Navajo Tacos
Try this Navajo tacos recipe, or contribute your own.
Try this Navajo tacos recipe, or contribute your own.
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- salt and pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- ingredients:
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup yellow onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 (15 oz) can dark red kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes drained
- 1 (4 oz) can diced green chilis
- navajo fry bread
- yields 8 (6 inch) fry breads
- 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
- 3/4 - 1 cup warm milk (110 degrees)
- 1 tbsp butter or shortening melted
- vegetable oil for frying (sometimes i use half olive oil)
- Carbohydrate 206.195826064164 g
- Cholesterol 330.238165464273 mg
- Fat 67.8384324093566 g
- Fiber 10.6885585427832 g
- Protein 123.00969027392 g
- Saturated Fat 27.6274967844627 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Recipe (945g)
- Sodium 3874.08613458492 mg
- Sugar 195.507267521381 g
- Trans Fat 7.63374192345132 g
- Calories 1962 calories
Step-by-step
- Heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat.
- Once oil is hot, crumble beef into oil, add onions and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up beef when stirring, until beef has browned and cooked through.
- Drain fat from beef and return to skillet (my mom doesn't drain the fat, she says it gives it more flavor so you can leave it if you'd like).
- Stir in garlic, chili powder, paprika, cumin, kidney beans, canned diced tomatoes and green chilis then season mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
- Simmer, uncovered for 10-15 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon, spoon mixture over Navajo Fry bread, then top with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes and sour cream (and any of the other optional toppings listed).
- Serve immediately.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, yeast and salt.
- Whisk melted butter into warm milk and pour milk mixture into dry ingredients.
- Stir until mixture comes together and forms a ball, dough should be slightly sticky and elastic so add an up to an additional 1/4 cup milk as needed.
- Cover dough with plastic wrap and allow to rest 10 minutes.
- Heat 1 inch of oil in a large cast iron skillet to 350 - 360 degrees over stove top.
- Divide rested dough into 12 equal pieces.
- Working with floured hands and one piece of dough at a time, roll dough out on a lightly floured surface into a 6 inch circle and gently drop into hot oil, and cook until golden brown 1-2 minutes per side (second side will cook faster).
- Remove from oil and drain onto a plate or baking sheet lined with paper towels.
- Serve warm with Navajo Taco topping or for dessert, spread with honey butter.
My Love Affair with Navajo Tacos
As a busy working mom, finding time to cook delicious and satisfying meals can feel like a Herculean task. Weeknights are a blur of homework, soccer practice, and the ever-present mountain of laundry. But amidst the chaos, there's one dish that always manages to bring a sense of comfort and joy to our family: Navajo Tacos. It's a recipe that's both surprisingly simple to make and incredibly flavorful, a perfect blend of savory and satisfying.
The beauty of Navajo Tacos lies in its versatility. It's a blank canvas onto which you can paint your own culinary masterpiece. The basic recipe is straightforward, featuring a flavorful ground beef filling seasoned with classic Southwestern spices. But the real magic happens when you start experimenting with toppings. One night, we might pile on crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and creamy sour cream. Another night, it could be a fiesta of shredded cheese, spicy jalapeños, and a dollop of guacamole. The possibilities are truly endless.
But for me, Navajo Tacos represent more than just a delicious meal; they’re a connection to a rich culinary tradition. The fry bread, that golden-brown, puffy disc, is the heart of the dish. The process of making it, from kneading the dough to carefully frying each piece until perfectly crisp, is a meditative experience. It's a time to slow down, to focus on the task at hand, and to disconnect from the whirlwind of daily life. And the taste? Oh, the taste! That slightly sweet, subtly chewy texture, perfect for soaking up the rich, savory beef filling… it's a match made in culinary heaven.
The ground beef filling itself is another area for creativity. While the basic recipe is already incredibly flavorful, I often like to experiment with different spices and additions. Sometimes, I'll throw in a handful of chopped bell peppers for extra sweetness and crunch. Other times, I might add a touch of smoky chipotle powder for a hint of heat. The key, I've found, is to not be afraid to experiment and to adjust the seasonings to your own taste.
And the best part? It's a recipe that's easily adaptable to different dietary needs. For vegetarians, simply swap the ground beef for seasoned black beans or lentils. And for those watching their calorie intake, you can easily lighten things up by using lean ground beef and reducing the amount of oil used in frying. The fry bread itself is also incredibly versatile. If you have dietary restrictions, you can explore alternatives like using corn tortillas.
Beyond the Plate: A Family Tradition
Making Navajo Tacos has become more than just a meal preparation; it’s become a cherished family ritual. On busy weeknights, the aroma of the frying bread and simmering beef filling fills the kitchen with a warm, comforting scent. It’s a smell that instantly transports me back to simpler times, a reminder of the importance of slowing down and savoring the moment, even amidst the chaos of modern life.
My children have grown up helping me make Navajo Tacos. They’ve learned the importance of measuring ingredients accurately, of patiently kneading the dough, and of the satisfaction of creating something delicious from scratch. It's a skill that I hope they'll carry with them for years to come. It is more than just recipe, it's a legacy.
More than that, it’s a lesson in sharing. Navajo Tacos are best enjoyed with family and friends, a testament to the power of food to bring people together. The simple act of sharing a meal, of breaking bread (or fry bread, in this case) together, is a powerful reminder of the connections that truly matter in life.
So, whether you're a seasoned cook or a complete beginner, I urge you to give this Navajo Tacos recipe a try. It’s a dish that's both delicious and surprisingly easy to make. It is a recipe that has a story behind it, a flavor that carries tradition, and a warmth that brings people together. And trust me, it’s a recipe that will quickly become a favorite in your home too.
