Monday, June 4, 2012

Oasis Naan {For Tuesdays with Dorie}

I have had an obsession with making pita bread for years.  I've been trying to make a pita that has a nice big pocket and have spectacularly failed each and every time.  Of course, each attempt did result in a pretty yummy flatbread, certainly edible and great for dipping.  But that wasn't what I was going for.  I've even solicited help from a Jordanian friend who swears by his mom's pita recipe.  But even he couldn't help poor, little pocketless me.
I had all but given up the hope of ever making a pita pocket in my own oven.  So when I learned that the Tuesdays with Dorie group was making the Oasis Naan from Baking with Julia, I was certain that I'd have success with it.  After all, I had been making tasty flatbread for years.  Naan is nothing if not flat.   Why should this give me any trouble?

I enlisted the help of my three year-old little baker and set to making some naan.  I loved making the dough, especially the kneading.  I have been making no knead breads (like this one or that one) so often, I had forgotten how nice it is to get your hands into the dough.  This dough was like silk.  And my little guy loved stabbing the heck out of the it with a fork!   That's his little hand above.  I did make a couple of changes to the original recipe.  I didn't have cumin seeds, so I liberally sprinkled ground cumin over the uncooked naan to accompany the sliced scallions.  And to make up for the missing crunch I used coarse sea salt and sesame seeds.  Stab, stab, stab... Sprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkle...
I popped my first naan into the oven and said a little prayer that it would all work out as it should.  When I opened it up to take out my beautiful flatbread, I was stunned to see a round, perfectly puffed up pita!  Only when I am NOT trying to make a pita can I have any success with it!  Regardless, the naan/pitas were a great addition to our dinner.  They were the perfect vehicle for scooping great gobs of tzatziki into our mouths. I'm not sure I ever will perfect the pita pocket or flat naan, but I am certain that this recipe was flat out a winner (ha ha).
As we are asked not to post the original recipe, I will refer you to our hosts for this week- Julia of Always Add More Butter and Phyl at Of Cabbages and King Cakes.  You find the recipe there as well as read about whether they were better flatbread makers than me.  And of course, check out all the other bloggers in the Tuesdays with Dorie group and see how well their naan came out!

14 comments:

  1. Nice job, super cute blog and photos! I too am a Navy wife and love to spend time in the kitchen. Maybe we'll see you around sometime. ;)

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    1. The Navy is a small world, so we may indeed!

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  2. Your naan looks so delicious! And that's so funny about your long quest for a successful pita bread recipe, only to have the bread that's supposed to be flat puff up for you :) Do you think you will make it when you want pita bread next time? I put half of my dough in the freezer and now I'm tempted to bake it without poking the holes and see if I get pita bread!

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    1. I may try it. The only other small success I've had is with the standard no knead bread recipe. It puffed but I didn't like the texture. These had beautiful texture. My luck, they wouldn't puff for me when I want them too!

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  3. You're right - this had a pita-like texture. They came out beautifully and would be wonderful with tzatziki or hummus!

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  4. Watching your pic with the fork I could hear your naan saying "please don't hurt me"!! :-)

    Lovely blog - great Naans!
    I've loved them soooo much!

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  5. Isn't that always the way? Just when you least expect it ... the perfect pita. :) Your photos are beautiful.

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  6. Thanks all for the compliments on my photos. I'm always the least confident about that part of my blog, so it's good to know that maybe I can relax a little. :)

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  7. Nice! Mine puffed up way more than I thought they would as well. Maybe they would make great pitas if you don't poke them with a fork?

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  8. Pita/Naan, both delicious! Great for wrapping, sopping, scooping or whatever. This is one fun bread with many possibilities.

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  9. Looks great! And as long as it tastes great than it's a winner.

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  10. of course it worked out that way. you're only pocketless if you want pockets! nice post.

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  11. Definitely delicious and I'm not complaining about the puffing either. It's just struck me as completely ironic!

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  12. That is too funny - I hear you on the pita quest. I figure when I stop trying I will finally get it right...

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