Naan vs. Pita: What's the difference? If you love bread, you might love pita bread and naan bread. They are often closely similar, and people don't know their differences. Yet, there are quite a few differences around culture, taste, texture, and calories.
One of the main differences is that pita comes from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines. On the other hand, naan comes from India, and it's recognized as a traditional Indian bread. While one is not better, it's important to recognize the differences and how they can be best enjoyed for a meal.
This guide covers everything you need to know about each kind of bread's taste, texture, and nutritional benefits. We help you decide which bread you may like more. You'll not only have a better idea of how to make each bread, but you'll also desire to try both to see the differences yourself.
- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
Naan vs. Pita: How They Are Made
©
Pita bread all began in Mesopotamia. The people of Mesopotamia baked pita bread in stone ovens. As flatbread is what “pita” means in Greek, this circle-designed bread is delicious to eat by itself or for dipping. One of the best ways to enjoy this bread is to dip it in different sauces or make a sandwich. You can put chicken or other kinds of meats and toppings and then fold it to make a sandwich.
The ingredients of pita bread typically include:
- Salt
- Sugar
- Flour
- Yeast
- Water
Naan bread has a different kind of history that traces back to India. Naan is made from dough, slightly richer than pita bread. One of the best ways to enjoy this bread is with Indian curries. You can find this bread in local grocery stores and most Indian cuisines.
The ingredients of this bread typically include:
- Flour
- Yogurt
- Yeast
- Butter
The Nutritional Differences
Pita and naan are often packed with carbohydrates. While too many carbohydrates aren't the greatest, you can still enjoy either bread in moderation.
- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
Regardless of the carbohydrates, naan is often the healthier choice when compared to pita because naan is loaded with protein and fiber. The protein is good for muscle development, and the fiber is excellent for digestion.
Naan is also a rich source of niacin and thiamin, which are excellent for your body's immunity. Additionally, naan is an excellent source of iron.
Taste and Texture Differences
When it comes to taste, pita and naan have very subtle differences. For example, pita has a nuttiness to it. Others may describe this bread as a bit sweeter than naan bread. The texture of pita bread is crunchy and slightly chewy.
Naan has a richer taste compared to pita. There's a rich, buttery taste to it that distinguishes it from other breads. Instead of a crunchy texture like pita bread, naan bread is soft and fluffy. Since naan bread is typically cooked in an oven, there's often a smoky taste to it.
Best Meals to Complement Pita or Naan Bread
If you're wondering what to eat with pita or naan bread, you'll find numerous options that give you endless ideas. These ideas can be used for snacks, breakfast, lunch, or dinner. There's no shortage of how to eat either bread.
Here are the best ways to pita bread:
- Pita bread with hummus, tzatziki, or baba ganoush
- Pita bread is made as a pizza with various toppings
- Pita bread toasted with butter
- Pita bread cut into pieces as an appetizer
Here are the best ways to eat naan bread:
- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
- Naan bread with curry
- Naan wraps
- Naan sandwiches
- Naan sprinkled with sugar as a dessert
Choosing one of these recipes can give you ideas on how to make either bread. Or you can enjoy the bread by itself. You can see which one you prefer and learn how to make it at home or order at a restaurant.
©
Naan vs. Pita: What Tastes Better?
There's nothing like naan or pita bread. They are some of the best kinds of bread from around the world. They are not only delicious by themselves, they are also great with other dishes. You'll discover that there are endless ways to experiment and try these breads that make them even more delicious.
Overall, which one tastes better? That's up to you and what flavor you like the most when you eat either bread. You may discover that you want one over the other when complementing other foods. However, there's no denying that both of these breads are some of the most delicious of any bread.