In the heart of Navajo cuisine, two culinary gems shine brightly: Navajo bread and Navajo tacos. These dishes, steeped in tradition and brimming with flavors, offer a tantalizing glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the Navajo people. Navajo bread, also known as fry bread, is a delectable fried flatbread that serves as the foundation for the iconic Navajo taco. Crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside, this bread provides the perfect canvas for a symphony of toppings. The Navajo taco, a celebrated fusion of Native American and Mexican culinary influences, features a generous helping of savory ground beef, beans, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, all nestled atop a warm and crispy Navajo bread. These culinary delights are not only a testament to the Navajo people's culinary prowess but also a reflection of their resilience and spirit. Whether you're a seasoned foodie or simply seeking an authentic taste of Navajo culture, these recipes will guide you on a culinary adventure that will leave your taste buds dancing with joy.
Let's cook with our recipes!
MOM'S NAVAJO TACOS AND INDIAN FRY BREAD
Homemade Fry Bread and Navajo Tacos will forever and always be one of my favorite foods! Yes eating healthy is great and all but sometimes we need some all-out comfort food like so. Soft and tender fry bread is topped with a hearty, seasoned ground beef mixture and finished with lots of fresh taco toppings. Deeeelicious!
Provided by Jaclyn
Categories Main Course
Time 50m
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and saute 2 minutes, add garlic and saute 20 seconds. Scoot mixture to the side then crumble beef into skillet.
- Season with salt and pepper and cook stirring occasionally and breaking up beef when stirring, until beef has browned and cooked through. Drain fat from beef and return to skillet.
- Stir in chili powder, cumin, paprika, kidney beans, canned diced tomatoes and green chilis then season mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes (if you used the tomato sauce you can add in a few tbsp of water to thin a little if needed).
- Using a slotted spoon, spoon mixture over fry bread, then top with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes and sour cream (and any of the other optional toppings listed). Serve immediately.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, yeast and salt. Whisk melted butter into warm milk and pour milk mixture into dry ingredients.
- Stir until mixture comes together and slightly forms a ball, dough should be fairly sticky (if needed you can add in a little more flour or a little more water to reach a good consistency but try not to overwork the dough).
- Cover dough with plastic wrap and allow to rest 5 - 10 minutes.
- Heat 1 inch of oil in a large cast iron skillet to 350 - 360 degrees over stove top.
- Divide rested dough into 8 equal pieces.
- Working with floured hands and one piece of dough at a time (keep other pieces covered with plastic wrap), pat dough out on a lightly floured surface into a 6-inch circle and gently drop into hot oil, and cook until golden brown, then flip and cook opposite side until golden brown.
- Remove from oil and drain onto a plate or baking sheet lined with paper towels.
- Serve warm with Navajo taco filling.*
NAVAJO TACOS (INDIAN FRY BREAD)
Deliciously crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, Navajo Tacos made with Indian Fry Bread are topped with a meaty mixture of taco seasoned ground beef and beans, then all the fixings like sour cream, shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, and tomatoes!
Provided by Amy Nash
Categories Bread
Time 35m
Number Of Ingredients 27
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the warm water and mix using a fork until a dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes, then transfer to a clean bowl and cover tightly in plastic wrap. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes.
- Divide the dough into 8 equal sections by pinching off golf-ball sized balls of dough, then pat and roll out the dough balls into roughly 6-inch discs on a lightly floured surface. Keep them covered with plastic wrap while you prepare to fry them.
- Heat 3 cups of oil in a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat for about 5 minutes until the oil temperature reaches between 350 and 360 degrees F. Working in batches, fry each disc in the hot oil until the dough is golden brown on one side, then carefully flip with tongs and fry on the other side. Set on a paper towel to drain oil and stick in a warm oven to stay hot while the other fry bread is cooked.
- In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat, then add the onions and cook for 2-3 minutes, just until they begin to soften. Add the meat and brown with the onions.
- When the meat is no longer pink, add all of the spices, kidney beans, tomatoes, and chilies, and decrease the heat to medium-low. Stir everything together, then cover and simmer for 10 minutes, then use to top Indian fry bread for Navajo tacos.
- Add any toppings you like to the base of fry bread and taco mixture, piling it high.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1102 kcal, Carbohydrate 40 g, Protein 18 g, SaturatedFat 11 g, Cholesterol 40 mg, Sodium 750 mg, Fiber 6 g, Fat 98 g, TransFat 1 g, Sugar 2 g, UnsaturatedFat 84 g, ServingSize 1 serving
NAVAJO TACOS
A traditional Indian fry bread topped with a chili-style meat and bean mixture and taco-type toppings like shredded Cheddar cheese, chopped lettuce, and sour cream. A family favorite. Serve the leftovers as dessert with honey, butter, or sugar and cinnamon.
Provided by IMATECHGIRL
Categories Main Dish Recipes Taco Recipes Fry Bread Taco Recipes
Time 49m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Mix flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Pour in water; stir dough until just combined. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest, about 15 minutes.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef; cook and stir until browned, about 5 minutes. Drain off grease. Stir in pinto beans, diced tomatoes with their juices, and chili seasoning until well-blended. Simmer until chili flavors combine, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Grease your hands lightly with oil and pinch off a piece of dough about the size of a baseball. Press it with your palms into a round about 4 inches in diameter and 1/2-inch thick. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Heat oil to a depth of 2 to 3 inches in a deep fryer or large saucepan. Fry dough rounds in batches until well-browned, puffy, and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
- Divide fry bread among serving plates while still hot. Spoon chili mixture on top.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 424.9 calories, Carbohydrate 44.7 g, Cholesterol 47.3 mg, Fat 17.7 g, Fiber 4.7 g, Protein 21 g, SaturatedFat 4.7 g, Sodium 1127.1 mg, Sugar 2.9 g
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
NAVAJO BREAD AND NAVAJO TACO
I love this story and the recipe, it is very big here in NM, and at the State Fair here in Albuquerque at the Indian village. The Navajo traded with the Spanish, Mexican, Pueblos, Apache, Comanche ,and even the early American pioneers. Around 1846, large numbers of pioneers moved into the area and the cavalry came with them....
