Navajo Fry Bread Food

INDIAN ( NAVAJO ) FRY BREAD

Steps:

• Heat oil in skillet til hot over med-high heat.
• In a large mixing bowl pour the warm milk then add all dry ingredients and oil.
• mix into ball of dough.
• give about 10 minutes for the dough to rise.
• shape into discs.
• fry until golden brown (if too crispy the oil is likely not hot enough; The fry bread should turn golden brown fairly quickly).

AUTHENTIC NAVAJO INDIAN FRY BREAD (TACO BREAD)

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.

INDIAN FRY BREAD

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.

NAVAJO FRY BREAD II

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.

NAVAJO FRY BREAD I

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix together flour, non-fat dry milk powder, baking powder, and salt. Cut in 5 tablespoons of the lard into the dry mixture until it resembles fine crumbs. Add the ice water and mix until the dough pulls cleanly away from the sides of the bowl.
• Cover with a towel and set aside for 2 hours.
• Divide the dough into two large pieces. Shape each piece into a circle. Roll each piece out on a lightly floured board to 1/4 inch thick. Make 2 parallel cuts through the dough without cutting all the way through. Let the dough rest briefly.
• Heat the remaining lard in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once it is hot, add the first shaped dough. Fry for 4-5 minutes on the first side, until golden, turn over and finish cooking on the second side for 3-4 minutes. Remove the bread from the skillet and drain onto paper towels. Sprinkle with sea salt, if desired. Keep warm while second section cooks.
• Cut bread into wedges. Serve warm.

NAVAJO FRY BREAD - TRADITIONAL

Steps:

• Mix the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Gradually stir in the water and work it in, adding more water a little at a time, if needed.
• Knead by hand until soft but not sticky. Form the dough into a round ball, cover and let stand for about 30 minutes. Shape into 2" balls.
• Heat shortening or cooking oil in a 1 1/2 " deep frying pan until hot.
• Flatten each ball of dough by patting and stretching into a pizza shape. Carefully place the dough into the hot oil.
• Fry until edges of the bread are golden and turn to cook the other side. Makes 4-5 pieces.
• Layer the beans, chilis, onion, tomato,lettuce, cheese and if desired sour cream dollops on top of each piece of fry bread to make Navajo (or Indian) Tacos
• Fry bread may be served with stews or drizzled with honey or powdered sugar for dessert. Many Navajo cooks prefer to use "Bluebird" a high-gluten flour, in this recipe. Variations: The Navajo Nation in Window Rock serves a taco topped with chicken, chili beans without the beef and the remaining ingredients.

NAVAJO FRY BREAD

Steps:

• Mix dry ingredients together.
• Add warm milk and oil to dry ingredients. Knead until dough is soft and does not stick to the bowl.
• Shape dough into small balls.
• Let sit for 45 minutes. Pat or roll out until dough is about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick and is round. Make a small hole in the center of the round.
• Heat 6 cups of vegetable oil in a heavy frying pan.
• Carefully put rounds into hot oil one at a time.
• Cook until brown, turn and cook until brown on other side.
• Drain on paper towels.

BASIC NAVAJO FRY BREAD

Steps:

• Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.
• Cut in the shortening until it resembles crumbs.
• Slowly add water and mix thoroughly until you have a good dough.
• Knead the dough for a few minutes.
• Use flour when needed and break off pieces about the size of a golf ball.
• You flatten these balls to about pancake size and fry in hot oil.
• I don't remember the reason why but the Indians poke a hole in the center of the dough before frying.
• When they are golden, drain on paper towels.

NAVAJO TACOS ON FRY BREAD

Steps:

• CHILI: Sort and discard debris from beans and rinse well.
• Place beans in 3-4 quart pot with water; bring to a boil on high heat. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat; cover and let stand for 1 hour. Drain beans and set aside.
• Rinse pot and return to medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and ground beef and cook till meat is browned.
• Drain the grease and add all remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil on high heat; reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until beans are tender.
• FRY BREAD: Mix together flour, dry milk, baking powder, and salt. Add shortening and rub mixture with fingers till coarse crumbs form.
• Add water and stir with a fork till dough clings together.
• Knead on a lightly floured surface till smooth (2-3 minutes).
• Divide into 6 portions and keep covered with plastic wrap.
• Shape each into a 6-7 inch circle.
• In a 9x2 inch pan or electric skillet, heat 3/4 inch canola oil to 375 degrees. Fry each piece of dough till it is puffy and golden brown, turning once with tongs.
• Keep warm in 200 degree oven on baking sheets lined with paper towels till ready to serve.
• TO SERVE: Top each piece of fry bread with chili, and as many toppings as you like.

ZUNI VEGETABLE STEW WITH NAVAJO FRY BREAD

Steps:

• FOR THE SOUP: Cook and stir onion and garlic in oil in 4 quart Dutch oven over medium heat until onion is tender. Stir in bell pepper, poblano and jalapeno chiles. Cook 15 minutes.
• Stir in Hubbard squash, broth, salt, pepper and coriander. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer until squash is tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is tender, about 10 minutes. 6 servings about 1 1/3 cups each.
• FOR THE NAVAJO FRY BREADS: Mix flour, baking powder and salt; cut in shortening until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Sprinkle in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and dough almost cleans side of bowl. Gather into ball; cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Heat oil (1 inch) to 400°F in 4 quart Dutch oven.
• Divide dough into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into 6 inch circle on lightly floured surface. Let rest a few minutes.
• Make a hole about 1/2 inch in diameter in center of each circle. Fry circles, turning once, until puffed and golden, about 1 minute on each side; drain. Serve warm. 12 breads.
• Southwest Cooking.