Keto Garlic Naan

As much as I love doing Keto diet and loose weight, initially I did face a big challenge, how to scoop up the curry! As an Indian I love my share of curries and gravies, only problem is, I can’t eat my regular Roti or Parathas with them. Why? Because they are prepared with Whole Wheat (or All Purpose) Flour which has carbs in it. Now I love doing the Pasta Mondays (with the Zucchini noodles) and the Pizza Wednesdays (with the Cheese base) but it has to be Indian at least twice a week and Indian curry without a carb accompaniment is just sad and when all of a sudden we start having only the curries, the goal seems impossible. Soon we start feeling lost as if the diet and weight loss is just not worth it. At least Debarshi and I felt like this the last time we were on Keto diet, but not this time, this Keto Naan is a lifesaver!

I think Keto diet and Indian cuisine go very well together because of the variety of options we get. Starting from the delicious hot Lamb and Goat curries to the mild cream based gravies (like Butter Chicken or Doi Mach), there are tons of recipes to choose from for your meals and not only non vegetarian curries, you can always go for the low carb vegetable Torkaris as well (stir fries like Alu Kumror torkari where we skip the potato). Of course you can have the cauliflower rice (if you like that) along with the curries but what about the bread part? Keto dieters have found a variety of solutions to this problem. There are quite a few low carb flours you can eat on Keto diet like Almond and Coconut flours. But how to make a roti or Paratha from a flour which is low on gluten and wont stretch while rolling?  

Yes, to prepare a Paratha you will have to roll the flour and unlike most of the flours we use in our everyday cooking (Whole Wheat or All Purpose Flour), the Almond and Coconut Flours do not have the strength in them to develop proper gluten. So, by the time you roll a Coconut Flour Naan and try to cook it like a flat bread, it will break into smaller pieces. Now there are quite a few bonding agents available in the market like Psyllium Husk which can help the weak flours to bind together and help prepare a bread. My problem is, I am not too fond of this. 

Psyllium Husk or as we call it in India, Isabgol is the most common home remedy to cure constipation. It has a very bland taste and sticky texture and I don’t like it at all! So, I started looking for alternative recipes and found that the same Keto Pizza dough recipe can be used to make Keto Naans! I have been making them ever since and believe me you will not miss your regular Rotis with these naans. They taste amazing and are filling. 

Of course, I have added my own twist to the recipe. I like adding a little Garlic Powder and few Fennel Seeds in it for extra flavor. I have used Coconut Flour in the recipe which is also quite economical in the long run. This recipe yields four Naans and serves two people. You can also double the recipe and cook a couple of extra Naans as per your requirement. It tastes divine when freshly cooked but you can also keep them in the fridge which can be really helpful for a quick snack. Remember for any diet to be successful you have to be continually vigilant about it. If you don’t stock your fridge with the food items in accordance with your diet needs, then sooner or later you will relapse. Like in our case, we always have ample fats and proteins in our pantry and fridge along with full fat dairy and low carb breads and desserts. That way whatever we are eating is Low Carb Hi Fat and hence perfect for our diet. 

Now because of the Cheese, this Naan will tear apart just like a regular Naan. The Garlic and Fennel with the teardrop shape will also bring an authentic flavor and appearance to it. This Naan can be dipped in curries or gravies and enjoyed just like a Naan prepared from All Purpose Flour. Yes, the initial conversion days are going to be tough because you will not like a cheese naan or a cheese crust pizza after enjoying the real thing for so long but trust me, once you start following the diet religiously you will start loosing weight so fast that you will not even care to have regular Naans. That amazing feeling you get when you fit into that gorgeous dress or your favorite shirt is too beautiful to pass for a regular slice of pizza. So, I will say give this a try.

Note: I do recommend getting an advice from your doctor before starting any type of diet plan. Keto diet works for me and Debarshi and I do hope it works wonders for you as well. 

Ingredients:

• Mozzarella Cheese – ½ and ¼ cups, shredded
• Cream Cheese - 1 ounce, cut into cubes
• Egg – 1, large, beaten
• Coconut Flour – 3 tablespoons
• Garlic Powder – ¼ teaspoon
• Fennel Seeds – a pinch

Others:

• Parchment Paper
• Rolling Pin
• Good non stick pan and spatula

Directions:

• Combine the Mozzarella Cheese, Garlic Powder, Fennel Seeds and Cream Cheese in a microwave safe medium bowl. 
• Microwave for 45 seconds then stir with a spatula. 
• Stir in the beaten Egg and Coconut Flour. The mixture will be hot so be very careful while kneading with your hands. You can also use a rubber spatula (but I have found that the kneading is way easier if I am using my hands). 
• Knead until a dough forms. 

Tip: If the dough becomes hard before fully mixed, you can microwave for 10-12 seconds to soften it.

• Divide the dough into four parts and allow it to rest for 2-3 minutes.
• Heat the non-stick pan over medium low heat.
• Roll a piece of the dough into a ball and place it on a piece of parchment. 
• Cover it with another piece of parchment (this will make the rolling much easier, otherwise it will stick on the rolling pin and your hands).
• Roll the dough using a rolling pin into a round or teardrop shape. Roll it like a small naan.

Tip: Make ahead – you can roll the dough and keep it covered in a cool dry place till you are ready to cook. 

• Remove the top parchment and lift the naan carefully using the bottom parchment. Bring it over the pan and carefully flip it. The parchment will be on top now and the Naan will be on the pan.

• Remove the parchment now and start rolling the next Naan.
• Cook for a few minutes, then shake the pan. If the bottom layer of Naan is ready it will move freely on the pan, if it isn’t, give it a few more minutes. You can also lift a side of the Naan with the spatula to check if it has been cooked.
• Flip the Naan carefully and cook till both the sides look golden red in color (keep a watch, we don’t want it to get brown).

• Transfer to a plate and cook the other Naans.
• Serve with a delicious gravy of Chicken, Goat or Lamb. Scoop up and enjoy.

Recommended Reading (Keto recipes):

• Butter Chicken (Indian Recipe: Chicken pieces in a creamy buttery gravy)
• Dhaba Wala Saag Chicken (Chicken in Spinach Curry Rustic Indian Style)
• Butter Paneer (Indian Recipe: Fresh Cheese in a creamy buttery gravy)
• Mutton Gravy
• Doi Mach (Bengali Recipe: Succulent Fried Fish in Yogurt Gravy)
• One Pot Chicken Tikka Masala
• Mushroom Salad with Fried Eggs
• Kopir Chochchori (Bengali recipe: Stir fried Cauliflower, skip the Potatoes)