• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Sprinkles and Sprouts

Great food with grocery store ingredients

  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact Me
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • By Category
  • Chicken
  • Pasta
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • By Category
    • Chicken
    • Pasta
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
  • ×
    Home > Meal Type > Sides

    Bullet Naan (Spicy Indian Flatbread)

    Updated: Nov 2nd 2021 • Published: Jun 15th 2021 • 12 Comments

    Jump to Recipe SaveSaved! Pin Recipe
    Pinterest Image - bullet naan with text overlay
    Pinterest Image - bullet naan with text overlay
    Pinterest Image - bullet naan with text overlay
    Pinterest Image - bullet naan with text overlay
    Pinterest Image - bullet naan with text overlay
    Pinterest Image - bullet naan with text overlay
    Pinterest Image - bullet naan with text overlay
    Pinterest Image - bullet naan with text overlay

    This Homemade Bullet Naan recipe is quick to make and easy to cook in a skillet or frying pan. Soft fluffy naan bread with a spicy kick. 

    Bullet naan is spicy naan! This easy Indian flatbread is topped with jalapeños and cilantro leaves (fresh coriander leaves), then once cooked, it is brushed with butter. Giving you a delicious bread that packs a punch and is fabulous with creamy curries.

    This is a yeast dough, but it is straightforward to make, and with this easy recipe, you will learn how to create and enjoy bullet naan at home. I promise yeast isn't as scary as you think!

    two naan breads topped with jalapeños and cilantro on a blue napkin

    Jump Menu

    • What is bullet naan?
    • Is bullet naan spicy?
    • Ingredient Tips
    • How to cook naan bread at home
    • What to serve with naan
    • Homemade Bullet Naan

    What is bullet naan?

    Bullet naan is a spicy naan bread popular in Indian cuisine. It is the traditional naan bread dough, that once rolled out, is topped with chili and cooked over high heat to get the classic naan char. Once cooked, it is brushed with butter and topped with cilantro. This naan is full of big, bold flavors! 

    Is bullet naan spicy?

    Oh yes! This is spicy naan bread! You can tone down the spicy by using more or less jalapeños, but this is a spicy Indian bread.

    a naan bread being pulled apart with two hands

    Ingredient Tips

    • Dried Instant Yeast - this is my preference as it can be stirred straight into the dough. But you can substitute it for dried active yeast. Just be sure to bloom the yeast first. Directions are given for this is the recipe below.
    • All-Purpose Flour/Plain Flour - how you fill your cups will make a big difference to the amount of flour you are adding to the stand mixer. To ensure the dough isn't too wet or too stiff, start by adding 1 ½ cups of flour and mixing it. If you find the dough is too wet, add up to ½ cup more flour. 
      If you have scales in the house, grab them! By weight, you need 10.5oz/300g of flour. 
    • Jalapeños - you can use any chili in this recipe. Green is more traditional, but use what you have or what you enjoy.
    • Cilantro/Coriander leaves - although traditional, if you hate cilantro, just leave it off the finished naan breads. 
    • Butter - again, butter or ghee is traditional here, but if you want to make vegan naan bread, substitute it with your favorite vegan 'butter' or use a little coconut oil.
    two spicy naan breads on a blue napkin on a metal tray

    How to cook naan bread at home

    To replicate the heat and conditions of the traditional tandoor oven, use a heavy skillet/griddle. Cast iron is perfect here as it can store and hold a lot of heat.

    The cooking surface wants to be super hot, so the dough cooks instantly and puffs up.
    I like to heat my cast iron griddle for 10 minutes over medium-high heat, Or my non-stick skillet for 5 minutes over high heat. 

    Once the pan is hot, do not add oil. Place the naan bread onto the skillet/griddle and let it cook for 1-2 minutes. Flip and cook for a further 1-2 minutes. It should puff in places and get some good color on the bubbles.
    Remove the bread to a plate, brush with butter and sprinkle with cilantro/coriander leaves.

    close up on the charred marks on a bullet naan

    What to serve with naan

    These spicy naan breads are perfect for serving with your favourite curry or a warming bowl of soup. Try:

    • Chicken Rogan Josh
    • Authentic Easy Chicken Jalfrezi
    • Lamb Dopiaza
    • Swordfish with a Spicy Fruity Salsa
    • Spiced Coconut Potato Soup
    • Red Lentil Soup with Lemon and Rosemary

