Published: April 13, 2009
Two Meals for Fast Times
Tandoori Naan Replaces Bread in Fast Family Dinners
Two jobs, two kids, and way too many conflicting schedules - doesn't leave much time to prepare wholesome family meals.
India's tasty flatbread, naan, to the rescue!
Here are two balanced, tasty meals, which are easy and quick to prepare. They call for an Indian-style flatbread, naan, which is now available in stores across the country.
"White bread is so.... 2007!" jokes Jim White, food critic, columnist and current spokesperson for FGF Brands, the bakery which makes International Fabulous Flats Tandoori Naan.
"Naan, by contrast, are extremely versatile, says White. They can be used as the base for a tasty pizza for dinner, or used to make wraps for a quick lunch."
International Fabulous Flats Tandoori Naan, are the only commercial naan actually baked in a Tandoor oven, which is what gives them their sultry, smoky flavor. These flatbreads contain no preservatives, no hydrogenated oils and no trans fats.
Chicken "Naanwich" (Wrap) with Pesto-Mayo & Crispy Fried Onions
2 tbsp mayonnaise
2 tbsp basil pesto (homemade or store-bought)
1 pkg International Fabulous Flats Tandoori Naan, Original variety
1 cooked chicken breast, thinly sliced
1 medium-sized ripe tomato, sliced
1 cup shredded lettuce
½ cup crispy fried onions (homemade or store-bought)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
In small bowl, combine mayonnaise and pesto. Set aside.
Mist and heat two naan according to package instructions.
Spread pesto-mayonnaise mixture over the bottom (flat side) of both naan. Top each naan with chicken, tomato slices, and shredded lettuce. Top with crispy fried onions. (Try to keep the ingredients away from the edges of the naan for easier roll-up.)
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Roll up naan and secure with toothpicks, if necessary, to hold together.
Cut each roll-up in half on the diagonal. Serve immediately.
Makes 2 to 4 servings.
Spinach and Jalapeno Naan Pizza
1 pkg International Fabulous Flats Tandoori Naan, Original variety
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves, washed and dried
2 rings thinly sliced red onion
1 medium plum tomato, thinly sliced
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
¼ cup shredded Manchego Cheese
1 small jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced
Place two naan on baking sheet. Brush each with olive oil and sprinkle with the chopped garlic and shredded Mozzarella.
Top with the baby spinach, sliced red onions, and sliced tomato.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Sprinkle with shredded Manchego cheese and top with sliced jalapeno pepper.
Place naan on middle rack of preheated 400 F oven and heat 10 to 15 minutes, or until cheese melts and crust is golden brown.
Slice and serve immediately.
Makes 4 to 8 servings.
To download a high resolution image of the chicken wrap for publication please click on this link. There is no photo credit required. http://www.emsincorporated.com/naan/
About Jim White
Jim has been responsible for inventing, developing, branding, or marketing more than 8,000 grocery products. Many bear the names of the chains for which they were produced - Wal-Mart, Safeway, Stop 'N Shop, Vons, Wegmans. As a respected food editor, food writer and professional restaurant critic, with 30 years of experience, Jim was twice named "Best Food Writer in North America" for metro newspapers with circulation over 500,000. Jim has written for, directed and hosted countless TV and radio broadcasts. He has directed films for the National Film Board of Canada and has been a columnist for Canada's largest newspaper.
The bakery, which Jim and his close friend and partner Sam Ajmera founded is called FGF Brands. The FGF stands for "Functional Gourmet Foods." Their lead item has been Fabulous Flats Tandoori Naan, but they also make focaccia, pizza crusts, and lavosh, authentic to their region of origin. "We make Food with a Purpose," says Jim. This is, succinctly, the bakery's Mission Statement. The bakery's website is www.fgfbrands.com.
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