Description
Authentic Navajo tacos blend Native American culinary heritage with hearty southwestern flavors. Crispy fry bread serves as a golden canvas for savory ground beef, beans, fresh toppings, and zesty salsa, inviting you to savor a delicious cultural experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients (Bread):
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 4.5 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons softened butter
- 1.25 cups whole milk
Cooking and Frying Ingredients:
- 3 cups vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons steak fajita seasoning
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
Toppings and Garnishes:
- 15 ounces black beans, drained
- 2 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded
- 3 plum tomatoes, diced
- Sour cream
- Queso sauce or shredded cheese
- Honey
- Powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until thoroughly combined.
- Incorporate softened unsalted butter into the dry ingredients, using fingertips or a pastry cutter to create a texture resembling coarse breadcrumbs.
- Create a small crater in the center of the flour mixture and pour in whole milk, gently kneading until a smooth, elastic dough develops.
- Allow the dough to rest, covered, for approximately 15 minutes to enhance its malleability and texture.
- Transform the rested dough into a cylindrical shape, then methodically divide it into 12 uniform segments.
- Roll each segment into a perfect sphere, then carefully flatten into circular shapes measuring approximately 6 inches in diameter.
- Delicately puncture each dough circle with a fork to minimize excessive puffing during the frying process.
- Warm vegetable oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven, maintaining a consistent temperature of 350°F (175°C).
- Carefully lower each dough circle into the hot oil, frying for roughly 30 seconds on the initial side.
- Gently flip the bread and manipulate it into a taco shell configuration, continuing to fry until achieving a golden, crispy exterior.
- In a separate skillet, brown ground beef with authentic taco seasoning, ensuring even cooking and robust flavor.
- Prepare accompanying toppings: chop fresh lettuce, dice ripe tomatoes, and warm black beans.
- For savory renditions, layer each crispy fry bread with seasoned ground beef, black beans, crisp lettuce, and diced tomatoes.
- Embellish with a generous dollop of tangy sour cream and sprinkle shredded cheese across the surface.
- For a sweet alternative, drizzle pure honey over the fry bread and dust generously with powdered sugar.
Notes
- Dough Preparation Matters: Resting the dough for 15 minutes helps develop gluten, making the bread more tender and easier to handle.
- Oil Temperature is Crucial: Maintain a consistent 350°F for perfectly crispy, golden-brown fry bread without absorbing excess oil.
- Versatile Dish: These tacos can be served as either a savory main course or a delightful sweet dessert with simple topping changes.
- Fork Technique Prevents Puffing: Pricking the dough circles prevents excessive rising, ensuring a flat, crispy base for toppings.
- Cultural Significance: Navajo fry bread has deep historical roots, originating during a challenging period of Native American displacement and limited food resources.
- Quick and Easy: The entire recipe takes about 45 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for spontaneous meals or family gatherings.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southwestern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 425 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg