Golden Navajo Delights: Crispy Indian Frybread Recipe for All

Golden and deliciously crisp, this authentic crispy Indian frybread recipe captures the essence of traditional Native American cuisine.

Flat breads with a deep, rich history weave through generations of culinary heritage.

Salt, flour, and warm water blend into a simple yet magical dough that fries to perfection.

Each piece of frybread carries stories of resilience and cultural celebration.

The soft interior contrasts beautifully with its crunchy exterior, creating a textural masterpiece.

Served warm and fresh, this frybread transforms any meal into a memorable feast.

You’ll savor every bite of this beloved comfort food that connects past and present.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Calories: 180 kcal

Servings: 4

How to Serve Indian Frybread for Any Meal

• Festive Feast Companion: Pair the frybread with traditional Indian curries like butter chicken or dal for a hearty meal that brings warm, rich flavors together.
• Breakfast Delight: Top the frybread with scrambled eggs, fresh herbs, and a sprinkle of chaat masala for a morning twist that wakes up your taste buds.
• Street Food Style: Serve as a base for chaat-inspired toppings like chopped onions, tangy chutneys, yogurt, and crispy sev for a street-food experience at home.
• Sweet Finale: Drizzle with honey, sprinkle powdered sugar, or spread jam for a quick dessert that transforms the frybread into a sweet treat perfect for ending a meal.

Smart Tips for Saving Leftover Frybread

• Fridge Fresh Storage: Keep unused frybread wrapped in plastic wrap or sealed container for 2-3 days in refrigerator. Gentle reheating in oven or toaster helps restore crispy texture.
• Quick Freezer Technique: Individually wrap cooled frybread in wax paper, then place in freezer bag. Frozen frybread maintains quality up to 4 weeks. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
• Meal Companion Strategy: Pair fresh frybread with chili, stews, or use as base for taco-style toppings. Works brilliantly for breakfast, lunch, or dinner as versatile bread alternative.
• Temperature Timing: Serve frybread immediately after frying for maximum crispiness and flavor. Hot bread creates best dining experience when shared with family and friends.

What’s in Traditional Indian Frybread

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and creates the foundation for the light, crispy frybread texture.
• Baking Powder: Helps the dough rise and creates a fluffy, airy interior for the bread.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the dough's taste.

• Warm Water, Milk: Brings the dry ingredients together, creating a soft, pliable dough that's easy to knead and stretch.

• Clean Kitchen Towel: Protects the resting dough and helps maintain moisture while allowing gentle air circulation.
• Flour (for dusting): Prevents sticking and helps with smooth kneading process, ensuring a clean and manageable dough surface.

Tools That Help You Fry Bread the Right Way

• Large bowl: Spacious container for mixing dry and wet ingredients.
• Whisk: Essential for blending flour, baking powder, and salt smoothly.
• Fork or hands: Perfect for combining water or milk with flour mixture.
• Lightly floured surface: Clean countertop or cutting board for kneading dough.
• Clean towel: Soft cloth to cover resting dough and keep moisture.
• Measuring cups: Accurate tool for measuring flour and other dry ingredients.
• Measuring spoons: Precise utensils for adding baking powder and salt.

Cooking Indian Frybread on the Stovetop

• Prepare Dough Mixture Blend dry ingredients in a spacious mixing bowl, creating a fluffy foundation for your delicious frybread.
• Knead and Rest Softly work the dough with gentle hands, transforming it into a smooth, elastic texture. Wrap and let it relax, allowing the ingredients to mingle and develop rich flavors.
• Shape Dough Pinch off small portions and roll them into delicate rounds, ready to become golden, crispy treasures.
• Fry to Perfection Heat oil in a deep skillet until it shimmers with anticipation. Carefully lower each dough circle into the bubbling embrace, watching it transform into a puffy, golden masterpiece.
• Drain and Serve Rescue your frybread from the hot oil, letting excess grease drip away. Arrange on a paper towel-lined plate, creating an inviting display of crispy, authentic Indian frybread ready to delight taste buds.

Add-Ons for Frybread That Wow

• Soft Dough Secret: Let the dough rest at room temperature to enhance its elasticity and make rolling easier.
• Gluten-Free Twist: Swap wheat flour with a gluten-free blend or almond flour for those with wheat sensitivities.
• Oil Temperature Magic: Maintain oil at 350-375°F for perfectly crispy, golden-brown frybread that's not greasy or soggy.
• Serving Style Hack: Transform frybread into a complete meal by topping with seasoned ground beef, beans, cheese, and fresh salsa for a Navajo-inspired taco experience.
• Storage Wisdom: Store leftover frybread in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days, reheating in a skillet for a quick crisp revival.

Crispy Indian Frybread Recipe

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4.9 from 10 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Delightful indian frybread brings Native American culinary traditions to your kitchen. Crispy, golden discs emerge from hot oil, perfect for topping with savory ingredients or enjoying as a standalone treat.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• ¾ cup (180 ml) warm water or milk
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
• Vegetable oil (for frying)
• Honey
• Powdered sugar
• Cinnamon sugar
• Cooked ground beef or shredded chicken
• Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Cheese
• Salsa
• Sour cream

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Instructions

1. Dough Preparation: Thoroughly mix dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, creating a uniform flour base with evenly distributed baking powder and salt.
2. Liquid Integration: Gradually incorporate warm liquid into the flour mixture, using fingertips to knead and transform the ingredients into a smooth, cohesive dough with a soft, elastic consistency.
3. Dough Resting: Cover the dough with a clean kitchen cloth and let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes, allowing flavors to develop and gluten to relax.
4. Shaping: Divide the rested dough into individual portions, rolling each into a thin, round disc approximately 1/4 inch thick.
5. Oil Heating: Warm neutral cooking oil in a deep skillet to a consistent 350°F, creating a perfect frying environment with shimmering, ready-to-cook oil.
6. Frying Process: Gently lower each dough disc into the hot oil, watching it transform into a golden, puffy bread with crisp edges and a tender center. Flip using tongs to ensure even browning.
7. Finishing: Remove frybread when it reaches a rich, amber color, draining excess oil on a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate. Serve immediately while warm, optionally topped with honey, powdered sugar, or seasoned meat.

Notes

• Flour Selection: Choose high-protein all-purpose flour for better dough elasticity and structure, ensuring a lighter, more tender frybread.
• Dough Hydration: Add warm water gradually to control moisture, preventing overly sticky or dry dough that can affect texture and taste.
• Oil Temperature Control: Maintain consistent 350°F oil heat to prevent burning or undercooked centers, using a thermometer for precision.
• Resting Technique: Allow dough to rest at room temperature, enabling gluten relaxation and developing deeper, more complex flavor profiles.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Snacks, Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Indian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 160
• Sugar: 0.5 g
• Sodium: 100 mg
• Fat: 6 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 24 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg