Naan, a basic flatbread commonly used in South Asia as a sideline course of a meal, is not so basic anymore.

With innovation hitting different sectors of life and technology, the favourite bread of South Asians has been upgraded to become part of the main course as well as dessert.

Naan basically originated in the subcontinent but today it is eaten and loved not only in homes and restaurants of South Asia but all around the world. The basic ingredients of a plain naan are all-purpose flour, warm water, salt and yeast. With time it has evolved into various other forms like garlic naan, allu naan, qeema naan, Peshawari naan and Kashmiri naan.

Now, naan alone is a whole meal, thanks to the newly generated tandoors in Lahore which have merged the taste of the east with the flavour of the west. Now you can find your favourite hazel nut chocolate spread, Nutella and pizza topping in a naan.

MARO Tandoor, Mr Sheeda, Naan Stop and others are responsible for the new revolution in the naan business as they are now serving this flat bread with various delicious stuffing including Nutella, cheese, pizza, chicken, minced meat, jalapeno, fish and even dry fruits.

These naans are healthy, tasty and economical. They are a great treat for your taste buds and now you can enjoy a whole meal out of Nutella or cheese.

Usually considered as junk food, Pizza is also turned into a traditional everyday meal by these tandoors, which means you can have it any day of the week at any time.

These naans are very economical as well; a person can enjoy a full meal in less than Rs200. This is also one of the reasons these naan joints are a great attraction for students who can enjoy these tasty treats without ruining their budget or being bashed by their moms about their unhealthy eating habits.

When naan dough is rolled with a generous dollop of Nutella in its centre and later baked in the oven, what comes out is the tastiest item around -- Nutella naan. This naan is surely the answer to all of your sweet cravings. The good thing is that you can have it any time of the day whether as a breakfast with a cup of steaming tea, lunch with your favourite drink or as a dessert.

The best thing about these naan joints is that they are reintroducing our traditional food in the market. Most of the youngsters who would have been eating at a fast food restaurant are now standing in lines outside these tandoors. These naans are surely the new favourite of Lahoris.

MARO Tandoor, a startup of four former students of Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), is located at a busy part of Model Town. As the day progresses, the tables set outside the place are filled with people of all ages. The owners are now planning to open a branch in DHA also.