One is fluffy, bubbly, and infrequently oval-shaped. The opposite is round and has these splendidly handy pockets, excellent for sandwiches. These are the 2 most noticeable variations between naan and pita — each spherical, barely leavened wheat flatbreads. You’ll be able to brush them with oil or butter and sprinkle spice blends or herbs on them, should you so need. They each make useful substitutes for pizza crust too.
Normally softer, naan originates in India, by means of Persia. The identify comes from the Persian phrase, non, for bread. Not like pita, naan has yogurt, milk, and typically eggs or butter in it, leading to a softer texture. When the dough is made, bakers form it right into a ball and slap it on the inside partitions of a tandoor, a clay oven. The bread puffs up and bubbles because it cooks. There are skillet methods to prepare dinner naan, however it doesn’t produce the really genuine model. Typically naan is stuffed, however it’s eaten flat and as one joined piece.
Believed to be a lot older, pita has fewer substances — simply flour, salt, water, and yeast — and originates within the Center East, spreading to the japanese Mediterranean and wheat-eating areas of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The English phrase, pita, comes from Greek. Pita is simpler to make additionally as a result of it may be made in a contemporary oven. It’s somewhat more durable and drier, however while you lower the circle in half, the bread opens into two pockets. These pouches are perfect for filling with all types of meats, greens, and sauces, like a sandwich. Folks like to put falafel contained in the pouch.
Each of those breads might be brushed with olive oil, spices and herbs. They’re nice for making flatbread pizzas and for scooping into dips. Concerned with making your individual or just some good recipes that accompany these flatbreads? We’ve introduced you six recipes that decision for naan and pita.
Yeasted, yogurt-enriched naan is historically baked by slapping the oval rounds of dough on the within partitions of the tandoor oven. Assuming you don’t have a tandoor at dwelling, we advise two choices for cooking: a cast-iron skillet, which yields a dense and chewy naan, or a yard grill, which seems a fluffy naan with a crisper crust. Get our simple naan bread recipe.
2. Lamb Pitas with Cucumbers and Yogurt
You’ll be able to remodel leftover lamb (or different meat, or falafel) right into a satisfying pita sandwich with out a lot effort in any respect. Get our lamb pitas with cucumbers and yogurt recipe.
Well-liked in northern India, chole masala is entails simmering chickpeas and tomatoes with fried garlic, ginger, onion, chiles and conventional Indian spices. Mop up the goodness with some naan. Get our chole (chana) masala recipe.
Dissipate your leftover pita by making this simple breakfast pizza of types. There’s an egg, so it completely qualifies as the correct accompaniment to your espresso. Get our breakfast pita pizza recipe.
This Indian greens stew usually has paneer cheese, however crispy cubes of tofu work simply tremendous instead. Onion, garlic, and ginger mingle with spices, cream, and frozen chopped spinach. Scoop up this creamy, comforting dish with naan. Get our saag with tofu recipe.
To make your pita wedges a extra reliable, non-bendy scooping automobile from bowl to mouth, make crunchy pita chips for any dip, from hummus to roasted eggplant. Get our baked pita chips recipe.
