Traditional Indian Fry Bread is a delicious, versatile dish with deep roots in Native American culture.
It’s a simple, yet satisfying recipe that yields soft, golden rounds of dough, fried to perfection.
Made from basic pantry staples—flour, baking powder, salt, and milk—the dough is easy to prepare and comes together quickly.
After a brief rest in the fridge, the dough is rolled, fried, and served hot.
Whether enjoyed plain, topped with sweet or savory toppings, or used as a base for Navajo tacos, this fry bread is a comforting, flavorful treat.
Perfect for any occasion, it’s a wonderful way to explore traditional flavors.
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup plus 2 Tablespoons Milk
Vegetable Oil for Frying
Instructions
Place flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add milk 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 chill for 30 minutes.
Heat oil to 350 degrees in a deep frying pan or kettle. You’ll need at least one inch of oil in the bottom of the pan.
Divide the chilled dough into four equal portions. Lightly flour surface.
Pat and roll out baseball size pieces of dough to 1/4 inch thickness.
Poke a hole in the middle of each disc with your finger or knife (so dough will fry flat).
Place dough disc in oil and cook until golden brown, flip over and cook opposite side until golden brown.
Dough is done in about 3 minutes depending on oil temperature and thickness of dough.
Place fry bread on paper towel lined plate. After fry bread is done top with favorite topping or make Navajo Tacos.
When making Traditional Indian Fry Bread, there are plenty of ways to get creative with variations.
For a sweet option, sprinkle the hot bread with cinnamon and sugar, or drizzle it with honey or powdered sugar.
For a savory twist, top it with taco ingredients like ground beef, beans, lettuce, and cheese to make Navajo tacos.
You can also infuse the dough with herbs such as rosemary or cilantro for an added layer of flavor, or mix in cheese for a deliciously rich result.
If you want to experiment further, try stuffing the dough with your favorite fillings before frying.
For a gluten-free option, simply swap out the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free version.
When preparing the dough, it’s important not to overwork it to avoid toughness, and make sure the oil is heated to 350°F for the perfect fry—this prevents the bread from becoming greasy or undercooked.
Prep Time: 40 minutes | Cooking Time: 5 minutes | Total Time: 45 minutes | Servings: 4 pieces