Yummy Indian Fry Bread is a flat dough bread fried or deep fried in oil. This simple recipe is made with only a few ingredients and can be served in various ways for a sweet or savory approach. Honey, jam, powdered sugar or topped with fruit is a favorite dessert but don't forget about Navajo Tacos where you pile on your favorite savory toppings for a full meal.
Indian Fry Bread Recipe Published March 2019 ~ Republished July 2021
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Frybread can be called so many things. I grew up calling them Scones but had roommates who called them Navajo Taco Bread or Indian Frybread. Fry Bread is a Native American Bread that has been carried down from generation to generation and made with simple ingredients of flour, water, salt, and a little hot water.
Growing up I was served scones as a treat with powdered sugar and honey and oh how I loved them. Never knowing how amazing this delicious Fry Bread could be with savory toppings, I only knew the sweet taste of these scones.
Of course, as I got older and being offered a Navajo Taco my eyes were opened to the possibilities!
As much as I love Indian Fry Bread as a sweet treat, I also love when paired with mouth-watering beef in a taco sauce piled high with my favorite toppings. How do you prefer your Indian Frybread? I'd love to hear!
What Ingredients are in Fry Bread?
- Flour - All-Purpose Flour
- Baking Powder - Use your favorite brand
- Salt - Redmond Real Salt is a Favorite in my home. Use code DEVOURDINNER for 15% off.
- Hot water - Tap water that is very hot
- Oil - I use vegetable oil for frying scones in a frying pan.
How to Cook Indian Fry Bread
The best way to cook Fry Bread is on the stovetop over-controlled heat, or in a Dutch Oven when camping. I've also included how to cook using the Saute feature on the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker below.
Flattening Fry Bread
- Separate dough into 12-16 balls. I like to use a dough cutter / scraper when separating dough
- Using the palms of your hands and fingertips, press each dough into a circle and work with your fingertips to a thin round circle about 4-5 inches in diameter. You can make larger pieces to fry if you wish.
Stove Top Directions:
- Using a Frying Pan or Cast Iron Skillet fill the bottom of the pan with oil to fill about 1 inch and allow to get hot over Medium/High heat.
- To test, drop a small piece of dough into the hot oil. It should bubble and sizzle. If not allow to heat longer.
- Place rounded flattened dough into hot oil carefully and allow to fry on one side until golden brown.
- Flip using tongs and fry other side to a golden brown. Remove from oil to paper towels to drain.
The recipe may be simple but that is the beauty of it. Fry Bread can be served sweet or savory and everyone loves it. Let me show you how quick and easy this proven recipe is with step-by-step directions for all levels of chefs.
What is Fry Bread?
Frybread is a flat dough bread that is deep-fried in oil or lard. This simple ingredient recipe is eaten alone or with a variety of toppings from sweet to savory.
Fry Bread is Native American and can be made with yeast and cornmeal while other recipes call for lard, shortening, or another type of fat. This will vary depending on where you are located and the availability of ingredients.
Why is my Fry Bread Hard?
Fry Bread will come out hard if you over mix or knead the dough. Mixing or over kneading will develop the gluten too much and result in tough fry bread.
Is Fry Bread the same as Sopapillas?
Both Fry Bread and Sopapillas are traditional fried breads. The main difference is how the dough is prepared prior to being fried. The recipe is the same.
What makes bread fluffy?
When dough bakes carbon dioxide creates bubbles in the bread which make it light and airy.
How to Serve Fry Bread
Trust me, serving Fry Bread is the least of your worries. Having enough Indian Fry Bread on the other hand is always a challenge. It's just so good.
Served with Powder Sugar and Honey is a perfect snack or treat. And of course with savory toppings like tender beef in taco seasonings loaded with lettuce, tomato, salsa, sour cream, cheese, and avocado is an amazing meal.
How to Reheat Indian Fry Bread
Indian Fry Bread is easy to reheat. Wrap bread in foil and place in oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until dough is hot to the touch.
How to make Indian Fry Bread Tacos
Indian Fry Bread is crispy on the outside with a soft and chewy inside.
Fry Bread Tacos, or Navajo Tacos are made with Indian Fry bread and topped with a meat mixture seasoned with Taco Seasonings (cumin, garlic, chili powder) and then all the yummy toppings like lettuce, tomato, salsa, sour cream, cheese, olives, and avocado
What goes on Indian Fry Bread
Indian Fry bread can be served plain, with sweet toppings like Powdered Sugar and honey, or with savory toppings like meat and cheese.
The delicate crispy outside of the fry bread with the soft and chewy inside is completely addicting!
Make it a Sundae!
Just think... Fry Bread with fresh whipped cream and berries. or how about a scone tossed in Cinnamon and Sugar and piled with Vanilla Ice Cream and drizzled in caramel and chocolate. Oh yum! Now that's a dessert I can't wait to have.
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Want more Delicious Savory Recipes like this one? Of course you do. Check these out!
- Fiesta Chicken Casserole
- Homemade Chicken Taquitos
- BBQ Chicken Tostadas
- Cilantro Lime Shrimp Tacos
- Ground Turkey Tacos
- Meatball Enchilada Casserole
- Sweet Salsa Chicken
- Pork Street Tacos
- Chicken Taquitos
Have a Sweet Tooth? Try these Sweet Recipes!
Indian Fry Bread
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Flour All Purpose
- 2 teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 ½ cup Hot water
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- In a bowl add flour, baking powder and salt and stir to mix evenly
- Add hot water and stir with a spoon. You can also mix with your hands. Dough will be sticky.
- Form into a ball and allow to sit covered for 45 mins
- Separate dough into 12-16 balls
- Using the palms of your hands and fingertips, press each dough into a circle and work with your fingertips to a thin round circle about 4-5 inches in diameter
- Heat oil in Fry Pan on stove over medium/high heat OR Instant Pot on Saute until it reads "hot"
- Add one piece of bread at a time in hot oil and allow to cook until golden brown and then flip. About a minute on each side *variable for how hot oil is heated.
- Remove from oil and allow to drain on paper towels.
Notes
Nutrition
Instant Pot:
- Heat enough oil to fill the bottom of the Instant Pot about 1 in. Set Instant Pot to Saute' and allow oil to get hot.
- Instant Pot will read "hot" when it's ready. Using the palms of your hands press the dough and using your fingertips stretch the dough to form a circle about 3-4 inches in diameter.
- Then carefully place in hot oil and allow to fry.
- When it's golden brown on the bottom, flip dough using tongs.
- Remember oil will be HOT and can burn if it touches the skin. Remove from oil using tongs and place on paper towels to drain. Serve Hot.
Michelle Woods
If all of the dough is not used, can the remaining amount be refrigerated? I was using store bought pizza dough to fry in pieces and sprinkling with cinnamon and sugar. TIA 😊
Devour Dinner
Hi Michelle, It sounds like you are using store bought dough which should be able to be refrigerated. Enjoy the fry bread!
Jackie
I have been making Indian fry bread tacos for years and been looking for the perfect recipe and I have to say hands down this is my families favorite. Light and airy.
Marry Rizzo
I grew up eating fry bread my parents were American Indian
Karen ford
We called it both but I lobe scones with cinnamon sugar and honey. We would get them every year at pioneer village in California. Big giant ones. So yummy!!
K
I thought a scone was a hard, dense cookie like treat...and I've been eating scones for years. Fry bread is more fluffy and not at all as dense as a scone. Wonder how Webster describes it ....?
Devour Dinner
Hi Storm Chaser Babe, depending on the region, fry bread are often called scones. Funny how different parts of the country refer to similar recipes so differently.