**Native American Indian Fry Bread: A Culinary Journey Through History and Heritage**
In the rich tapestry of Native American cuisine, fry bread stands as a testament to resilience, cultural exchange, and the enduring spirit of survival. This iconic dish, often served at powwows and gatherings, holds a special place in the hearts of Native Americans and food enthusiasts alike. Its origins can be traced back to the forced relocation of Native American tribes in the 19th century, when government rations of flour, sugar, salt, and lard became a staple part of their diet. Necessity bred creativity, and fry bread emerged as a resourceful way to utilize these ingredients, creating a hearty and comforting food that has become a beloved part of Native American culture.
Today, fry bread is a versatile culinary canvas, enjoyed in various forms and preparations. From the classic plain fry bread, often served with honey, butter, or savory toppings, to creative variations like Navajo tacos, Indian tacos, and fry bread sandwiches, the possibilities are endless. Each recipe in this article offers a unique take on this traditional dish, showcasing the diverse culinary heritage of Native American tribes across the United States. Whether you're a seasoned fry bread enthusiast or a curious home cook eager to explore new flavors, these recipes will guide you on a culinary journey through history, culture, and taste.
NATIVE AMERICAN FRY BREAD
It's been a favorite of mine since I was little that my grandma made every year for Christmas.
Provided by Nikki
Categories Bread Yeast Bread Recipes
Time 44m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the mixture.
- Dissolve yeast in the warm water in a small bowl. Pour into the middle of the flour mixture. Mix together lightly and rapidly until dough is moist and soft. Allow dough to rise slightly, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Pinch off a 2-inch piece of dough with well-floured fingers. Stretch it into a round 5 to 6 inches in diameter, working in more flour if needed.
- Deep-fry dough until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining dough.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 307.1 calories, Carbohydrate 51.5 g, Fat 8 g, Fiber 1.8 g, Protein 6.7 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 476.3 mg, Sugar 3.3 g
NATIVE AMERICAN FRY BREAD
Steps:
- Gather the ingredients.
- In a deep, 10-inch cast-iron skillet or heavy saucepan, heat about 1 inch of oil to 350 F. If you don't have a deep-fry thermometer to attach to the pan, dip the handle end of a wooden spoon in the oil. The oil should bubble around it fairly steadily when it's ready. The popcorn method is another option: Place a kernel of popcorn in the oil, and it will pop when the oil reaches 350 to 360 F.
- Meanwhile, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Mix well to blend.
- Add the milk and stir until the dough holds together.
- Knead 3 or 4 times on a floured surface.
- Divide the dough into 4 uniform pieces and shape each into a ball.
- Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll each ball of dough into a circle that's about 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick. Make a depression in the center of each round of dough (it will puff up while frying).
- Carefully slide 1 or 2 pieces of dough into the hot oil. Fry for about 1 to 2 minutes on each side, or until lightly browned.
- Remove the fried dough to paper towels to drain.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 289 kcal, Carbohydrate 26 g, Cholesterol 2 mg, Fiber 1 g, Protein 4 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Sodium 330 mg, Sugar 2 g, Fat 19 g, ServingSize 4 servings, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
INDIAN FRY BREAD
Many Native Americans have a recipe for Fry Bread. This one listed is not ours. We have perfected our own and we hold ingredients that make ours special. One of those is tinpsula. This is a food widely used by many Native Indian tribes, and was one of the primary foods used by the plains Indians. Although tinpsula makes our bread different, there is much more than that that goes into our processes of Fry Bread.
Provided by Food Network
Categories side-dish
Time 55m
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Put flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Mix well, add warm water and stir until dough begins to ball up. On a lightly floured surface knead dough. Do not over-work the dough. After working dough, place in a bowl and refrigerate for 1/2 to 1 hour.
- Heat oil to 350 degrees in a frying pan or kettle. Lightly flour surface and pat and roll out baseball size pieces of dough. Cut hole in middle with a knife (so the dough will fry flat) to 1/4-inch thickness and place in oil and cook until golden brown and flip over and cook opposite side until same golden brown. Dough is done in about 3 minutes depending on oil temperature and thickness of dough.
- After fry bread is done top with favorite topping or, chile and cheese first, then cover with lettuce and tomatoes, onions, green chile and you have an Indian Taco.
NATIVE AMERICAN FRY BREAD
Very easy recipe for fried bread used to make Indian Tacos. OR you can eat them with butter, or add honey or jelly! You can also slice in half and use as hamburger buns. Many possibilities. Sometimes I use garlic salt and eat them with spaghetti. They make great dippers for chili too! To make the indian tacos you just put your favorite taco ingredients on top and enjoy!
Provided by Dissie
Categories Breads
Time 35m
Yield 6 breads, 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Mix ingredients together with a fork in a medium bowl. (will be sticky).
