“Naan” is a term used for various flat breads common in Western, Central and Southern Asia.  This particular recipe includes a mildly sweet and spicy filling that turns a simple flat bread into a sweet treat.

I made half a batch, but here’s the recipe for a full batch. It makes about 6 pockets.

• 400 g white flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp easy-blend dry yeast
• 15 g ghee or melted unsalted butter
• 1 tsp clear honey
• 200 ml warm water

Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Stir in the dry yeast and make a well in the center. Add the melted butter, water and honey and mix into a dough. Remove the dough from the bowl and knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic. Put the dough in a lightly oiled bowl to prevent sticking, cover and let rise for one hour (or until doubled in size).

Yeast is most active in warm, humid environments so it helps to create these conditions for your dough to rise. Most of us don’t have proofing boxes in our kitchens, but I found an old video of Julia Child making croissants in which she made her own proofer. Her tip? Put your metal bowl in a plastic bag to trap the moisture, then place the bowl on a heating pad.  Thanks, Julia!

While your dough is rising, make the filling and preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Put the baking sheet in the oven to preheat as well.

• 25 g ghee or unsalted butter
• 1 small onion
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp grated fresh ginger
• pinch of chili powder
• pinch of ground cinnamon
• salt and pepper, as desired

Melt the butter in a skillet and add the chopped onions. Cook over medium heat about 5 minutes, or until tender. Add the spices and cook over low heat 3 minutes more. Remove from heat, stir in 1 tsp water and set aside.

When your dough has risen, knead it briefly and divide into 6 equal parts. Use a rolling pin to flatten your dough into ovals. Brush the filling on half the oval and then fold over and pinch the edges together to seal.

Cover the dough pockets with cling film and let set for 15 minutes. They’ll rise a little more. After 15, bake them on your preheated baking sheet in a 450 degree oven for 10 minutes.  Serve warm. Enjoy!