    Enjoy x

    For more delicious naan bread recipes why not try:

    • Peshwari Naan
    • Garlic Naan
    • Aloo Naan (coming soon)
    • Cheese Naan (coming soon)
    • Chicken Naan (coming soon)


    Pin this recipe for Creamy Bacon Mushroom Chicken.
    Pin it here.

    close up of sliced jalapeños on the edge of a naan bread
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 7 votes

    Homemade Bullet Naan

    This Homemade Bullet Naan recipe is quick to make and easy to cook in a skillet. A soft fluffy naan bread with a spicy kick - this easy Indian flatbread is topped with jalapeños and cilantro leaves, then once cooked, it's brushed with butter. Giving you a delicious bread that packs a punch and is fabulous with creamy curries. This is a no yogurt, yeast dough, but it is straightforward to make, and with this easy recipe, you will learn how to create and enjoy bullet naan at home.
    Prep Time30 mins
    Cook Time5 mins
    Total Time35 mins
    Course: Side
    Cuisine: Indian
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 404kcal
    Author: Claire | Sprinkle and Sprouts
    For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout
    Need Metric Measurements?Use the options below to toggle between cups and grams (if relevant)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Grams

    For the naan breads

    • ¾ cup warm water
    • 1 teaspoon dried instant yeast/dry active yeast
    • 1 ½ - 2 cups all-purpose flour/plain flour - see note 1
    • ½ teaspoon table salt
    • ¼ teaspoon sugar
    • 3 tablespoon oil (canola/vegetable/sunflower)

    For the topping

    • 2-3 jalapeños or green chilies - see note 2
    • ¼ cup butter (melted) - see note 3
    • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro/coriander leaves (plus extra for garnish) - see note 4

    Instructions

    To make the dough (STAND MIXER METHOD)

    • Set your stand mixer up with a dough hook.
    • Measure the water into the bowl of your stand mixer and sprinkle over the yeast. Leave for 5 minutes.
      ¾ cup warm water
      1 teaspoon dried yeast

    • Add the flour, salt, sugar, and oil to the bowl.
      1½-2 cups flour
      ½ teaspoon salt
      ¼ teaspoon sugar
      3 tablespoon oil

    • Mix on low for 10 minutes until you have an elastic dough.
    • Cover the bowl with cling film and leave it to rise for 20 minutes.

    To make the dough (BY HAND METHOD)

    • Measure the water into a bowl and sprinkle over the yeast. Leave for 5 minutes.
      ¾ cup warm water
      1 teaspoon dried yeast

    • Add the flour, salt, sugar, and oil.
      1½-2 cups flour
      ½ teaspoon salt
      ¼ teaspoon sugar
      3 tablespoon oil

    • Use a fork or butter knife to combine all the ingredients, once you have a raggy looking dough, start using your hands to bring the dough together, until the sides of the bowl are clean.
    • Empty the dough on a floured board and knead the dough for 15 minutes.
    • Place in a bowl, cover with cling wrap and leave for 20 minutes.

    To form and cook the naan

    • Slice the jalapeños into rings and set to one side.
      2-3 jalapeños

    • Once the dough has sat for 20 minutes, punch it back down and then divide the dough into three roughly equal balls.
    • Use your rolling pin to lightly roll the naan into an oval/teardrop/circle shape. Roll until you have a naan about ½" (9mm) thick (ensure they will fit in your skillet/griddle).
    • Push the slices of jalapeños into the top of the naan and spinkle with the chopped cilantro/coriander leaves.
      ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro/coriander leaves

    • Put a heavy skillet/griddle/frying pan over high heat and allow it to get searingly hot. Don't add any oil/butter. (at least 5 minutes)
    • Place the dough, jalapeños side down, onto the skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes, it should start to puff up and charr lightly.
    • Flip the bread and cook for a further 1-2 minutes.
    • Remove to a plate, brush with the melted butter.
    • Cover with foil and keep in a low oven while you prepare the other breads.
    • Scatter with extra fresh cilantro/coriander to serve.

