Frybread
Flat, deep-fried bread made by Native Americans with flour, water, and fat
Frybread is a flat, deep-fried bread created by Native Americans in the United States. Made from wheat flour, water, salt, and sometimes baking powder, the dough is fried in oil, shortening, or lard. It can be eaten plain or with sweet or savory toppings, and is often served at gatherings, pow-wows, and fairs.
- Created by Native Americans using government rations after displacement
- Made from flour, water, salt, and fried in oil or lard
- Served at pow-wows, fairs, and family gatherings
- Official state bread of South Dakota
- Used as the base for Indian tacos
What is Frybread?
Frybread is a round, flat bread that is deep-fried until golden and puffy. Its dough is made from wheat flour, water, salt, and sometimes baking powder or yeast, then shaped into discs and cooked in hot oil, shortening, or lard. The finished bread is soft inside with a crisp, slightly chewy crust. It can be eaten plain, sprinkled with salt or sugar, drizzled with honey, or topped with savory foods like beef or venison. Frybread is also used as the base for Indian tacos.
Where does Frybread come from?
Frybread was created by Native Americans in the United States after they were forced to move from their traditional lands. The U.S. government supplied basic rations like flour, lard, and sugar, which Native communities used to make this bread. It spread among different tribes and became a staple, especially in the Northern Plains. Boarding schools and government policies helped make frybread common in Native diets. Today, it is both a symbol of survival and a reminder of colonial hardship.
How is Frybread made?
To make frybread, flour, water, salt, and sometimes baking powder or yeast are mixed into a dough. The dough is left to rest, then divided into small balls and flattened into discs. These are fried in hot oil, lard, or shortening until they puff up and turn golden. Each region and family may have its own recipe, and the bread can be made in home kitchens or at large gatherings.
How and when is Frybread eaten?
Frybread is served at home, at pow-wows, potlatches, state fairs, and festivals. It can be eaten alone, with a sprinkle of salt or sugar, or topped with honey or jam for a sweet version. For a savory meal, it may be paired with meat or used as the base for Indian tacos. The way frybread is served can vary between tribes and families, and what is sold at public events may differ from what is made at home.
Kinds of Frybread
Different tribes and regions have their own versions of frybread, changing the recipe or toppings. Some use yeast instead of baking powder, while others add sugar to the dough. The bread is sometimes made thicker or thinner, and toppings range from sweet to savory. Similar fried breads are found in other cultures, such as Canadian bannock, Hungarian lángos, and Russian pryazhenik.
What Frybread means
Frybread is deeply tied to Native American history and identity. It represents both resilience and the painful legacy of displacement and colonialism. Some see it as a symbol of survival and ingenuity, while others view it as a reminder of forced changes to Native diets. Frybread appears in films, music, and books, and is the official state bread of South Dakota. It is a familiar sight at Native gatherings and in popular culture.
Questions people ask about Frybread
What is frybread made of?
Frybread is made from wheat flour, water, salt, and sometimes baking powder or yeast. The dough is fried in oil, shortening, or lard.
Where does frybread come from?
Frybread was created by Native Americans in the United States after they were forced to move from their traditional lands and given government rations.
How is frybread usually served?
It can be eaten plain, with salt, sugar, honey, or jam, or topped with savory foods like beef or venison. It is also used as the base for Indian tacos.
Is frybread eaten for special occasions?
Frybread is served at festivals, pow-wows, and family gatherings, as well as in everyday meals.
Why is frybread important to Native American culture?
Frybread is both a symbol of resilience and a reminder of hardship, reflecting Native Americans' adaptation to new foods after displacement.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Frybread", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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