

For the stuffing

• 2 large or 3 medium potatoes (boiled and mashed)
• 3 cups fresh fenugreek leaves
• 1 teaspoon asafoetida
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon chilly powder
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• salt
• oil

Few more ingredients

• ghee or butter to rub on the Naan
• ½ cup sesame seeds
• ½ 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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Servings