Easy naan bread serving ideas, from lamb bhuna to butter chicken, and vegetable pakora to Malai kofta. Discover what to eat with naan bread today.
Naan bread is the iconic flatbread most often associated with Indian cuisines, but also the cuisines of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and beyond. Its thick texture and buttery taste make it the perfect accompaniment to so many Asian curry dishes and meat sauces.
Naan isn’t enough by itself though, meaning you’ll need a selection of delicious side and serving options to go with it.
These best naan bread sides will help complete your meal platter, giving you enough options to satisfy everyone’s cravings. Let’s get cooking!
Tandoori Chicken
Tandoori chicken is a classic Indian dish made with yogurt-marinated chicken, which is then cooked in a traditional clay oven, known as a tandoor. This traditional oven ensures the chicken comes out moist and soaked in the flavors of the sauce, but the good news is that we can replicate this at home with a simple oven!
Tandoori chicken is often served with naan and can be accompanied by a variety of dipping sauces. It is also commonly used as a key element in a variety of curries, as well as takes on chicken biryani.
Try This Recipe: This tandoori chicken is simple to make and yields delicious results. The chicken is succulent and full-bodied.
Basmati Rice
Basmati rice is a type of Indian rice that is long grain and aromatic. It is the perfect rice to serve with naan bread because it is light and fluffy.
The rice soaks up all the flavors from the curry or dish you are eating it with. Basmati rice is easy to make and is the perfect side dish for any Indian meal.
Try This Recipe: This basmati rice is the perfect accompaniment to naan. The rice is light, fluffy, and full of flavor. Plus, the recipe guarantees you won’t burn the rice. Naan and basmati rice is a combination made in heaven.
Malai Kofta
Featuring fried paneer cheese and vegetables prepared in a tomato-based sauce, there’s plenty to love about Malai kofta! These deep-fried balls are loaded with flavor and spice, with a sauce that’s even better than the dumplings. When you finish eating you can use your naan to mop up the leftover sauce!
Try This Recipe: These malai kofta balls are perfect fried, and the sauce is out of this world. The dish is rich in flavor but manages not to be too heavy. You will want to make this dish again and again.
Chickpea Curry
Coconut chickpea curry is another great option if you want a vegan main course to serve with your naan bread. You make this curry with chickpeas, tomatoes, and various spices.
It’s the epitome of a hearty dish, with the rich and creamy coconut milk taking center stage. Best of all, the leftovers are even better the next day.
Try This Recipe: This coconut chickpea curry is the perfect comfort food. It is hearty, nutritious, and will leave you satisfied.
Lamb Bhuna
This lamb bhuna recipe is a bit more complicated than the other recipes on this list, but it is worth it. You make this dish with lamb, spices, and tomatoes and cook the lamb until it is very tender.
It is a bit of a process, but the result is an incredibly flavorful and rich dish. This dish is usually served with naan bread so you can soak up all the juices from the lamb.
Try This Recipe: Lamb dishes will never be the same after your try this restaurant-style lamb bhuna. The lamb is melt in your mouth tender, and the spices take it to another level.
Palak Paneer
Palak paneer is a popular Indian dish made with spinach and paneer cheese, resulting in a rich and earthy flavor that’s offset by the sweetness of the cheese.
You cook the spinach with spices and tomatoes and add paneer at the end. Naan is perfect for palak paneer because naan soaks up all flavors from the spinach. The ideal bite is when you get a piece of paneer and a spoonful of spinach on your slice of naan bread.
Try This Recipe: This palak paneer is healthy and delicious, and easy to put together. The spinach is perfect, and the paneer adds the right amount of richness to the dish.
Lentil Dal
Anytime you are serving naan bread, you want to have something saucy as the main course. You can use the naan bread to soak up all the leftover liquid for the perfect bite.
Lentil dal is the perfect example of a dish that would go great with naan. It has a variety of different spices that give it a unique flavor, and it is full of nutrients. It is also a straightforward dish to make, so you can quickly whip it up on a weeknight.
Try This Recipe: This red lentil dahl is perfect if you are vegan and looking for something with a lot of protein.
Butter Chicken
Butter chicken is a classic Indian dish usually made with chicken, but you could also use tofu if you want a vegetarian option. It is a vibrant and flavorful dish.
You make this sauce with tomatoes, butter, and spices and serve it with rice. However, it goes just as well with naan bread.
Try This Recipe: This butter chicken will knock your socks off. The chicken is tender, and the sauce is rich and luxurious.
Goat Tandoori
Goat tandoori is a dish made with goat meat marinated in yogurt and spices. Traditionally, you cook the goat in a clay oven or tandoor.
The result is a very flavorful and juicy dish. It would be best if you served goat tandoori with naan bread. The meat is so succulent that it just falls off the bone and fluffy naan bread is the perfect accompaniment.
Try This Recipe: This goat tandoori is easy to make and yields excellent results. The goat meat is tender and full of flavor. This cooking method brings out the richness of goat meat.
Vegetable Pakora
Pakora is a popular Indian snack made with onion and potatoes, then dipped in batter and fried to create an incredible side dish that delivers the right balance of crisp and spice.
Vegetable pakora goes great with naan bread, especially if you combine the two into one big bite. The crispiness of the pakora contrasts perfectly with the fluffiness of the naan, whether it’s plain naan, garlic, or Peshwari.
Try This Recipe: If you love finger food, you must try this vegetable pakora pakoda. You have probably never had deep-fried vegetables that taste this good.
