Easy Navajo Taco Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

What is a Navajo taco made of? ›

Deliciously crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, Navajo Tacos made with Indian Fry Bread are topped with a meaty mixture of taco seasoned ground beef and beans, then all the fixings like sour cream, shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, and tomatoes!

A frybread taco, Indian taco, or Navajo taco, is a frybread topped with various items, normally venison or beef, as well as other toppings commonly found in tacos.

The common story of fry bread is that before it became a staple of powwows and family dinners, it was a survival food, usually traced to the Navajo people (who call themselves the Diné).

While fry bread is common in American Indian cultures across the United States, fry bread in South Dakota is traditionally made with yeast instead of baking soda like the "Navajo taco." This is because tribes in South Dakota were rationed yeast instead of baking soda on the reservation.

At first, it was only called “Lou's Special” but one day a customer came in and asked for it by calling it a “Navajo taco” and that is what it has been known as since. Shepherd said later that a lot of people believed it was a traditional Navajo dish but he would proudly admit that he was the creator.

Traditionally, the Navajo farmed vegetables, including beans, squash, and corn, which grew in many colors and was eaten dried (and ground) or fresh. The Navajo hunted deer and other small mammals for protein. Today sheep are raised in the territory for wool, and mutton is one of the tribe's most popular food sources.

Indian Tacos (also called Navajo or Native American Tacos) are a delicious treat we have always enjoyed at the Oklahoma State Fair! Make these delectable Indian Tacos at home with just a few simple ingredients and enjoy them anytime!

Beef Tacos de Lengua (Beef Tongue Tacos)

Health Problems

Fry bread can be eaten alone or as part of a meal, or can be dessert topped with butter, cinnamon and sugar or perhaps honey. Fry bread is tempting to most people because of the grease/lard/shortening ingredient and therein lies the problem. Not only is fry bread high in fat, it is also caloric.

Fry shaped dough in hot oil til brown and crispy. Serve hot. Traditionally you would eat this with stew. Or top with some honey.

Why do Native Americans eat fry bread? ›

To prevent the indigenous populations from starving, the government gave them canned goods as well as white flour, processed sugar and lard—the makings of frybread.

Indian tacos are a combination of beans or ground beef, chopped lettuce, sliced tomato, shredded Cheddar cheese, and optional green chile atop plate-sized rounds of crispy Navajo or Indian fry bread.

There are 61 calories in a 1 shell (12.900g) serving size of Taco shells, baked. The calorie breakdown is 41% fat, 53% carbs, and 5% protein.

Let's answer the question with a few food numbers. One 10-inch flour tortilla delivers 5 grams of fat and 215 calories. Crispy corn taco shells weigh in with a healthier profile, but their deep-fried preparation adds fat and calories.

The Navajo hunted deer and other small mammals for protein. Today sheep are raised in the territory for wool, and mutton is one of the tribe's most popular food sources. Navajo fry bread is still an inspired food of the nation's people, and it can be found in many forms with various names around the southwest.

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl; mix in milk to form a soft dough. Divide dough into eighteen 2-inch diameter balls; flatten or roll each ball into 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Make a small hole in the center of each round to help keep them flat while frying.

Traditional Mexican Tacos – Traditionally, tacos are served on only soft tortillas, mainly corn, but flour tortillas are also popular. White onions, cilantro, pico de gallo, and homemade salsa all lay gently over grilled or stewed meat.