fry bread

I have been taking quiet moments and actually reading books!  I love to read but quiet has been hard to come by with three more people in the house and two of them very short.  I like real books but I am finding that I am reading a lot on my phone.  I have access to three libraries on my phone and that is probably not the best for reading books. 

The physical book I have been reading is Rebecca Roanhorse.  She writes about the future and is centered around the Navajo nation.  She has wonderful writing and is very vivid about the food they eat in her stories.  She made me wish to eat fry bread.  Which I have made in the past but I went looking for a simple recipe and found one.

fry bread

2 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup warm water 

OR

1 cup sourdough starter (I took some from a bowl of starter I was using to bake sweet bread, I used half milk and half water as the liquid to refresh it)

3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

enough flour to make a soft, kneadable dough

3 cups oil for frying

In a skillet, pour the oil.  I use a cast iron skillet.  I just heat it over a medium heat until hot and then lower it to a medium low.  It works.  If you were using a thermometer, the heat would needs to between 350 and 360 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a bowl, mix the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt.  Add water until you have a soft dough.  I find a cup is a bit much and usually just add enough flour to let me handle the dough.  Knead five or six times to bring it together into a smooth ball. 

Let the dough rest while the oil is heating.  If you are making the sourdough version, the resting can be longer, say an hour or two.  I got really puffy fried bead with that option

When the oil is hot, make eight balls.  Either roll out or pat out into circles about six inches in diameter.  Gently slide one at a time into the oil.  Fry until the bottom is golden.  Gently turn and fry until that side is golden.  Remove and place on paper to drain.

The first fry bread I covered with black bean chili that I add more beans to plus lettuce, cheese, and salsa.

The second, I drizzled my lovely gifted honey from Taos over it and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.  The whole meal felt like a gift.  I think I will need to make more soon.  And I need to remember to make the chili too.  I forget when it is hot!