Fry Bread With Cornmeal and Coconut Oil Recipe (2024)

By Kevin Noble Maillard

Fry Bread With Cornmeal and Coconut Oil Recipe (1)

Total Time
1½ hours, plus 4 hours’ cooling and rising
Rating
4(76)
Notes
Read community notes

Ingenuity is behind Indigenous fry bread. When the United States government forcibly relocated Navajos (Diné) from ancestral lands in the 19th century, Native American women invented fry bread from government-issued commodities: flour, salt, yeast and water. Today, Native Americans have reclaimed this survival food as a tasty symbol of resilience. Cooks improvise on the basic formula using ingredients based on preference and geography: Styles, sizes and shapes differ by region, tribe and family. Fry bread is comfort food, and variations are shaped by memory and connection, leading to playful jests about the “right” kind. This particular recipe has Afro-Indigenous origins with its use of sugar and cornmeal, which add sweetness and density. But raw sugar replaces white sugar, and coconut oil steps in for lard. When used for frying, the oil’s aroma announces the arrival of something special.

Featured in: Fry Bread Is Beloved, but Also Divisive

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Ingredients

Yield:About 38

  • 1cup finely ground cornmeal
  • 2(¼-ounce) envelopes instant dry yeast
  • 1cup raw sugar
  • 1teaspoon fine sea salt
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • Unrefined coconut oil, for frying (about 32 ounces)

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (38 servings)

100 calories; 3 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 16 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 4 grams sugars; 2 grams protein; 53 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Fry Bread With Cornmeal and Coconut Oil Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. In a large pot, bring 2 cups water to a boil over medium-high. While whisking, add cornmeal to boiling water. Continue whisking slowly until smooth. Reduce heat to medium, add 1½ cups cold water and cook, stirring continuously to prevent lumps, until thick, about 6 minutes. It should be the consistency of oatmeal. Remove from heat and let cool in pot.

  2. Step

    2

    Add yeast, sugar and salt to the cooled cornmeal, along with 1 to 2 tablespoons of water to moisten the mixture. Gradually add flour, stirring with a metal whisk or potato masher to get rid of as many lumps as you can. Sprinkle with water as needed to keep dough moist but thick. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise for 3 hours.

  3. Step

    3

    Once dough has risen, it should be springy and sticky. Heat 1 inch of coconut oil in a cast-iron skillet to about 350 degrees. Test the heat by dropping a small portion of dough into the oil. It should gently sizzle but not splatter. Use two large, oiled spoons to make golf-ball-size portions: Scoop the dough with one spoon and push the dough off into the hot oil with the other. Re-oil the spoons using the oil in the skillet as needed to make new balls of dough. Work in batches, leaving room in the skillet, as the balls will expand in the hot oil.

  4. Step

    4

    Fry until bottoms are cooked to your desired color (light gold, golden or dark brown), about 3 minutes for golden. Using tongs, flip balls over to cook the other side to the same color, 1 to 3 minutes. Gently lift out of the oil, shaking off excess oil, and transfer to paper towel-lined plates to drain. Eat while hot.

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4

out of 5

76

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Dorothy Redhorse

As a middle age Dine (Navajo) woman, my family never adds sugar and yeast to fry bread or tortillas. Sugar and yeast were reserved for bread baked in adobe oven, which we call "nidaa baah". Whereas, fry bread is self-descriptive and call "dah diniilghaazh. Any dough, we add corn meal or wheat when we feel like adding fiber to bread.

Winula

Authentic Native fry bead does not contain sugar nor, in most cases, yeast. And, it's normally flatten out into circles before frying.

doreen from az

the Italians have the same type fry bread only we call it zeppole- my mother is from Napoli and made these on the stove using her black iron pan. She then sprinkled with sugar! I do not know if she used cornmeal. The balls looked like fried pizza! Delicious! Will try this version

lightquest

I think using white sugar would be ok. White sugar and raw sugar are the same flavor. The difference in color is simply due to processing. The main difference is that white sugar is usually finely ground. Raw sugar is usually sold in larger crystals. Similar to the difference between table salt and sea salt or Kosher salt. If you use white sugar you might reduce the amount a little as the finer sugar will more completely fill your measuring spoon than the chunkier raw sugar.

Kevin

White sugar would be completely fine! I just use the raw to make it less processed. Let me know how it turns out for you!

Debbie

In my house, these are always dusted with cinnamon sugar to which a bit of nutmeg has been added. It's a terrific Autumnal treat that way!

