Navajo Fry Bread

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp of salt
• 1 Tbsp of baking powder
• 2 Tbsp of shortening, oil, or lard (optional, usually just flour, salt, baking powder, and water are used)
• 3/4 to 1 cup of water. Start with 3/4 cup.
• Oil shortening, or lard for frying (vegetable, canola, coconut, avocado, etc.)

DIRECTIONS

1. Whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder. If you want to add shortening, lard, or oil to the dough, add it in now, and use a pastry blender or fork to blend it with the flour.
2. Add most of the water and blend it in to form a dough. The dough should be slightly sticky. Add the rest of the water as needed. Shouldn't need more than 1 cup.
3. Knead the dough on a floured surface for 3 to 4 minutes until smooth. Add a little flour as necessary to keep the dough from sticking to your hands.
4. Cover the dough with a clean cloth and allow to rest for at least 30 minutes up to 2 hours.
5. Pour oil into a large pot, enough for it to be about an inch deep. Set burner to medium and heat oil to 350 F/176 C
6. Divide the dough into 6 to 8 pieces. Shape into a ball and then roll them out into a flat thin circle. Almost as thin as a tortilla.
7. Fry one at a time in the oil for 2 to 3 minutes per side until nice and golden brown.
8. Remove from oil with tongs, allow excess oil to drain into the pot. Then place on a paper towel-lined plate or sheet pan.
9. Serve however you like. If you want to make Navajo tacos, put your favorite taco fillings on top kidney beans mixed with ground beef is classic, sour cream, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, etc.
10. For a sweet variety, drizzle honey, and add powdered sugar, or other pancake toppings.

TIP

• While it may not be "traditional" you could level these up.  Cook up some hamburger patties.  Then dip those patties in this breading mixture and fry them.  You've got "fry bread hamburger patties".