Description
This homemade frybread features a beautifully golden, crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy center. Made with simple pantry ingredients and no yeast, it’s perfect for serving warm with sweet toppings or as the base for savory Indian tacos.
Ingredients
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons powdered milk
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 cup shortening, for frying
Extra flour, for handling the dough
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and powdered milk. Stir thoroughly until evenly mixed.
- Gradually add the warm water, stirring continuously until a soft dough begins to form. Add the water slowly to control the consistency.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. With floured hands, knead gently until smooth, soft, and manageable. Avoid over-kneading to keep the frybread tender.
- Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel and let it rest for approximately 15 minutes to relax the gluten and make shaping easier.
- Divide the rested dough into approximately 10 equal portions. Roll each portion into a ball, then gently flatten and stretch into an evenly thick round.
- Place the shortening in a deep, heavy-bottomed frying pan over medium heat. Melt enough shortening to reach approximately 1 inch deep and heat to 350°F (175°C).
- Carefully lower one dough round into the hot shortening. Fry until the underside is puffed and golden brown, then flip with tongs and cook the other side until golden and cooked through. Repeat with the remaining dough, frying in batches without overcrowding the pan.
- Transfer the fried bread to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess shortening. Serve immediately while warm and crispy, with honey and powdered sugar or your favorite savory toppings.
Notes
For the fluffiest frybread, avoid over-kneading the dough or adding excessive flour.
Maintain the frying temperature at approximately 350°F (175°C). Oil that is too cool makes the bread greasy, while excessively hot oil can brown the outside before the center cooks.
For sweet honey frybread, drizzle warm pieces with honey and dust with powdered sugar. Add cinnamon if desired.
For Indian tacos, top the warm frybread with seasoned ground beef, beans, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, and salsa.
For cinnamon sugar frybread, sprinkle freshly fried pieces with a mixture of granulated sugar and ground cinnamon.
For cheesy frybread, sprinkle warm pieces with shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese. Add jalapeños or salsa if desired.
For garlic herb frybread, brush warm pieces with melted butter mixed with garlic powder and dried parsley.
For whole wheat frybread, replace 1 cup of all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour and add a little extra water if needed.
If powdered milk is unavailable, omit it or replace part of the warm water with regular milk, adjusting the liquid as necessary.
Make-ahead tip: Prepare the dough several hours in advance and refrigerate covered. Allow it to sit at room temperature for 20–30 minutes before shaping. For best results, fry the dough the same day.
Room temperature storage: Cool completely and store plain frybread in an airtight container for up to 1 day.
Refrigerator storage: Store cooled frybread in an airtight container with parchment paper between pieces for up to 3 days. Keep perishable toppings separate.
Freezer storage: Wrap individual pieces and freeze in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
Oven reheating: Warm at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 5–8 minutes until heated through.
Air fryer reheating: Heat at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 2–4 minutes, checking frequently.
Skillet reheating: Warm in a dry skillet over medium-low heat for approximately 1–2 minutes per side.
Serve alongside chili, soups, or stews, or enjoy with honey, powdered sugar, fruit preserves, or your favorite taco toppings.
Nutrition values are approximate per plain frybread without toppings and depend on the amount of shortening absorbed during frying.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Deep Frying
- Cuisine: Native American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 frybread
- Calories: 290 kcal
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 1 mg