Authentic Indian Frybread Recipe

Fluffy Indian Frybread Recipe: A Golden Taste of Heritage

Crispy, golden, and irresistibly delicious, this authentic indian frybread recipe brings the heart of southwestern cuisine straight to your kitchen.

Generations of Native American cooks have perfected this simple yet incredible bread that melts in your mouth.

Each piece carries a rich cultural heritage and warmth that transforms an ordinary meal into something extraordinary.

The dough comes together with just a few basic ingredients, making it surprisingly easy to create.

Soft on the inside and beautifully crisp on the outside, this frybread serves as a versatile canvas for sweet or savory toppings.

Whether you’re serving it alongside hearty stews or as a standalone treat, this recipe promises to delight every palate.

Dive into this culinary adventure and experience a taste of tradition that will leave you craving more.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Calories: 200 kcal

Servings: 3

Indian Frybread Ingredient List

For Base Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of frybread, providing structure and creating that classic tender texture with a crispy exterior.
  • Baking Powder: Helps the dough rise and creates light, airy pockets in the bread for a delightful fluffy feel.
  • Salt: Enhances the overall flavor and balances the other ingredients with a subtle seasoning touch.
For Liquid Ingredients:
  • Warm Water: Activates the flour and helps bind the ingredients together, creating a smooth and pliable dough.
  • Milk: An alternative liquid option that adds richness and a subtle sweetness to the frybread.
For Preparation Ingredients:
  • Flour (For Dusting): Prevents sticking during kneading and rolling, ensuring a smooth and easy dough-handling process.

Gear For Making Indian Frybread Fast

  • Large mixing bowl: Perfect for combining dry ingredients and forming the dough.
  • Whisk: Essential for thoroughly blending flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • Fork or hands: Great for mixing water or milk into the dry ingredients.
  • Clean kitchen towel: Helps cover and rest the dough.
  • Lightly floured surface: Needed for kneading the dough smoothly.
  • Measuring cups and spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient measurements.

Frying Indian Frybread Golden And Puffy

  • Flour Blend

Combine dry ingredients in a roomy mixing bowl, creating a soft, powdery landscape ready for transformation. The mixture will become the foundation of your culinary adventure.

  • Dough Formation

Introduce warm liquid to the flour blend, using gentle hand movements to coax the ingredients into a cohesive, tender dough. Work the mixture with care, feeling its texture evolve beneath your fingertips.

  • Resting Period

Allow the dough to relax and settle, covering it with a light cloth. This quiet moment lets the ingredients mingle and develop deep, rich flavors that will elevate your frybread from simple to spectacular.

  • Bread Crafting

Gently work the dough on a lightly dusted surface, transforming it into a smooth, elastic canvas. Each tender touch prepares the frybread for its final, golden destiny in hot oil, where it will puff and crisp into a mouth-watering delicacy.

Flavor Ideas For Indian Frybread Toppings

  • Perfect Dough Texture: Ensure your water or milk is warm but not hot to activate the dough's elasticity without killing the yeast-like properties in the baking powder.
  • No-Fail Kneading Trick: Use gentle, light touches when kneading to prevent overworking the dough, which can make the frybread tough instead of pillowy and soft.
  • Gluten-Free Alternative: Replace wheat flour with a gluten-free all-purpose blend, adding xanthan gum for better binding and texture in your frybread.
  • Low-Carb Twist: Experiment with almond flour or coconut flour for a lower-carbohydrate version, understanding the texture will be slightly different from traditional frybread.
  • Flavor Boost Option: Incorporate herbs like dried oregano, chili powder, or garlic powder directly into the dough for an extra layer of delicious taste that elevates the basic recipe.

Serving Indian Frybread With Sweet Or Savory Sides

  • Hearty Taco Companion: Top warm frybread with seasoned ground beef, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and sharp cheddar cheese for a delicious Indian-Mexican fusion meal.
  • Sweet Breakfast Twist: Drizzle homemade frybread with honey, sprinkle powdered sugar, or spread fruit preserves for a delightful morning treat that feels like a special indulgence.
  • Savory Dipping Delight: Serve frybread alongside warm chili, thick stews, or creamy soup as a perfect crispy side that soaks up rich flavors and adds texture to your meal.
  • Quick Party Appetizer: Cut frybread into smaller triangles, season with garlic powder or herbs, and offer as a crowd-pleasing appetizer with various dipping sauces like salsa or ranch.

