What Is The Difference Between Naan And Pita

From the ancient Egyptians to modern times, naan and pita flatbreads have been a key source of carbohydrates. Pita bread dates back more than 6000 years!

Both of these traditional types of bread have evolved into new styles. These include pizzas and chapatis that keep people coming back for more. So, what is the difference between naan and pita?

Naan vs pita: What are the differences?

Naan’s origin is India, and it’s common in South and West Asia and the Caribbean. Pita originated in the Middle East, yet is popular in Eastern Mediterranean countries.

These two flatbreads, naan and pita, are sometimes mistaken, but they’re very different! Naan is thicker and enriched, making it softer.

Pitas are a leaner flatbread, ideal for stuffing with salads, falafel or kebab meat.

How are naans and pitas different?

Ingredients:

The ingredients that go into the making of naan are:

Flour, water, yeast, milk, yoghurt, oil or butter.

Eggs, onion (nigella) seeds and Indian spices such as cumin are also commonly included. After baking, the naan is usually brushed with ghee. It’s common for the flavour of naan bread to be enhanced with extra ingredients. Popular combinations include:

• Garlic and coriander
• Keema (ground mutton, lamb or goat meat)
• Peshwari (sweetened coconut)
• Paneer (Indian cheese)

Pita has way fewer ingredients. It consists of whole and white wheat flour, water, yeast and salt.

Some producers include sugar and vegetable oil for flavour and to improve shelf life.

Shape:

Naan flatbread has a teardrop shape. They are around 1-2 cm thick and have uneven pockets on the surface.

A Pita flatbread is more uniform. Its shape is more oval than teardrop.

Pita breads “puff” up in the oven and collapses into a flat disc once cooled. When cut through the middle, a pita opens up into a pouch as there is an open space, ideal for fillings.

Preparation:

Both recipes are made using similar routines. They are mixed, kneaded, and left to rest for an hour.

After the first rise, they are divided into dough balls.

Pita dough balls are flattened, usually with a rolling pin. In comparison, naans will be left in ball shapes and stretched as they go into the oven.

After 30 minutes (or longer if left in the fridge), the bread is baked.

Baking:

Naan is best cooked in a traditional clay or metal oven known as a tandoor.

Tandoors originate from ancient Egyptian ovens and heat up to around 480 degrees!

The oven door is open, so the baker slaps the dough piece onto the tandoor wall.

Naans can be cooked at home using an iron skillet or a preheated baking stone, placed under the grill.

When it comes to cooking Pita flatbread, a hot oven is used.

They are baked at high temperatures for just a few minutes, which makes the dough pieces puff up, and the interior remains soft.

Once a slight browning appears on the crust, the pitas are removed. As they cool, they collapse into the flatbread we see in our stores.

What is the difference between naan and pita in taste?

Adding yoghurt, sugar, and fat gives naan bread a soft and more fluffy texture. It’s common to use these ingredients.

Baking at high heat for a short amount of time gives a soft crumb with a caramelised crust. Naan bread has more flavour as, in most cases, spices or extra flavourings are added.

Pita has been around a lot longer than naan, which may explain the reason for its more basic ingredients.

Pita has a dryer texture to it. The purpose of pita bread is to hold the fillings and soak up the juice.

Pita bread is stronger but doesn’t really have a crumb. It is just crust on both sides with a hollow centre. They make a dish complete but are not particularly exciting on their own.

Which is easiest to make between naan and pita?

Pita bread tends to be easier to make because it uses fewer ingredients. The cooking method also doesn’t require a special oven, making the pita easier to make than naan.

What food to serve with naan bread

Naan bread is usually eaten as an accompaniment to curry. They also make a tremendous mid-meal snack on their own.

Although historically from India and Pakistan, it is common to see naan bread with other country’s cuisines.

• They can be eaten like a taco by dressing with chicken or lamb meat.
• Kids love them as a bed for grated cheese and a tomato sauce to turn it into a pizza.
• A chicken panini.
• Topped with cheese, potatoes, and eggs as a breakfast sandwich.
• I love a plain naan with Turkish kebabs!

What food to eat with pita bread

Pita can be filled with your preferred choice of sandwich ingredients or fillings. Or:

• Served with hummus or any dipping sauce.
• Eaten as nachos.
• With kebab meat or falafel and salad
• Opening up the pita pocket and packet with salad and your favourite salad dressing.
• Spread with peanut butter and filled with sliced-up bananas and apples.
• My son loves pita with grated cheese – poor guy…

What is healthier, Naan or Pita Bread?

Regarding which one is healthier, it’s a no-brainer. Considering the ingredients that can go into making naan, pita is way healthier than naan. It’s lower in sugars and has less fat, whereas naan is high in fat and calories.

Naan vs Pita. Which one do I prefer?

It’s a difficult one, but I prefer naan bread to pita. They go great with two of my favourite dishes, kebab and Tarka dhal. Delicious! I still like pita, but a naan offers just a little more. What is your favourite?