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Baked Uyghur Flatbread – Authentic Xinjiang Recipe You Must Try

This Uyghur Flatbread (Naan) is my favorite homemade bread — it’s light, fluffy, and has the perfect chewy texture. You won’t believe it’s made without any special equipment!
Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine Chinese
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Resting Time 1 hour
Servings 4
Calories 389kcal

Ingredients

Naan Dough

  • 300 g Xinjiang flour or bread flour
  • 170 g total liquid 1 beaten egg + whole milk, mixed
  • 3 g yeast
  • 40 g corn oil or other neutral vegetable oil
  • 2 g salt

Topping

  • White sesame seeds to taste
  • A small amount of milk for brushing

Instructions

Step 1. Mix and Knead the Dough

  • Beat the egg and mix it with milk to a total weight of about 170 g. Add the yeast and stir until it's partially dissolved. Add flour to the mixture and stir with chopsticks until no dry flour remains. Add salt and corn oil, then knead until smooth, elastic, and non-sticky. Adjust with a bit more milk or flour if needed to achieve a soft dough.

Step 2. First Rise (Fermentation)

  • Cover the dough (with plastic wrap) and let it rest in a warm place until doubled in size. At 25°C, this takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. Properly risen dough should feel airy and look honeycombed inside.

Step 3. Divide and Rest

  • Place the fermented dough on a clean work surface. Press down firmly with the palm of your hand to degas the dough, removing the large air bubbles inside.
  • Divide it into four equal portions (around 150 g each) and shape them into smooth balls. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes to relax the gluten — this helps with shaping later.

Step 4. Shape and Decorate

  • Flatten one dough ball into a round disc with your palm — thinner in the center and thicker around the edges (similar to a shallow bowl). Use a fork to prick holes evenly across the surface to prevent puffing during baking. Brush milk evenly on top and sprinkle generously with sesame seeds. Lightly press to help them adhere.

Step 5. Bake to Golden Perfection

  • Preheat your oven to 220°C (428°F) for about 10 minutes. This ensures a crisp crust. Place the naan on the middle rack and bake for 12–15 minutes, or until golden brown and fragrant.
  • If it colors too fast, cover lightly with foil. Once baked, let it cool briefly before serving. The texture should be perfectly crisp outside and soft inside.

Nutrition

Calories: 389kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 212mg | Potassium: 151mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 69IU | Vitamin C: 0.003mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 4mg