How To Store Indian Frybread Fresh Longer

  • Quick Refrigeration Strategy: Store unused dough in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to 2 days, wrapping tightly with plastic wrap to prevent drying.
  • Freezing Technique: Portion leftover frybread in freezer-safe bags, removing excess air, and freeze for maximum 3 weeks; thaw at room temperature before reheating.
  • Smart Reheating Method: Warm cold frybread in a preheated oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes to restore crispiness, avoiding microwave which can make bread soggy.
  • Freshness Maintenance: Keep cooked frybread covered with a clean kitchen towel at room temperature for several hours, preventing moisture loss and maintaining soft texture.
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Authentic Indian Frybread Recipe

Authentic Indian Frybread Recipe


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4.6 from 12 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 3 1x

Description

Delectable indian frybread satisfies comfort food cravings with its crispy exterior and pillowy center. Navajo culinary traditions shine through this simple yet powerful bread that connects you to generations of cultural heritage.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon (15 g) baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon (2.5 g) salt
  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) warm water or milk
  • Vegetable oil (for frying)
  • Honey (optional)
  • Powdered sugar (optional)
  • Cinnamon sugar (optional)
  • Cooked ground beef or shredded chicken (optional)
  • Lettuce (optional)
  • Tomatoes (optional)
  • Cheese (optional)
  • Salsa (optional)
  • Sour cream (optional)

Instructions

  1. Dough Preparation: Blend flour, salt, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl, creating a uniform dry mixture that will form the base of the frybread.
  2. Kneading Process: Pour warm water into the dry ingredients, using hands to gradually incorporate and knead the mixture until a smooth, elastic dough forms, avoiding overmixing to maintain tenderness.
  3. Resting Stage: Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel and let it rest for 30 minutes, allowing the gluten to relax and flavors to develop, which will enhance the bread’s texture and taste.
  4. Shaping Technique: Divide the rested dough into equal portions, gently stretching each piece into irregular, free-form shapes that will create unique, rustic frybread.
  5. Frying Method: Heat oil in a deep skillet to 350°F, carefully lowering each stretched dough piece into the shimmering oil, frying until the bread puffs up and turns a rich golden-brown color with crispy, slightly blistered edges.
  6. Serving Preparation: Transfer the freshly fried bread to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil, ensuring a light and crisp texture before serving immediately while still warm.

Notes

  • Manage Moisture Carefully: Gradually add warm liquid to prevent a sticky or dry dough, ensuring the perfect pliable consistency for authentic frybread texture.
  • Control Oil Temperature: Maintain oil around 350-375°F for even golden-brown coloration without burning, using a thermometer for precision cooking.
  • Stretch Dough Strategically: Pull dough pieces thinly and unevenly for traditional rustic appearance, allowing crispy edges and soft center during frying.
  • Gluten-Free Adaptation: Substitute wheat flour with a blend of gluten-free alternatives like rice and cornflour to accommodate dietary restrictions while maintaining similar texture and taste.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Snacks, Appetizer
  • Method: Mixing
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 3
  • Calories: 200
  • Sugar: 0 g
  • Sodium: 125 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 26 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg
Liam O’Sullivan

Liam O’Sullivan

Founder & Culinary Content Creator

Expertise

Recipe Development​, Traditional Irish and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education​

Education

Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) – School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology

  • Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development.​

Ballymaloe Cookery School

  • Program: 12-Week Certificate Course
  • Focus: Intensive, hands-on experience emphasizing farm-to-table cooking and sustainable practices.​

Isabella brings a global spark to the Craft Meats table. Born in Florence and trained at the Apicius International School of Hospitality, she blends classic Italian flavor with modern writing that’s easy to follow and hard to forget. 

Her additional training at the Italian Chef Academy fueled her love for well-crafted dishes, especially ones that spotlight beautiful cuts of meat.

She’s a food writer with heart, and a deep love for storytelling through single recipes. Her goal? To help you cook with more confidence and a little more joy, no matter where you start.

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