    Notes

    1. Not all cup measures are created equal, Depending on how you fill your cup, the quantity of flour will vary quite significantly! Start by adding 1 ½ cups of flour and mixing it, if you find the dough is too wet, add up to ½ cup more flour 1 tablespoon at a time. If you have scales in the house, then this is the perfect time to use them. By weight you need 10.5oz/300g of flour. 
    2. You can use any chili in this recipe. Green is more traditional, but use what you have or what you enjoy.
    3. Butter or ghee is traditional here, but if you want to make vegan naan bread, substitute it with your favorite vegan 'butter' or use a little coconut oil.
    4. Although traditional, if you hate cilantro, just leave it off the finished naan breads. (chives or green onion would add a fresh flavor if you would like a substitute)

    Nutrition

    Calories: 404kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 265mg | Potassium: 118mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 326IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @sprinklesandsprouts or tag #sprinklesandsprouts

    More Sides

    • close up of roasted vegetables in a blue cast iron pan
      Easy French Ratatouille
    • Overhead close up of the grains of basmati rice
      Indian Basmati Rice
    • close up of a spoonful of chopped carrots and corn
      Buttered Carrots and Corn
    • close up on the grains of rice in a bowl of fried rice
      Cantonese Fried Rice

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amy says

      September 10, 2022 at 1:08 am

      5 stars
      I used green chiles and it was so flavorful and delicious!! Thanks for your easy to follow recipe, it was a lot easier to make homemade naan than I expected. 🙂

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        October 03, 2022 at 6:03 pm

        Oh I am so happy you enjoyed it
        Cx

        Reply
    2. Melissa says

      September 06, 2022 at 7:49 am

      5 stars
      That just looks beautiful, the bright green jalapeño slices really caught my attention. I love a little spice. I’m a huge garlic Naan fan, but have never made it at home. You make it look so easy!

      Reply
    3. Kim says

      July 06, 2022 at 3:23 am

      These were so delicious! The family is already asking for more. I think I'll double the recipe next time and freeze some for later.

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        January 31, 2023 at 3:06 pm

        Great idea!!!
        So happy you enjoyed them 🙂
        Cx

        Reply
    4. Megs says

      July 05, 2022 at 9:43 am

      5 stars
      So simple and so delicious! The chillies on tip are everything for me! Addictive!

      Reply
    5. Shelby says

      July 05, 2022 at 1:32 am

      5 stars
      Hubby loved the jalapenos in this and it came together so quickly! My first time making Naan and I'm so proud of it!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        July 08, 2022 at 2:45 pm

        Oh this makes me so happy 🙂
        Glad he enjoyed it.
        Cx

        Reply
    6. Swathi says

      July 04, 2022 at 6:50 am

      5 stars
      Bullet naan looks delicious

      Reply
    7. Jennifer says

      February 06, 2022 at 3:59 am

      5 stars
      These naan breads were so good! They're so much more flavorful than store-bought, and they were easier to make than I thought they'd be!

      Reply
    8. Saad Zakko says

      October 29, 2021 at 12:44 am

      Can I cook naan dough in pizza oven ?

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        October 31, 2021 at 10:31 am

        I haven't tried it, but I am pretty sure that would work really well!
        Pizza ovens are so hot so it should work like a tandoor oven and give you a great tasting naan!
        Hope that helps
        Cx

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    a lady stood in a white kitchen chopping a tomato

    I'm Claire and I love food!
    I dream about food and I am happiest when I am in the kitchen cooking. Whether that is dinner for my family, snacks for drinks with my girlfriends or testing new recipes for my site, the kitchen is my happy place. Sprinkles and Sprouts is where I share it all and I am so happy you are here.

    Read More →

    As featured in

    Popular

    • close up on a ladle of gravy pouring into a white gravy boat
    • square picture of a cast iron skillet of pasta
    • close up on the coriander and charred top of a sweet naan bread
    • Garlic bacon spaghetti in a large shallow grey bowl
    • Close up on roasted lemon potatoes in a white bowl

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Sprinkles
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    All content, recipes and photographs are copyrighted to Claire McEwen and are the property of Sprinkles and Sprouts.
    THEY MAY NOT BE REPUBLISHED IN PART OR WHOLE WITHOUT PERMISSION AND PROPER CREDIT.
    Contact me to see republishing and syndication rights.

    Copyright © 2020 Sprinkles and Sprouts

    Copyright © 2023 · Cravings Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in