Savoury Pancake Day hosts
If you are planning a savoury spread, decide whether warm naan suits your menu in place of a traditional pancake.
Who is this choice for?
Sourdough-first bread buyers
If sourdough is the reason for choosing naan, look for an explicit sourdough description and check the ingredients of the exact product.
Dietary-label checkers
If wheat, gluten or another ingredient matters to your choice, use the selected pack’s ingredients and allergen information. The word ‘sourdough’ does not settle dietary suitability.
What should you check?
Naan made with sourdough
Choose it when: Sourdough is central to the savoury meal; Baked Earth describes plain and flavoured sourdough naans.
Bear in mind: Country Choice lists wheat-based sourdough culture and yeast in its La Boulangerie naan, which comes in a 12-piece foodservice pack.
Conventional naan
Choose it when: You want a savoury bread but do not require sourdough; plain and garlic-and-coriander options offer different ways to flavour the meal.
Bear in mind: Tesco’s plain naan and M&S’s garlic-and-coriander naan list fermented wheat flour, but their examined listings do not describe them as sourdough naan.
Another sourdough bread
Choose it when: Sourdough matters more to you than serving naan; Sainsbury’s lists sourdough wheat-and-rye flatbreads, while Asda lists an Allinson’s sourdough loaf.
Bear in mind: Neither listing identifies those products as naan, so the bread format changes as well as the choice of product.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sourdough identity | Look for an explicit ‘made with sourdough’ description and read the exact ingredients. Country Choice lists sourdough culture for its La Boulangerie naan; Tesco’s plain naan lists fermented wheat flour without identifying the product as sourdough naan. | I specifically want naan made with sourdough, rather than a conventional naan with a fermented-flour ingredient. |
| Flavour | Compare plain naan with garlic-and-coriander versions, and check the full product description for other additions. | Will the other dishes provide the flavour, or do I want garlic and coriander in the bread itself? |
| Quantity and preparation | Check the number of naans, storage directions and whether heating instructions start with an ambient or frozen product. Country Choice lists 12 frozen La Boulangerie naans; Tesco lists a plain two-pack with an ambient oven method. | I want enough bread for the people I am serving, with a warming method that fits my plans. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the purchased pack’s ingredients and allergen declaration. Country Choice lists wheat flour, wheat-based sourdough culture and yeast in its La Boulangerie naan; sourdough wording alone is not a gluten-free or yeast-free claim. | If an ingredient affects my choice, I need to check the exact pack rather than relying on the word ‘sourdough’. |
Common buying mistakes
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Reading ‘fermented wheat flour’ as a sourdough-naan label
The examined Tesco and Waitrose plain naans list fermented wheat flour, while Country Choice explicitly lists sourdough culture for its La Boulangerie naan. Those descriptions should not be treated as interchangeable.
If sourdough is essential, check both the product’s own description and its ingredient list.
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Assuming sourdough means gluten-free or yeast-free
Country Choice’s listed sourdough naan contains wheat flour, wheat-based sourdough culture and yeast. The name alone cannot answer either dietary question.
Check the selected pack’s ingredients, allergen declaration and any relevant dietary claim separately.
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Choosing a foodservice pack without counting portions
Country Choice lists its La Boulangerie sourdough naan in a pack of 12, a substantial difference from the examined supermarket two-packs.
Compare the count with the number of people you plan to serve, then check storage directions if you intend to keep any naans for later.
Relevant brand and retailer references
These product lines illustrate the difference between naan explicitly made with sourdough, conventional naan and other sourdough breads; a brand reference does not establish availability for your meal.
Baked Earth
Baked Earth describes plain naan and a garlic-and-coriander version in its sourdough-naan range.
- Its range description explicitly identifies both versions as made with sourdough.
- The maker’s range page directs shoppers to ask about a nearest stockist; it does not establish stock at a particular supermarket.
La Boulangerie
Country Choice lists a La Boulangerie plain naan made with sourdough for foodservice.
- The listing names wheat-based sourdough culture and yeast in the ingredients and gives frozen heating directions.
- Its listed pack contains 12 naans, rather than an individual supermarket-style pack.
Tesco
Tesco’s examined plain two-pack is a conventional-naan reference when sourdough is optional.
- The listing provides ingredients and an ambient oven method.
- It lists fermented wheat flour but does not describe this product as sourdough naan.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s examined assortment lists both naan and a sourdough wheat-and-rye flatbread.
- The assortment gives shoppers different bread formats to consider.
- Its listed sourdough flatbread is not identified as naan; check the exact product label before choosing.
M&S
M&S lists a 380 g garlic-and-coriander naan for a meal where those flavours suit the other dishes.
- The product description makes the flavour choice clear.
- The examined listing includes dried fermented wheat flour but does not label this naan as made with sourdough.
Waitrose
Waitrose lists a plain two-pack of conventional naan with storage information.
- The examined listing includes ingredients and freezing guidance.
- It mentions fermented wheat flour but does not call this product sourdough naan.
Conventional naan options on Joybuy
These Humza naans are options for a savoury Pancake Day meal when sourdough is optional. Compare plain with garlic-and-coriander versions, then choose between four-piece and 12-piece packs.
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Humza Garlic and Coriander Tandoori Naan 300g, 4 pieces
Consider the garlic-and-coriander version when those flavours suit your savoury spread. This 300g pack contains four naans; check the exact ingredients if sourdough is essential.
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Humza Plain Tandoori Naan 300g, 4 pieces
The plain version leaves the choice of savoury flavours to the dishes served with it. The 300g pack contains four naans; look for an explicit sourdough description if that is a requirement.
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Humza Plain Naan Family Pack 900g, 12 pieces
The plain family pack is worth comparing when serving a larger group. It contains 12 naans and weighs 900g; check how many you will use and the pack’s storage directions if buying ahead.
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Humza Garlic and Coriander Naan Family Pack 900gm, 12 pieces
Choose this flavour combination for a larger savoury spread if garlic and coriander suit the menu. The 900gm family pack contains 12 naans; compare the count with your serving plans and check the ingredients if sourdough matters.
Questions about serving and buying naan
Is sourdough naan a Pancake Day pancake?
No. Naan can be a deliberate savoury alternative for the meal, but it is not a pancake. The Church of England describes pancake-making as a Pancake Day tradition before Lent.
How should I warm naan before serving?
Follow the instructions for the exact product, including whether it starts ambient or frozen. Tesco gives an ambient oven method for its examined plain naan, while Country Choice gives frozen oven directions for its La Boulangerie sourdough naan; do not transfer one product’s timing to the other.
Can I freeze naan bought ahead of the meal?
Check the chosen pack’s storage and reheating directions. The examined Tesco plain naan listing gives freezing and frozen-heating instructions, and Waitrose provides freezing and defrosting directions for its examined plain naan.
Does sourdough naan mean gluten-free?
No. Country Choice lists wheat flour and wheat-based sourdough culture in its La Boulangerie sourdough naan. Check the exact pack for ingredients, allergens and any separate gluten-free claim rather than treating ‘sourdough’ as one.
Which allergen information should I check when buying?
Check the ingredients and highlighted allergens on the exact pack you buy. Coeliac UK explains that allergens must be emphasised in the ingredients of prepacked food; an online product description should not replace the pack label.