Gillian Zyland

With ethnic recipes, there are usually so many righteous comments on everything from ingredients to mixing order to oven times. It makes me sad that there are only 16 total comments here, and many of these sound like pretenders appropriating native culture for themselves or their I’m-124th sliver-of-Indian ways. My family was indigenous, but I’m the last on my father’s side and I don’t know of other cousins. I want the boisterous family wrangling I remember, to make the best fry bread.

Mary French

Dorothy is right! That is not Fry Bread.Having lived in Arizona for many years, I have never seen any Navajo fry bread look like that.The Navajo lamb stew is also Delicious!

SunnyEdda

Omitting the sugar and substituting baking powder for the yeast gives the recipe for Cornmeal Dumplings found throughout the Caribbean. These were fried in oil (coconut oil is my preference). Also, omitting the cornmeal and it becomes the standard flour dumplings served with breakfast, lunch or dinner. My aunt would make my male teenage cousin knead the dough until firm for boiled dumplings. These were shaped into palm sized disks, thicker in the middle, then, boiled.

jvenek

I’m making this right now with my 2 year old after reading Kevin’s book Fry Bread! We love the book and can’t wait to try his version of fry bread!!

Susan

I am married into an American Indian family. I have never seen fry bread made with yeast, only baking powder. Some cooks use plain flour, some use self-rising flour, some cooks add dried milk. The bread is fried in lard, shortening or vegetable oil.I have not eaten fry bread sweetened with sugar, but have had it with powdered sugar or honey on top after it is cooked, but only at a powwow.

Debbie

In my house, these are always dusted with cinnamon sugar to which a bit of nutmeg has been added. It's a terrific Autumnal treat that way!

Mel

Has anyone tried it gluten free?

Abra

Trying with coconut flour right now... not my fave so far lol I will see how it fries!

Caro

My grandmother, with French decendance, made this with 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 egg, a little bit of baking soda, 1/2 cup of sugar and a little bit of milk to incorporate everything and the dough hangs from the tablespoon. And fries it in regular oil.

Winula

Authentic Native fry bead does not contain sugar nor, in most cases, yeast. And, it's normally flatten out into circles before frying.

Tamara

I noticed that you mentioned this was an Afro Indigenous dish. This recipe reminds me of hush puppies. A side that my grandmother and great grandmother made often for Sunday meals and family gatherings. I am keen to try this yeast version. Thanks for sharing your grandmother's recipe with us.

Dorothy Redhorse

As a middle age Dine (Navajo) woman, my family never adds sugar and yeast to fry bread or tortillas. Sugar and yeast were reserved for bread baked in adobe oven, which we call "nidaa baah". Whereas, fry bread is self-descriptive and call "dah diniilghaazh. Any dough, we add corn meal or wheat when we feel like adding fiber to bread.

Mary French

Thanks Dorothy. I have lived in Arizona for many years and have never seen anything called fry bread look like that.

doreen from az

the Italians have the same type fry bread only we call it zeppole- my mother is from Napoli and made these on the stove using her black iron pan. She then sprinkled with sugar! I do not know if she used cornmeal. The balls looked like fried pizza! Delicious! Will try this version

Susan

My pantry has everything except raw sugar. What would happen if I used regular sugar instead?

lightquest

I think using white sugar would be ok. White sugar and raw sugar are the same flavor. The difference in color is simply due to processing. The main difference is that white sugar is usually finely ground. Raw sugar is usually sold in larger crystals. Similar to the difference between table salt and sea salt or Kosher salt. If you use white sugar you might reduce the amount a little as the finer sugar will more completely fill your measuring spoon than the chunkier raw sugar.

Kevin

White sugar would be completely fine! I just use the raw to make it less processed. Let me know how it turns out for you!

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Fry Bread With Cornmeal and Coconut Oil Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can I use coconut oil instead of vegetable oil in cornbread? ›

Coconut oil can be substituted 1:1 for other fats.

When it comes to baking, coconut oil makes a wonderful substitute for butter and other oils, like olive oil, canola oil, and vegetable oil. Regardless of the type of fat used in a recipe, you can swap in an equal amount of coconut oil.

Why does my fry bread come out hard? ›

Don't over-knead—Be careful not to knead the dough too much because the bread will be hard and tough. More flour—The dough is sticky but easy to work with; keep your hands and work surface well-floured. Dough thickness—Adjust the thickness of the dough for your use.

