Savoury Pancake Day hosts
If curry or dips are part of the meal, naan can be warmed and torn at the table alongside the pancake course.
Who is naan for?
Shoppers choosing a particular flavour
Garlic and coriander, plain naan and kalonji-seed toppings offer different ways to accompany savoury dishes. Check the description of the exact pack rather than relying on a premium-range name.
Hosts checking diets and storage
When serving guests with dietary requirements, check the current pack’s ingredients and allergen information. Storage and after-opening instructions also matter when buying ahead.
What should you check?
Decide whether naan belongs on the menu before comparing flavours, pack sizes and instructions for the particular products.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Place on the menu | Plan naan for curry, dips or a savoury sharing course; buy pancakes or their ingredients for a pancake-centred meal. | I’m serving something savoury alongside the pancakes, not replacing them. In YouGov’s February 2025 survey of GB adults, 89% of those who celebrated Shrove Tuesday did so by making or eating pancakes; the figure does not measure interest in naan. |
| Flavour and preparation | Compare the exact product’s flavour and preparation description. M&S describes its garlic-and-coriander naan as hand-stretched and flame-baked; Waitrose describes its plain naan as topped with kalonji seeds. | Would garlic and coriander suit the curry, or would I rather serve a plainer bread? Retailer descriptions are useful product cues, not independent taste comparisons. |
| Pack size | Check both the number of breads and total weight against the people you plan to serve. The referenced M&S pack is 380 g; Waitrose lists two 130 g naans. | For a sharing meal, I want enough bread without opening more packs than we expect to use. |
| Dietary details | Read the current ingredients, allergen and dietary declarations. The referenced M&S and Waitrose products contain wheat; Waitrose labels its plain tandoori naans vegan. | If a guest needs a vegan or gluten-free option, I need to check the exact pack rather than assume that plain naan meets their requirements. |
| Storage and shopping | Check the date mark, chilling and after-opening directions, as well as the current local listing. Waitrose specifies storage below 5°C for its referenced naans. | I’m buying ahead, so the storage instructions need to fit my plans. Cost matters too: in a YouGov survey fielded in November 2023, 58% of UK adults said lower prices influenced their supermarket choice for daily essentials, not specifically naan. |
Buying pitfalls
Treating naan as the pancake course
Naan fits a savoury spread, but it does not serve the same role as pancakes with sweet toppings.
Set the menu first. If pancakes are the focus, buy their ingredients before adding naan for a separate savoury dish.
Assuming plain or premium naan meets every dietary need
The referenced M&S and Waitrose naans contain wheat. Waitrose states vegan suitability for its particular plain tandoori product, not for all plain naan.
Read the physical pack’s ingredients, allergen statements and dietary declarations before serving guests.
Opening more naan than you will use
After opening, Waitrose says to consume its referenced chilled naan within one day; M&S gives two days for its referenced garlic-and-coriander naan when kept airtight.
Match the packs you open to the number of diners and follow each pack’s storage and freezing directions.
Bread left after its stated after-opening period may go to waste.
Choosing by the premium-range label alone
A range name does not tell you the flavour, ingredients, pack size or preparation of an individual naan.
Compare the exact product and check its current local availability before planning the meal around it.
Brand and product references
M&S Food
M&S describes a naan range that includes plain and flavoured options. Its 380 g Garlic and Coriander Naan Breads are described by the retailer as hand-stretched, flame-baked and restaurant-size.
- A stated garlic-and-coriander flavour and pack weight make this product straightforward to compare with the menu.
- Check the current pack for ingredients, allergens and storage directions, and confirm stock at the chosen Foodhall.
Waitrose
Waitrose describes its 2 Tandoori Plain Naans as hand-stretched and flame-baked, topped with kalonji seeds and suitable for vegans.
- The plain flavour and stated vegan declaration may fit a simpler savoury menu, subject to the current pack label.
- This particular product contains wheat and requires chilled storage below 5°C; Waitrose says to consume it within one day of opening.
Lidl
Lidl GB describes Deluxe as its premium food range. That range name does not identify the ingredients or preparation of a particular naan.
- If considering a Deluxe naan, check the exact product, its label and local availability rather than assuming the range name establishes its suitability.
Joybuy naan options
These Humza packs offer plain or garlic-and-coriander naan for a savoury Pancake Day course, with four-piece and family-pack quantities. Check the individual pack when dietary suitability or storage is important.
No image availableHumza Garlic and Coriander Tandoori Naan 300g, 4 pieces
A garlic-and-coriander option for a savoury curry course, in a four-piece pack. Check the current pack for allergens, dietary suitability and storage instructions.
No image availableHumza Plain Tandoori Naan 300g, 4 pieces
A plain four-piece option when the curry or dips provide the main flavours. Check its own pack for allergens and vegan suitability; the Waitrose vegan declaration does not apply to this product.
No image availableHumza Plain Naan Family Pack 900g, 12 pieces
The 12-piece plain pack is an option when naan is planned for a larger savoury gathering. Check how many you will use, along with the pack’s allergen, storage and dietary information.
No image availableHumza Garlic and Coriander Naan Family Pack 900gm, 12 pieces
This 12-piece garlic-and-coriander pack suits a plan to serve flavoured naan with a larger savoury meal. Check the current pack for allergens, dietary declarations and instructions for any leftovers.
Frequently asked questions
Can naan replace pancakes on Pancake Day?
Choose naan for a deliberate savoury course, rather than as a like-for-like pancake replacement. Among people celebrating Shrove Tuesday in YouGov’s February 2025 GB survey, 89% said they made or ate pancakes.
What should I look for in a premium-style naan?
Compare specific product descriptions, flavours and pack sizes instead of relying on the word “premium”. M&S and Waitrose describe hand-stretching and flame-baking for their referenced products, but those retailer descriptions are not independent proof of superior taste.
Is plain naan suitable for vegan guests?
Do not assume that plain naan is vegan. Waitrose labels its particular 2 Tandoori Plain Naans suitable for vegans; check the current pack of any product you intend to serve, including a different plain naan.
Are the referenced M&S and Waitrose naans gluten-free?
No. The referenced M&S Garlic and Coriander Naan Breads and Waitrose 2 Tandoori Plain Naans contain wheat. Read the exact pack’s ingredients and allergen information before serving anyone who needs to avoid gluten.
Can I freeze naan for another gathering?
Follow the directions for the exact pack. M&S states that its referenced garlic-and-coriander naan is suitable for freezing and gives a three-month frozen-use period when frozen by the date mark; Waitrose states a one-month period for its referenced tandoori naan.