Frybread, a flattened dough fried in oil, is a staple food in Native American cuisine. Its origins date back to the early 1600s and it is often served as a meal or dessert. However, its high consumption has been linked to diabetes and obesity in Native American communities.
Frybread, also regularly called Indian bread or bannock and sometimes fried spelled bread, is a bread made from flattened dough. It is typically fried in oil in a skillet on the stove top or fried in a large kettle of oil or melted lard or shortening. It is commonly leavened with baking powder or active yeast in dry or spongy form. Depending on the region where it is made, white or wholemeal flour is generally used to make the frying dough.
The history of frybread often dates back to the early 1600s, where it was reportedly first prepared by Native Americans in North America. The recipe quickly became popular with other Native American groups. These groups included the Inuit-Eskimos of Canada and Alaska, who often added spices, dried fruits, and other savory ingredients to create frybread variations. Various other sources credit the development of frybread in Scotland.
Other historical accounts state that frybread was not created until the 19th century by Navajos who were incarcerated at Fort Sumner, a former United States (US) military fort in the state of New Mexico. During their captivity after the infamous invasion and destruction of American scout Kit Carson, the government provided the approximately 8,000 Navajo captives with plenty of food items. All food except the flour and lard was said to be rancid and inedible. Incarcerated Navajo women allegedly created fry bread from these rations. Their version of the bread was commonly made from ground flour of dried roots mixed with tree sap and natural yeasts.
In addition to being a staple bread for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, frybread is often made into a meal. When cheese, beans, or ground beef is used to top the bread, it is commonly called Navajo tacos or Indian tacos. It is also often converted into a savory dessert by spreading honey on it or dusting with powdered sugar. In this form, it resembles an elephant ear or fried bread – a popular American snack.
In addition to being served in domestic settings, fried bread is often sold at fairs, carnivals, fetes, and other community events and celebrations. Based on its popularity in the US state of South Dakota, that state named it the official state bread in 2005. It is also hailed as a favorite food in the US states of Arizona and New Mexico. On a less positive note, the high rate of fried bread consumption in Native American communities was cited in 2005 as a leading cause of diabetes and obesity in this demographic.
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