Naam bread is currently sold in almost any supermarket, it is a flat bread that looks like the base of a pizza and is of Indian origin. A very particular bread that, although it is perfect to accompany different dishes, is not as healthy as it may seem. We are going to know its origin, how it is prepared and accompanied, its nutritional values, if it has health benefits and the contraindications of this bread.
Naam bread can be found at Mercadona, Lidl, Carrefour, Ahorra Más, Aldi, at El Corte Inglés Supermarkets, among other establishments. A bread with very little crumb where its appearance reminds us a lot of homemade pizza bases.
It is a bread that goes with almost all meals, that is why it is known as “napkin bread”, but that does not make it a quality and very healthy bread, since the best option is always to choose bread with whole wheat flour. 100% and whole grains, instead of opting for ultra-processed white bread with sakes and refined oils.
History of naam bread and how it is prepared
It is a traditional Indian bread that little by little has spread to all corners of Asia and later to the rest of the world. It is a flat and elastic bread, so it is not hard or crunchy like the regañás of Andalusia, the crumb is dense but concentrated in a small space and is used to accompany all kinds of savory dishes.
This bread has a history as old as the history of India , its preparation in its place of origin is usually traditional in many homes and restaurants. It is prepared in an oven called a tandoor with a cylindrical and clay shape. The oven is placed on a heat source, such as a campfire, and is closed so that the heat is concentrated inside. That heat is what allows the naan bread to form its crumb.
Given how easy it is to prepare this bread and how well it combines with different ingredients, it has become a very versatile bread and depending on where we eat it, it will have one flavor or another. The basic ingredients are wheat flour, yeast, sugar. plain yogurt, butter and sesame seeds.
As a curiosity, naam means bread and surely if we go to our closest supermarket we will find it in the bread section, in the Asian section or in similar aisles.
Nutritional values
We already say that this flatbread is not very healthy, since its ingredients are not healthy. For a bread to be, it must have 100% whole wheat flour, extra virgin olive oil, very little salt, not a trace of sugar and also whole seeds.
Returning to the nutritional values of naam bread, we see that 100 grams of this product provide us with 286 kilocalories, 46.2 grams of carbohydrates , 3.40 grams of sugar, 10.20 grams of protein, 4.8 grams of fiber and a 35% of this bread is hydration.
There are also important vitamins and minerals for our body. In 100 grams of naam we have 6 IU of vitamin A, 1.32 mg of vitamin E, 3.3 micrograms of vitamin K, 3.6 mg of vitamin B3 and 16 micrograms of vitamin B9. All these values are normal to low, but in minerals we have 1.40 mg of manganese, which is equivalent to 70% of the amount of manganese that an adult needs. Otherwise, we have 11.4 micrograms of selenium, 1.24 mg of zinc, 467 mg of sodium, 188 mg of phosphorus, 68 mg of magnesium, 185 mg of potassium, 1.73 mg of iron and 59 mg of calcium. .
Benefits of flatbread
Indian flatbread is not very healthy as we have seen, but it has some benefits that we would like to highlight in this text. These benefits are only for those people who maintain an active lifestyle, who do sports, eat healthy, have healthy lifestyle habits, etc. Otherwise, you should not consume a bread as caloric as this.
Suitable for high calorie diets
100 grams of this flat plan is almost 300 kilocalories , that is, what has been a normal meal. On a weight loss diet, these types of breads are not welcome, since they add a lot of extra calories. However, in hypercaloric diets to gain muscle mass, it is possible to consume this bread, as long as those calories are sent to training. If we have a sedentary life, then this muffin is not our best ally.
Vegetable proteins
In this bread, being Indian, it is 100% of vegetable origin, unless we add yogurt, honey or some derivative not suitable in vegan and vegetarian diets. Roughly, we are talking about 10 grams of protein for each flat naam roll, and that translates into energy for our muscles during training.
Remember that proteins are not only good for muscle fibers, but these amino acids help form other tissues, hormones, enzymes, antibodies , neurotransmitters, etc. Therefore, at a minimum, we must consume 0.8 grams of protein for every kilo of weight to avoid deficiencies.
Easy to chew
It is true that naam bread or flat bread seems to be hard, tasteless, crunchy and difficult to chew, but no. It is a flat bun with a dense crumb and is elastic so it can be easily sewn up and can be chewed.
It is suitable for all ages, although those people with few teeth may find it difficult to eat this bread in bites, because this flat bun can only be eaten if we know how to make it with dressings.
Combines with all meals
The naam or flat plan is known as napkin bread, as we have said before, because it combines very well with all kinds of meals, even with white rice or a salad. What it best combines with is meat in sauce and fish with sauce.
We can use it for curry, to spread; in vegetable stews ; with sweet or spicy sauces; with cheese and spices, in soups; To dip with guacamole, cream cheese or similar.
Who can’t eat naam bread?
If we are overweight or have a very sedentary life, these types of high-calorie foods are not recommended at all, much less if we have a strict eating plan due to a disease in the digestive system.
If we have diabetes or some type of blood sugar imbalance, the consumption of this type of bread is not recommended, since its carbohydrates are released quickly and cause blood glucose peaks.
There are many versions of these types of breads, and there are even them with nuts or sausages, but almost all can be made suitable for vegan and keto diets. Remember that the vegan diet does not admit ingredients or foods of animal origin. While on the keto diet, the only prohibition you have is not to exceed the amount of carbohydrates. In this case, on average, naam breads have more than 20 grams of carbohydrates when a more or less strict keto diet cannot exceed 20 grams a day.
