Navajo Flatbreads Recipes

NAVAJO FRYBREAD

Steps:

• 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.
• Flour your hands well. Using your hands, begin to mix the dough, trying to get all the flour into the mixture to form a ball. 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.
• 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. Don't worry about it being round.
• In a deep heavy pot, heat the vegetable oil to about 350 degrees F. You can check if you oil is hot enough 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 heavy pot (I actually use a 2 inch deep frying pan)
• 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 approximately 3 to 4 minutes to cook. Place the cooked Fry Bread on a paper towel to absorb excess oil.

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 FLATBREADS WITH SUMAC & HERBS

Steps:

• Mix flour, baking powder, salt, and 1/2 of RawSpiceBar's sumac spice & herbs together.
• Slowly pour in the olive oil, mixing while pouring. Add the warm water and mix again until the dough comes together into a ball.
• Knead dough continuously for 5-10 minutes. Add flour to coat as you go along and continuously fold the dough in half from either side; the dough will be firm and this is normal.
• Once kneaded, allow to rest for 10-15 minutes.
• Transfer the risen dough onto a floured surface. Punch to allow accumulated air to escape.
• Divide the dough into 10 pieces, forming each into a ball.
• sing the heels of your hands, flatten the balls from either side. Use your thumb and index finger to fully flatten and stretch the dough into a 6″ diameter.
• Turn the grill or cast iron pan, if you have one, to medium high heat. Brush with oil.
• Add the flatbreads a few at a time, allowing space between each. Leave for 2-3 minutes until golden brown and slightly puffy on either side.

3-INGREDIENT FLAKY FLATBREAD

Steps:

• Whisk flour, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and slowly add 2/3 cup water, mixing with your hands or a wooden spoon, until a shaggy dough forms. Knead dough in bowl until smooth and elastic, about 4 minutes. Transfer dough to a clean work surface. Wipe out bowl and grease lightly with oil. Return dough to bowl, cover with a kitchen towel, and let rest 30 minutes.
• Turn out dough onto a clean work surface. Using a bench scraper or large knife, cut into 6 equal pieces. Shape into balls, cover, and let rest 15 minutes more.
• Grease a large cookie sheet or the underside of a rimmed baking sheet with 1 Tbsp. butter. Line another rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
• Place 1 piece of dough on prepared cookie sheet. Pat down to a flat oval with your fingertips, then smear 2 Tbsp. butter over dough. Press and slide dough outward with your fingertips, stretching to a very thin oval, about 12x10".
• Starting at 1 long end, roll dough over itself to create a long tube about 1" wide; flatten slightly. Starting at 1 short end, roll into a coil like a jelly roll. Transfer to parchment-lined sheet; cover with a kitchen towel. Repeat with remaining dough. Freeze, covered, 15 minutes.
• Working one at a time, turn coil on its side and flatten to a disc with your palm. Using a rolling pin, roll into a rough oval about 8x4". Transfer to freezer. Repeat with remaining coils and freeze until ready to use.
• Heat 1 Tbsp. butter in a griddle or large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add 2 pieces of dough, reduce heat to medium, and cook flatbread until bottom is golden brown with large bubbles forming underneath, about 3 minutes. Flip and continue to cook until second side is golden brown, about 1 minute more. Repeat with remaining dough, adding 1 Tbsp. butter before each batch.

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.

NAVAJO FLATBREADS WITH SUMAC ZA'ATAR

Steps:

• Mix flour, baking powder, salt, and 1/2 of RawSpiceBar's Sumac Za'atar.
• Slowly pour in the olive oil, mixing while pouring. Add the warm water and mix again until the dough comes together into a ball.
• Knead dough continuously for 5-10 minutes. Add flour to coat as you go along and continuously fold the dough in half from either side; the dough will be firm and this is normal.
• Once kneaded, allow to rest for 10-15 minutes.
• Transfer the risen dough onto a floured surface. Punch to allow accumulated air to escape.
• Divide the dough into 10 pieces, forming each into a ball.
• Using the heels of your hands, flatten the balls from either side. Use your thumb and index finger to fully flatten and stretch the dough into a 6″ diameter.
• Turn the grill or cast iron pan, if you have one, to medium high heat. Brush with oil.
• Add the flatbreads a few at a time, allowing space between each. Leave for 2-3 minutes until golden brown and slightly puffy on either side.
• Sprinkle finished flatbreads with remaining 1/2 of RawSpiceBar's Sumac Za'atar packet or add spices to olive oil and dip flatbreads in as you eat. Serve as soon as they are ready- these flatbreads are best right out of the pan. Dip them in the broth of your posole, roll them up with chunks of veggies or meat or dip and, most importantly, be creative- enjoy!