Indian Tacos and Fry Bread

On the menu tonight was something my kids love, Indian Tacos (Indian as in Native American - that one caused some confusion when I wrote on Facebook about Indian Tacos, some were thinking of the country of India).

An Indian Taco is Fry Bread layered with all the same things you put on a regular taco: taco meat, lettuce, chopped tomatoes, taco sauce, cheese, sour cream... yumm-o.

Fry Bread

4 cups flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 and 1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup shortening
2 Tbsp oil
1 cup warm water
oil for frying
Toppings of your choice

Heat at least 2 inches of oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.

In a large bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix well. Add the shortening and oil.

Here's where my kids come in... after completely washing there hands, I let them mix the flour and shortening together, using those freshly washed hands, until it is about the consistency of cornmeal.

Slowly pour the warm water in and continue to mix until the dough is just sticking together.

Make 7-8 baseball size balls of the dough. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and allow to sit for 10 minutes.

Once the dough has rested take one of the balls and flatten to about 1/2 inch thick, like a thick pancake. You can also do this between 2 sheets of wax paper and use a rolling pin, but my kids like to make the fry bread "pancakes" with their hands. It's more fun. Flatten all the balls of dough and set aside.

Carefully place the flattened dough in the hot oil (I can usually fit 2-3 in my frying pan) and fry over medium heat until the first side is golden brown (about 2-3 minutes).

Using tongs, flip the dough and fry the second side for about 2-3 more minutes, until it is also golden brown.

Remove from the oil and drain on paper towels. Repeat until all the dough has been fried.

Now just add your taco fixings of meat, lettuce, whatever you like and you have yourself an Indian Taco. When I make these I add 2 cups of frozen corn to the taco meat about 3 minutes before it's finished cooking. It adds another veggie (one my kids love) and gives a little more color to the plate.

 

(I know, I know... I forgot to put the lettuce on until after I took my first bite. LOL)

OR... if you are more in the mood for a dessert...

While the fry bread is still hot from the fryer, sprinkle the bread with powdered sugar, or cinnamon (or both), or pour some honey over the top and enjoy a warm and sweet treat.

My kids love to sprinkle their own cinnamon and sugar over the top and they make a great snack.

Too bad my dog jumped and snatched the last of the fry bread off the counter. I was planning on warming a piece in the microwave (between 2 dampened paper towels, for 25 seconds), then adding a little powdered sugar (my favorite way to eat fry bread), and having a nice dessert for myself.