Navajo Fry bread is a traditional food of the Navajo people and a delicious snack for hungry preschoolers. Preschoolers will enjoy trying food that the Navajo people eat as part of their regular diet. Navajo fry bread is a puffy fried bread that is usually eaten with every meal. It can be served with your favorite taco toppings to make a Navajo taco, or eaten hot with butter and honey.

Ingredients

4 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup instant nonfat dry milk
1/2 teaspoon salt

What To Do

Adult Preparation – Pre-measure all of the ingredients into individual containers. The flour can be split into 4 containers each containing 1 cup of flower in order to give more preschoolers the change to help.

Preschoolers – Have preschoolers take turns dumping the pre-measured ingredients into a large bowl. Pass the bowl around and let each preschooler have a turn stirring all the ingredients. Add one cup of water and have preschoolers continue stirring.

Adult – When the mixture begins to form a dough, dump it out on a clean surface and begin to knead it. Add water as needed to form a soft dough that is still slightly sticky. Return to the bowl and cover with a towel and let the dough rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.

This break is a good opportunity to read Navajo ABC or work on a weaving activity with the preschoolers.

Preschoolers – When the dough has rested, have preschoolers help shape the dough into small balls and then press them between their hands to make a flat dough.

Adult – Heat oil in a large pan or electric skillet away from preschoolers. Be sure that the preschoolers are far enough away that any oil that splatters will not reach them. When the dough has been shaped, place it in the hot oil to fry 2 minutes on each side or until dough turns golden brown.

Serve with butter and honey, jam, or with your favorite taco toppings as a Navajo taco.

Navajo Taco

Top Navajo fry bread with your favorite taco toppings to create a delicious Navajo taco.

Possible Toppings:
taco meat
lettuce
tomato
cheese
sour cream
diced green chilies