I absolutely love naan bread. Every time I eat at an Indian restaurant, I can't wait to tear into the puffy, teardrop-shaped flatbread that comes to the table piping hot and slathered in ghee. Authentic naan, I recently learned, is made by throwing disks of dough onto the side of a cone-shaped tandoor oven (whose temperatures reach up to 900 F). Because it cooks so quickly, the naan comes out covered in bubbles from the intense heat. It's delicious eaten on its own, but it's more commonly torn and used to scoop up side dishes like subzi chana (spicy chickpeas with onions) or dal (split peas).

But these days, you don't have to go to an Indian restaurant to eat naan bread. You can actually buy some pretty great naan at the grocery store, like Stonefire Authentic Flatbreads. Which I buy regularly to make simple flatbread pizzas (more recipes below) or just to warm and cut up to serve with party dips like my White Bean and Basil or Lemony Roasted Eggplant. When Stonefire recently hosted a cooking class in NYC, I jumped at the chance to go. An evening of naan, cooking, and bubbly? Sign me up!

The evening was a blast. We got to taste test their three different types of naan (regular, whole wheat, and garlic) and learned how to make everything from individual pizzas (like one with olive & feta salsa, and another with potatoes, gorgonzola, and bacon) to paninis to dessert! Who ever dreamed of making dessert from naan? The chef even taught us to make naan bread pudding with cardamom cream. Who knew?

But I have to say, flatbread pizzas are still my favorite. I love topping whole wheat naan with whatever veggies I have in the fridge – it could be tomatoes, spinach, red onions, zucchini, olives, whatever really! – and maybe some chicken sausage and a bit of cheese (mozzarella's the best because it melts so well, though goat cheese and fontina are also delicious). This is also a really fun dish to prepare with kids, as they can each make their own personal pizza.

Once you're done assembling, pop them in the oven for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the naan is golden. Put the pizzas on a cutting board, cut into pieces, and serve with a big, green salad. And voila! – an easy, healthy dinner in under half an hour. Now all you have to do is pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy!

(Note: This is not a sponsored post. I only write about things I feel passionate about and products I love.)

[recipe:best-easy-naan-bread-pizzas-spinach-chicken-recipe]