Provided by JoSele Swopes
Categories Tacos & Burritos
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 28
Steps:
- 1. Fry bread is wonderfully lumpy (puffed here and there). It can be served as a dessert or used as a main dish bread. Our family will often take them and stuff them, much like one might use bread or tortilla to dip into their food.
- 2. Sift together the flour, salt, powdered milk, and baking powder into a large bowl. Pour the water over the flour mixture all at once and stir the dough with a fork until it starts to form one big clump.
- 3. Flour your hands. Using your hands, begin to mix the dough, trying to get all the flour into the mixture to form a ball. NOTE: You want to mix this well, but you do NOT want to knead it. Kneading it will make for a heavy Fry Bread when cooked. The inside of the dough ball should still be sticky after it is formed, while the outside will be well floured.
- 4. Cut the dough into four (4) pieces. Using your floured hands, shape, stretch, pat, and form a disk of about 5 to 7 inches in diameter. NOTE: Don't worry about it being round. As Grandma Felipa would say "it doesn't roll into your mouth."
- 5. Heat the vegetable oil to about 350 degrees F. NOTE: You can check by either dropping a small piece of dough in the hot oil and seeing if it begins to fry, or by dipping the end of a wooden spoon in and seeing if that bubbles. Your oil should be about 1-inch deep in a large cast-iron skillet or other large fryer.
- 6. Take the formed dough and gently place it into the oil, being careful not to splatter the hot oil. Press down on the dough as it fries so the top is submersed into the hot oil. Fry until brown, and then flip to fry the other side. Each side will take about 3 to 4 minutes. Indian Fry Bread can be kept warm in a 200 degree F. oven for up to 1 hour. They refrigerate well and can be reheated in a 350 degree F. oven for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
- 7. NAVAJO TACO FIXINGS: Brown ground beef, add all spices and continue to brown till all is mixed in let simmer for 5 minutes till all is cooked...Heat Pinto beans and spices in separate sauce pan...
- 8. Build your Navajo Taco: #1 fry bread, #2 Meat, #3 Pinto Beans drained, #4 Toppings to include and other topping you want, #5 last of all Cheese if you prefer...Eat warm and Enjoy
NAVAJO FRY BREAD II
As far as I know this is the original recipe for Navajo Bread. It's is great with honey and butter. The Navajo put chiles, cheese, onion, lettuce and beans on it, and call them Nava Tacos.
Provided by SAUNDRA
Categories Bread Quick Bread Recipes
Time 40m
Yield 9
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- In a large heavy bottomed frying pan, heat 1 inch of vegetable oil or lard to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C).
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and milk; mix well. When the dough has pulled together, form it into small balls and pat them flat.
- Place 3 or 4 at a time into the hot oil. When the rounds begin to bubble, flip them over and cook until golden. Drain on paper towels and serve hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 281 calories, Carbohydrate 46.4 g, Cholesterol 5.4 mg, Fat 6.8 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 8 g, SaturatedFat 1.6 g, Sodium 1914.9 mg, Sugar 3.3 g
NAVAJO TACOS
Make and share this Navajo Tacos recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Leta8076
Categories Beans
Time 1h
Yield 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- To make fry bread: Mix dry ingredients.
- Stir in water.
- Knead dough lightly; cover and let rest 15 minutes.
- Heat 1" vegetable oil in a 10" skillet.
- Pinch off dough in small amounts and pat dough into thin 8" circles.
- In the hot oil, quickly brown on both sides.
- Drain on paper towels.
- To make filling: Brown ground beef and onion, drain.
- Add beans and garlic salt.
- Simmer 10- 15 minutes.
- To Serve: Spoon filling onto frybread.
- Top with grated cheeses, salsa, lettuce, onion, or whatever sounds good.
Tips:
- Use fresh ingredients. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your bread and tacos.
- Don't overmix the dough. Overmixing will make the bread tough.
- Let the dough rest before shaping it. This will help the gluten to relax and make the bread easier to work with.
- Bake the bread at a high temperature. This will create a crispy crust.
- Use a variety of toppings for your tacos. This will make them more flavorful and interesting.
- Serve the tacos immediately. This will ensure that they are at their best.
- Tips for Navajo Bread:
- If you don't have a cast iron skillet, you can use a regular skillet over medium heat.
- Be careful not to overcook the bread. It should be cooked through but still soft and fluffy.
- Tips for Navajo Tacos:
- You can use any type of meat you like for the tacos. Ground beef, pork, or chicken are all good options.
- Be sure to drain the grease from the meat before adding it to the tacos.
- Use a variety of toppings for your tacos. This will make them more flavorful and interesting.
Conclusion:
Navajo bread and Navajo tacos are both delicious and easy-to-make dishes that are perfect for any occasion. With a little planning, you can make these dishes in no time. So what are you waiting for? Try them out today!
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