Whether you’re making your own from scratch, getting your favourite takeaway or simply stocking up in the supermarket, naan is a firm favourite accompaniment to many South and West Asian cuisines. But is it vegan?
Naan bread
In South Asian cuisines, naan generally refers to a thick flatbread that’s leavened with yeast or bread starter and is traditionally cooked on the wall of a tandoor; a clay oven that reaches almost 500°C where the heat and gravity help form it’s distinctive air bubbles. Sometimes baking powder is used as a yeast substitute and milk or yoghurt can be added for a slightly creamier taste.
They’re usually brushed with water before cooking to help them crisp up, but butter or ghee can be used too.
Photo credits: Nora Cooks
Is naan bread vegan?
Unfortunately, the majority of naan isn’t suitable for vegans as they often contain ghee (clarified butter), yoghurt, milk or even eggs. However, it’s not impossible to find vegan-friendly naan in supermarkets, it’s just worth double-checking ingredients lists.
We love this garlic and coriander naan from Sainsbury’s and these from Tesco; both of which are suitable for vegans.
Fancy making your own plant-based naan? Here’s a great vegan recipe from Nora Cooks.
Send more vegan questions our way in the comments selection below.
FAQs
Unfortunately, the majority of naan isn't suitable for vegans as they often contain ghee (clarified butter), yoghurt, milk or even eggs. However, it's not impossible to find vegan-friendly naan in supermarkets, it's just worth double-checking ingredients lists.
Does naan bread contain dairy? ›
Unfortunately, most naan you'll get at Indian restaurants is not vegan, as the dough often contains yogurt (or milk) and it's brushed with melted butter. While there are a handful of store-bought vegan naan options, they are pretty lackluster and taste more like store-bought pita bread.
Is Stonefire naan vegan? ›
We worked hard to make these naan every bit as delicious as our Original naan. Stonefire® Organic naan is a Vegan and Dairy-free recipe and is Non-GMO and Organic certified.
What breads are vegan? ›
Vegans can eat bread that does not contain animal products or byproducts. This includes breads that only use some variation on flour, water, yeast, and salt including ciabatta, baguette, focaccia, sourdough, pita, and ezekiel breads.
Does naan traditionally have egg in it? ›
Naan is similar to other baked flatbreads but has a few distinguishing characteristics. Naan is enriched with ingredients like yogurt, milk, and eggs, while pita uses water to moisten its dough, making naan the softer bread.
Can a vegan eat pita bread? ›
At its core, pita bread consists of four plant-based ingredients – flour, water, yeast, and salt. This makes, you guessed it, pita bread vegan!
What Indian breads are vegan? ›
For bread, roti, puri, paratha, poppadom/papadum (a thin, crisp, disc-shaped cracker-like food), and chapatti are all traditionally vegan (although some restaurants do brush their chapatti with butter, so make sure to clarify you want it without). Poppadom is often served with a variety of chutneys and sauces.
What flour is naan bread made from? ›
OR just make a double batch of this naan so you can use one whole egg! 3. Flour – Bread flour makes the softest, fluffiest naan. But all-purpose/plain flour is very nearly as good.
Is sourdough vegan? ›
Here's a list of types that are commonly vegan: Sourdough. A type of fermented bread made from flour, water, salt, and sometimes commercial baker's yeast. Though uncommon, some varieties use milk instead of water, making them non-vegan.
Are Trader Joe's naan crackers vegan? ›
This product contains 5 ingredients that are not vegan and 7 ingredients that may not be vegan.
Some flatbreads like chapati and naan are deliberately bland and meant to accompany spicy main courses. But the majority of Indian flatbreads are remarkably flavorful and incorporate a multitude of delightful textures. Most Indian flatbreads are vegan-friendly, except for naan which traditionally contains milk.
Which naan bread is the healthiest? ›
Opt for whole wheat naan if you're looking to maximize your health benefits, and try to serve it alongside other nutritious foods.
Are Oreos vegan? ›
Oreos are vegan, and they're oat milk's favorite cookie. Milk's favorite cookie is accidentally vegan. Well, at least some are. The classic Oreo and many of its flavor iterations are completely devoid of animal ingredients, which leads to a natural follow-up question: what is the cream filling made out of?
What bread at Subway is vegan? ›
Is any bread at Subway vegan? Yes. The vegan bread options at Subway include 9 Grain Wheat, Hearty Italian, Italian white bread, Roasted Garlic, Sourdough, Spinach Wrap, Tomato Basil Wrap, Habanero Wrap, and Wheat Wrap. Check with your location to see which vegan options are available.
Is Dave's bread vegan? ›
Q: Are your products vegan? A: All DKB bread products are considered vegan and do not contain any animal products, however, our limited edition DKB Snack Bars (Trail Mix Crumble and Oat-Rageous Honey Almond™) are NOT considered vegan as they contain organic honey. Q: Do you make a gluten-free bread?
Can vegans eat yeast? ›
Since eating yeast does not cause it to suffer and involves no animal exploitation or cruelty, yeast is typically considered a vegan food. Although, a very small minority of vegans may still avoid it, as it is a living organism.
Are any Indian dishes vegan? ›
Common vegan-friendly North Indian curries are chana masala (chickpea curry in a ginger tomato garlic sauce), aloo gobi (potatoes and cauliflower in a ginger garlic turmeric sauce), and aloo matar (potatoes and peas in a spiced tomato sauce). In South Indian cuisine, dal is a common dish.
What is naan made of? ›
My favorite homemade naan recipe is made with basic bread ingredients (flour, water and yeast) plus a generous dollop of yogurt, egg and baking powder to make the bread extra soft and chewy.
