Naan bread is a flatbread traditionally cooked in a tandoor, which is a special oven.
It’s very easy to make and can be served with many different types of foods.
Flavorful Naan bread is fluffy, soft, and moist- if you don’t have an oven or tandoor at home, it’s easily cooked on a stove in a pan and is a fun bread to experiment with.
The flavor is mild since there are no strong yeast flavors, but using different toppings can change the flavor.
Great Naan Bread starts with melted butter or ghee brushed on the surface before baking.
This results in a crispy crust and soft interior, which can go well with any food.
The texture is light and fluffy, with just enough chew to keep you coming back for more.
If you’re looking for a great way to serve Naan Bread, try serving it with 8 of the most delicious side dishes.
These are all easy side dishes that anyone can make at home- ready in less than an hour.
Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Naan Bread?
Naan bread is a great flatbread that works well with many different flavors.
However, the various Naan bread dishes are not typically considered to be ‘side dishes’.
Many people don’t even consider them as an accompaniment for any dish.
This can be attributed to its texture and flavor. Also, many people tend to think of naan bread as very heavy.
One thing that sets Naan bread apart from other flatbreads is its texture.
Naan bread has a doughy texture that creates some resistance when chewing, perhaps leading people to believe it’s more filling than other side dishes served with meals.
It also holds up very well to being picked up by hand, which is a plus for people who may not have cutlery on hand.
The amazing flavor of Naan bread is most likely why people typically think of it as a meal in its own right.
The naan bread can be dipped in a variety of sauces or eaten with various toppings to add another dimension of flavor.
Hence, it is important to offer people a variety of options when serving Naan bread.
Adding side dishes to the meal will add protein and variety.
This can be done by providing various types of vegetables or meat so that there is enough flavor and nutrition in every bite.
What to Serve with Naan Bread? 8 BEST Side Dishes
Here are some suggestions for side dishes that can be added to Naan bread-.
1 – Aromatic Basmati Rice
This aromatic rice is flavored with spices and is perfectly served next to a curry dish.
It is a great addition to Indian-style curries because the flavors of this side dish will mesh well with those in the main course.
The spices used in this aromatic rice are cumin, ginger, and garlic.
This lets you enjoy a burst of flavor as each grain pops in your mouth as you eat it.
The preparation of this dish is simple to follow and only requires a few ingredients.
It’s a bonus that you can completely customize the flavors used in this rice to your palette.
2 – Green Bean Casserole with Fresh Onion Crust
This recipe for green bean casserole features healthy green beans topped with a crunchy and buttery onion crust.
This side dish is perfect for people who love green bean casserole but don’t want to deal with the calories, fat, and carbs of classic recipes.
An authentic green bean casserole typically consists of green beans, cream of mushroom soup, french fried onions, and panko bread crumbs.
I love the flavor combination and was pleasantly surprised to find out that you can achieve a similar effect without using those heavy ingredients.
This recipe for green bean casserole is great because it uses fresh ingredients.
The best part of the dish is the unique, crispy onion crust that provides a flavorful crunch to each bite.
3 – Creamy Cheesy Spinach
This creamy, cheesy spinach is a delicious side dish for Naan bread.
The creaminess of the sauce is offset by the crisp Naan bread making it an interesting combination.
This sauteed spinach dish can be used as either an appetizer or main course.
It’s easy to whip up this creamy, cheesy spinach because it only takes a few ingredients.
It tastes best when made with fresh vegetables and seasonings rather than frozen or canned.
You can add some protein to this side dish by adding some chicken, beef, bacon, or sausage to the mix.
This will help provide a fuller meal that is more satisfying.
There are plenty of different ways you can alter this side dish to fit your specific tastes.
4 – Dill Carrot Salad
This dill carrot salad is a tasty side for Indian cuisine, especially Naan bread.
The flavors of the carrots and peas will be enhanced with the use of fresh Dill weed in this recipe.
This light and refreshing side dish offer a lot more than just carrots and peas.
The addition of onion, lemon juice, and oil lets you enjoy a tart flavor with the sweet carrots.
It’s hard to go wrong with this side dish because it can be made in advance and tastes great cold or at room temperature.
5 – Vegetable Pakora
This recipe for vegetable pakora features vegetables that are breaded and fried.
The vegetables used in this recipe are onions, cauliflower, potatoes, carrots, and green beans.
It’s a quick and easy recipe that can be made in less than thirty minutes.
This side dish is great because it features various vegetables, so there is enough flavor to enjoy from every bite you take.
These pakoras are crispy and delicious.
You can enjoy this vegetable pakora warm or cold, so it’s a great dish to have around the house when you need a quick snack.
To make this recipe even more flavorful, add some chili powder to the butter mixture before frying the vegetables in oil.
6 – Chicken Curry
This is a great dish to serve with Naan bread.
The curry flavor of this recipe goes well with Naan because it is milder than most curries.
Typically, chicken curry features only chicken and onion mixed in a creamy sauce.
I love the addition of garlic powder in this recipe because it provides additional richness to the taste of the curry.
This recipe for chicken curry is easy to make and only takes a few ingredients.
You can add in some Naan bread or rice when you serve this dish to make it heartier.
7 – Cilantro Lime Chicken
This cilantro lime chicken is delicious served with Naan bread.
I enjoy the lemony flavor of this recipe because it complements the Naan bread well.
This easy recipe only takes about thirty minutes to make, so you can quickly put together a delicious meal.
This chicken dish features fresh cilantro, which provides an amazing burst of flavor every time you take a bite.
You can serve this dish with rice or on a bed of salad greens.
If you prefer to eat the chicken by itself, it tastes great no matter how you serve it.
8 – Goat Tandoori
This is a traditional Indian dish that can be served with Naan bread.
This recipe for goat tandoori takes a little more work because the meat must be marinated in yogurt.
It tastes amazing and adds a lot of flavor to the taste of this dish.
Goat tandoori features seasoned meat wrapped in aluminum foil and baked in an oven.
This recipe is time intensive, but it tastes delicious and is worth the effort that goes into making it.
Since this dish is baked, the goat meat soaks up a lot of flavor from all the spices used in this recipe.
When you serve this dish with Naan bread, it will taste even better.
Conclusion
Naan bread is an Indian dish that can be enjoyed with a variety of side dishes.
These Naan bread sides are all delicious and provide plenty of options for what to serve when friends or family come over for dinner.
The good thing about these side dishes is that you can make them in advance and keep them refrigerated until you are ready to serve.
This way, when dinner time rolls around on the day of a get-together, all you have to do is heat up your meal and enjoy.
What To Serve With Naan Bread? 8 BEST Side Dishes
Ingredients
- Aromatic Basmati Rice
- Green Bean Casserole with Fresh Onion Crust
- Creamy Cheesy Spinach
- Dill Carrot Salad
- Vegetable Pakora
- Chicken Curry
- Cilantro Lime Chicken
- Goat Tandoori
Instructions
- Choose your favorite recipe from the list of options.
- Organize all required ingredients and prepare a delicious meal in 30 minutes or less!