How to fry with coconut oil? ›

Can you deep fry food with coconut oil? You can absolutely deep fry food with coconut oil. You would need to heat the oil up to between 325F – 375 degrees, and then add food to the oil via a wire basket. Take a look at my favorite brands of coconut oil for some buying inspiration!

How did Native Americans make fry bread? ›

According to Navajo tradition, frybread was created in 1864 using the flour, sugar, salt and lard that was given to them by the United States government when the Navajo, who were living in Arizona, were forced to make the 300-mile journey known as the "Long Walk" and relocate to Bosque Redondo, New Mexico, onto land ...

What is the ratio of coconut oil to vegetable oil? ›

The ratio of coconut oil to vegetable oil conversion, which means replacing the former with the latter in a baking recipe, is one to one. For instance, if you need to add 120ml of vegetable oil to a recipe, you can swap the vegetable oil with coconut oil by adding 120ml of coconut oil instead.

Can I use coconut oil instead of vegetable oil for frying? ›

Coconut oil may be a good choice. Studies have shown that even after 8 hours of continuous deep frying at 365°F (180°C), its quality still remains acceptable ( 2 ). Over 90% of the fatty acids in coconut oil are saturated, making it resistant to heat.

How do you fry bread without absorbing oil? ›

Once the oil is hot, add your bread. I like to rub my slice in the oil on one side just to coat, then immediately flip it over to fry thoroughly on the other side before flipping back to finish; this ensures that the second side is already glistening and ready to go, so you won't need to add any extra oil.

Why is my fry bread dough so sticky? ›

Your dough can become sticky when you add too much water or the flour isn't suitable for the type of dough you are making. Over proofing or fermenting the dough can also result in the gluten structure weakening causing sticky dough.

Why is my Indian fry bread chewy? ›

Recipe Ingredients

All-Purpose Flour – The gluten in the base ingredient makes your fry bread nice and chewy.

Does coconut oil fry well? ›

Coconut oil is a good option for sautéing vegetables and even light pan-frying. It's not ideal for deep-frying though: Coconut oil has a smoke point of 350 to 400 degrees. Keep in mind that refined coconut oil generally has a higher smoke point than unrefined coconut oil.

What kind of coconut oil is best for frying? ›

In cooking, the higher smoke point of refined coconut oil makes it a clear winner. It's ideal for high heat cooking, such as stir-frying and sauteing. This allows you to cook at higher temperatures, resulting in a product that's crispy but not burnt.

How do you know when coconut oil is hot enough to fry? ›

The easiest and safest method is to stick the end of a wooden spoon into the oil. If you see many bubbles form around the wood and they start to float up, your oil is ready for frying.

What is the controversy with fry bread? ›

Fry bread is considered Indian country's “soul food,” because — just like barbecue ribs, which were borne during the evil enslavement and persecution of Africans in the U.S. — fry bread never had its place in Indian country until white, government officials forced Navajos and other nations and tribes into prison camps ...

What is Navajo fry bread made of? ›

Our Navajo-inspired fry bread is easy to make. Simply combine 1 cup of flour with 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/3 cup hot water. When the dough comes together into a large ball, cover it and let it sit for 30 minutes.

What's the difference between fried dough and fry bread? ›

Frybread appears to be nothing more than fried dough—like an unsweetened funnel cake, but thicker and softer, full of air bubbles and reservoirs of grease—but it is revered by some as a symbol of Native pride and unity.

What can you substitute for vegetable oil in cornbread? ›

You can swap the vegetable oil for an equal measure of safflower or canola oil with zero difference in flavor. But baked items don't require fats with a high smoke point, so feel free to try a more flavorful oil like olive or coconut.

What can I use instead of vegetable oil in cornbread mix? ›

Fruit or Veggie Puree

Applesauce is basically just a fruit puree, so this should not come as much of a surprise to you. However, almost any fruit or veggie puree will serve as a great oil substitute.

What can I use in cornbread if I don't have vegetable oil? ›

Olive oil can be substituted for vegetable oil or butter in any recipe. After creating our Little House inspired olive oil cake, we decided to try olive oil in cornbread. This recipe is a hit! This cornbread is sweet, moist and with the help of a pre-heated cast iron pan, crispy on the edges.

What happens if you use coconut oil instead of vegetable oil? ›

In studies where people use coconut oil in place of other cooking oils, weight loss is greater in those using coconut oil. One of the MCTs in coconut oil called lauric acid has other beneficial effects, namely antimicrobial and antifungal properties that help maintain normal gut flora and immune function.

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