Navajo Tacos Recipe

Navajo Tacos Recipe

Navajo tacos are a delicious and hearty dish that uses fry bread as a base, topped with savory ingredients. Here’s how to make them:

Ingredients

For the Fry Bread:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 to 1 cup warm water
• Vegetable oil for frying

For the Taco Topping:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 packet taco seasoning mix (or homemade seasoning)
• 1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes (optional)
• Shredded lettuce
• Diced tomatoes
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Sliced black olives (optional)
• Sour cream
• Salsa
• Chopped green onions
• Jalapeño slices (optional)

Instructions

To Make the Fry Bread:

1. In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. Gradually add warm water, stirring with a fork, until a dough forms. The dough should be soft but not sticky. Add more water if necessary.
3. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 2 minutes until smooth.
4. Divide the dough into 4-6 equal portions and shape each portion into a ball.
5. Flatten each ball into a disc about 1/4 inch thick.
6. Heat about an inch of vegetable oil in a deep skillet or pot over medium-high heat.
7. Fry each disc in the hot oil until golden brown and puffy, about 1-2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.

To Make the Taco Topping:

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned. Drain excess fat.
2. Add the diced onion and garlic to the beef, cooking until the onion is soft.
3. Stir in the taco seasoning mix and add a little water (about 1/4 cup) to help distribute the seasoning evenly.
4. Add the pinto beans (and diced tomatoes if using) to the skillet, stirring to combine. Simmer for about 5 minutes until heated through.

To Assemble the Navajo Tacos:

1. Place a piece of fry bread on a plate.
2. Spoon the ground beef and bean mixture over the fry bread.
3. Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, black olives, sour cream, salsa, green onions, and jalapeño slices as desired.

Enjoy your homemade Navajo tacos!