- Liberally grease your hands with vegetable oil and shape dough into a ball. Leave dough in bowl and cover with a towel and set in warm place for atleast 20 minutes, but leaving longer makes the bread fluffier.
- When you are ready to make the bread, heat vegetable oil, atleast 1 inch deep or deeper in a frying pan or electric skillet. (around 375 degrees) Test a small ball of dough in grease, it should float in grease, not sit on the bottom, if it doesn't immediately float, oil is not hot enough.
- When oil is ready, grab a ball of dough a little bigger than a golf ball and stretch out in your greased hands until dough is flattened out about the size of a large cookie. Poke a small hole in the center of the dough with your fingers, and carefully lay in the hot oil.
- Let dough brown to a golden brown before turning over and frying other side.
- Drain on paper towels and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 152.8, Fat 0.4, SaturatedFat 0.1, Sodium 183.6, Carbohydrate 32.4, Fiber 1.1, Sugar 0.1, Protein 4.3
NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN FRY BREAD
There are a few variations of American Indian Fry Bread, according to the region, and some use yeast while others use baking powder. Some are rolled out and some are patted flat in the palms of the hands. This is a basic one that I use. It's very simple and easy to double, triple, or halve it. The rule is 1 tsp of baking powder to 1 cup of flour and a pinch of salt. Enough water to make a dough, knead it until its not sticky. You can let it rest or not. Divide into balls that will result in a flat round of about 4 inches. Flour the hands and then put a ball in the palm of one hand and press it with the palm of the other, and then reverse, till it is about 1/2 inch flat. Poking a little hole in the middle prevents it from puffing up too much. Then they are deep fried till golden brown, but I don't like to use a whole lot of oil so I use only about 3 inches deep; enough to cover the risen bread, but at least 3 of inches is necessary. Toppings can be such as confectioners' sugar, honey, butter, tomato sauce, jelly, or whatever suits your fancy. This recipe is a lot like Dissie's, and Dissie had hers up first. I changed the title from Native American Fry Bread to Native American Indian Fry Bread just because there are already a few with the former title, so to tell this one from those.
Provided by Rainbow - Chef 5368
Categories Breads
Time 30m
Yield 4 breads
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Slowly add enough water to make a stiff dough.
- Place dough on a floured surface and knead just till smooth and not sticky.
- Let it rest for 30 minutes , or go right to next step.
- Divide the dough into large enough balls to make a 4" round.
- Preheat oil in a frying pan or deep frier, enough oil to float the risen bread. When the oil 'spits' upon sprinkling a few drops of water into it then it's ready.
- Flour the hands and put a ball in the palm of one hand while pressing it flat with the palm of the other hand, then reverse having the dough in the other hand and pressing with the other hand, till it is about 1/2" thick.
- Poke a little hole in the middle with the tip of the little finger.
- Place the flattened dough into the hot oil and fry on one side until golden and then flip and fry the other side.
- Remove fried dough from the oil and place on a plate with a paper towel on it to absorb excess oil.
- Serve hot and let each person add their own topping.
CRISPY NATIVE AMERICAN FRY BREAD
This is a delicious bread that was/is very common to every Native American. It's very delicious and goes with absolutely anything you want it for:) like salads, pastas, tacos anything! Very easy to make and very good to eat:)
Provided by Chef Otaktay
Categories Quick Breads
Time 1h
Yield 3 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Mix the dry ingredients together, mix the egg and the water, add to the dry mixture.
- Add flour or water to adjust mixture to a very soft dough mixture.
- Put dough on a well floured board.
- Roll out to about a 1 inch thickness.
- Let set for about 15 minutes.
- Cut into what ever size you would like.
- Batter makes about 25 pieces.
- Deep fry in hot oil, just enough to brown on each side.
- Put on a paper towel to get some of the oil off of the bread.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 436, Fat 8.2, SaturatedFat 4.2, Cholesterol 91.2, Sodium 1244, Carbohydrate 73, Fiber 2.3, Sugar 8.6, Protein 16.3
INDIAN TACOS WITH YEAST FRY BREAD
My cousins grew up on a reservation in South Dakota, and this is how we always made our fry bread (with yeast).
Provided by BETSY4020
Categories Main Dish Recipes Taco Recipes Fry Bread Taco Recipes
Time 1h45m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Mix yeast, sugar, and 1/4 cup warm water in a large mixing bowl and set aside until the yeast mixture forms a creamy foam layer on top, about 5 minutes. Whisk flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and baking powder in a bowl. Stir flour mixture into yeast mixture by thirds, alternating with 1 cup warm water in thirds, and beat to make a firm dough.
- Cut the dough into 6 pieces and roll each piece into a ball on a floured work surface. Roll out the dough balls into flat round tortillas.
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Gently place tortillas, one at a time, into the hot oil and fry until golden brown on both sides, turning once, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels and set aside.
- Cook and stir ground beef with 1 large minced onion in a skillet over medium heat until the meat is browned and crumbly, about 10 minutes. Drain excess grease and stir in diced tomatoes with their juice, tomato paste, basil, oregano, salt, black pepper, and chili powder. Bring the chili to a boil and reduce heat to low; simmer until thickened, 30 to 40 minutes.
- Place a piece of fry bread onto a plate and ladle a generous portion of chili onto the bread. Transfer Cheddar cheese, lettuce, 1 cup finely chopped onion, and mild green chilies into separate bowls and top each portion with about 1 tablespoon of Cheddar cheese and desired amounts of lettuce, onion, and chilies.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 470.1 calories, Carbohydrate 38.3 g, Cholesterol 52 mg, Fat 27.9 g, Fiber 3.9 g, Protein 17.2 g, SaturatedFat 9.6 g, Sodium 807.2 mg, Sugar 8.9 g
AMERICAN INDIAN FRY BREAD
I used to work at an American Indian reastraunt Where I ate these at least once a day. Sometimes with a little butter other times as a Navajo Taco. Also try the Tostada.
Provided by TammieV
Categories Breads
Time 13m
Yield 8-10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Heat oil in skillet til hot over med-high heat, but not smoking.
- In a large bowl, Combine the rest of the ingredients to make dough.
- Shape into round disks.
- Fry shaped dough in hot oil til brown and crispy.
- Serve hot.
- Traditionally you would eat this with stew.
- Or top with some honey.
- I personally like to spread a little butter on it.
- Two other popular choices, make chili.
- Pile Chili on top and add a little cheese, lettuce and tomato for a"Navajo Taco" Or use the round as your base for a Tostada, add taco meat, beans, cheese, lettuce, tomato and Guacamole.
- See my Creamy Guacamole recipe.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 167.5, Fat 2.1, SaturatedFat 0.8, Cholesterol 4.3, Sodium 206.4, Carbohydrate 31.5, Fiber 1.1, Sugar 0.2, Protein 5
AUTHENTIC NAVAJO INDIAN FRY BREAD (TACO BREAD)
Step by easy step recipe for a Native American all-purpose flat bread dating back to the nineteenth century. Fry bread is considered a food of inter-tribal unity and is made at all Indian pow wows. It has a crispy outside and a chewy inside. Serve with butter & honey, powdered sugar, or cinnamon & sugar. Or add 'taco' ingredients to the top to make an Indian taco bread salad. You can also fill these with anything then fold them up to eat. Or simply serve plain with soup, stew, etc. *EDITED TO ADD: This is an old recipe and I know many of us no longer use so much salt - if that's the case for you then I suggest REDUCING THE SALT BY HALF.
Provided by GeeWhiz
Categories Breads
Time 55m
Yield 16-18 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- In a heavy large frying pan heat the oil to 365 degrees; Oil is hot enough if a small test piece of dough dropped in the oil begins cooking almost immediately and rises to the top.
- Mix together dry ingredients in a large bowl; *see note about salt.
- Gradually add warm milk and mix to make a soft dough.
- When the dough has pulled together, cover and let sit in a warm place for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Break off a golf ball sized piece of dough and pat it out flat in your hand, no thicker than 1/4 inch.
- Place 2 or 3 flats at a time into the hot oil and when they begin to bubble flip them over and fry until they're a nice light golden brown.
- Remove and drain on paper towels then serve hot (keep them covered in a bowl until you're done frying).
- You can make larger flats; just make sure they're no thicker than 1/4" and fry one at a time.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 380.4, Fat 28.9, SaturatedFat 4.5, Cholesterol 5.3, Sodium 1095.6, Carbohydrate 26.2, Fiber 0.8, Sugar 0.1, Protein 4.5
Tips:
- Use warm water: Using warm water helps activate the yeast and promotes better dough rising.
- Knead the dough properly: Kneading the dough develops the gluten, resulting in a more elastic and chewy fry bread.
- Let the dough rise twice: Allowing the dough to rise twice gives it time to develop flavor and become light and airy.
- Fry the bread at the right temperature: The ideal temperature for frying fry bread is between 350°F and 375°F. This prevents the bread from burning or becoming too greasy.
- Drain the bread properly: After frying, drain the bread on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Serve warm: Fry bread is best served warm, when it's crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Conclusion:
Native American fry bread is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in many different ways. Whether you serve it as a main course, a side dish, or a snack, fry bread is sure to be a hit. With its simple ingredients and easy preparation, fry bread is a great recipe for cooks of all skill levels. So next time you're looking for a tasty and satisfying meal, give Native American fry bread a try.
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