Today I was having lunch at a local Mexican restaurant. I took a look at the specials and saw Navajo Taco. How many of you guys have had a Navajo Taco? You start with an Indian Fry bread. Indian Fry Bread is a fried flat piece of a biscuit like dough. Then you top it with beans, meat, lettuce, tomato, onion and in this case red sauce.
This is a local place that I go to pretty often. The waitress lady was new to me. When I mentioned that once I had a 'real' Navajo Taco, she just grinned. A real one would be made with ground mutton. The Navajos raise sheep and eat a lot of mutton. Mutton has a strong taste and I really didn't care for it.
Turns out this young lady is a Navajo and don't care for mutton that much either. We got to talking about the Navajos' sheep. If you read Tony Hillerman or any of the SW writers you know that traditional Navajos consider sheep to be the basis for a successful life on the Big Res. The traditional sheep the Navajo raise are Churros. That is an old breed originally brought over by the Spanish. They are not known as great wool or meat producers. They are great survivor sheep. Life is tough out on the reservation for man and beast. There is probably not another sheep breed that could survive there.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I have eaten a few of them. I like lamb but don't care for mutton's stronger flavor. I saw the first one for sale in a Utah restaurant around 1983 so it isn't a new thing.

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Front sight and squeeze

Up here we just call them Indian tacos. There is a place in Interior, SD, in the Badlands, that claims to have originated them. You can get them in Minnesota, too, but the best one I have had is served at the Cheyenne Crossing store at the head of Spearfish Canyon.

Even during rally week, when just about every place, including Cheyenne Crossing, is set up to sell a lot of grilled burgers and lite beer in the parking lot, you can still go inside and get a seat without too much trouble and have what I consider the best Indian taco on the planet. It is the quality of the greens that distinguishes it from the common run. Meanwhile, outside, hundreds of bloviating idiots are eating overdone beef and getting drunk on lousy beer.

You got to watch yourself in the lot, though. Harley riders during rally week are a special breed; a lot of them go horizontal when they stop rolling, and you don't want to get caught under that heavy iron.

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Not in jail.

Never had any mutton. Wouldn't mind trying. I love lamb. Shoot, enough garlic, onions and tabasco, will make most anything edible if not tasty.

I haven't thought of using fry bread for a taco. I'll have to try it with ground bison.

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Keep on Chooglin'

Pilgrim, did your waitress mention where she is from?

The real deal can be had either in Kayenta, way up in northern Az. Pretty much the entry to Monument Valley...Or Tuba City...Again the real deal, and pretty good eating.. I've had the Taco's and pizza at both places...Kayenta was better...and the mutton stew in Tuba City several times. It's different with the mutton to be sure. The stew is kind of on the fatty/greasy side..IMO.

Plain ole Fry bread with powdered sugar...for breakfast MMMM...good.


For what it's worth, Nice Holiday Inn in Kayenta, or used to be...But a better one in my opinion right down town behind the corral..Still in the middle 50's flair...Clean and tidy...WuzzFuzz recommends...

Keep going straight north out of Keyenta up to Gouldings...Another excellent place, and excellent place in the summer or winter months...You'll be right in the Monument Valley, about 2 miles into Utah.


WuzzFuzz

I too have eaten a lot of Indian tacos at Cheyenne Crossing. We always called them Indian Tacos. However, we don't use the mutton. Also, the buffalo is excellent on them.

Around here now, I'm only about 1200 miles away from any good Indian Fry bread...I've tried several times making some myself...I'll call mine WuzzFuzz.. flat/no taste bread. I don't know what I'm doing wrong...Too much baking powder, or not enough to make it rise, and be come fluffy..

Next best thing is at the Chinese places, where they have what I call Chinese donuts, that are about the same thing as fry bread, then sprinkled with sugar.
t
Senior moment!!!!! At a Mexican joint...what are they called????? They're not as big as the Indian fry bread, but taste the same...


WuzzFuzz

[QUOTE=WuzzFuzz;137769720]Around here now, I'm only about 1200 miles away from any good Indian Fry bread...I've tried several times making some myself...I'll call mine WuzzFuzz.. flat/no taste bread. I don't know what I'm doing wrong...Too much baking powder, or not enough to make it rise, and be come fluffy..

Next best thing is at the Chinese places, where they have what I call Chinese donuts, that are about the same thing as fry bread, then sprinkled with sugar.
Senior moment!!!!! At a Mexican joint...what are they called????? They're not as big as the Indian fry bread, but taste the same...
That sounds like the sopaipilla in NM. There is a also a 'Mexican ' sugar covered treat. Remember, NM food is similiar but different from Texmex and true Mexican food. Fry bread and sopaipillas , both NM standards, are similar. Usually the sopailla is made with a yeast dough, it's close to the New Orleans beignet. The first time my SIL had one in Albuquerque, that is exactly what she said. Sopaipillas are usually served with honey. The place I ate today serves both the Indian fry bread and sopaipillas. I will ask then if they Use the same dough for both.
Both are fried, both should be immediately eaten.
Back in my puppy dog days I spent a lot of time in Texas and some in Mexico. I ate everything in sight and loved it all. When I finally got to NM and ate the food here,
I sounded just like Brigham- This is the place!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

In Oklahoma they use beef and are just called Indian Tacos. Beats the crud out of any TexMex or whatever. To not like Indian tacos is probably un-American.

When I was a kid we had a herd of sheep. I never have liked mutton that much. This is sheep country too. I have also tried it in Basque restaurants in california and nevada. Someone mentioned Tuba city. Back in 1968 I rode through there on my harley on a trip from california to wisconsin. I took a break and wemt into a trading post. Came out and a couple indian boys were admiring my hog. One was super interested and I asked him something but his friend told me he was deaf. About that time his parents came out and even they couldnt speak english. They were as colorful as I have ever seen. I told the boys friend to ask them if their boy could have a ride. The indian man just nodded. I put the boy in front of me as I had a lot of luggage on the back. We went out of town and I let the kid hold the bars. We turned around and headed back for town. I again took my hands off the bars and let him hold them. When we came abrest of his parents the little devil surprised me and cranked her wide open! Somewhere I have a picture of that kid sitting on my harley in front of the trading post with his colorful parents in the background. A few of the resturants around here (Cedar City Utah) serve "Scones".

You really ought to smile when you say something like that,
I would hate to think you were serious...Anyway, when you get a chance to try some good Tex Mex(which will not contain crud,by the way!) Get back to me.

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Lounge Lizard Extraordinaire

Sopaipillas

Every since I moved to Oklahoma I've been hearing about Indian Tacos. One of the highly recommended places is right around the corner from the house, so I decided to give it a try. I got to tell you, I wasn't impressed. I believe I'll stick with Tex Mex!

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Lounge Lizard Extraordinaire

I used to do quite a bit of work up on the Joint Use, Navajo, Hopi reservation. I loved the fry bread, hated the mutton.
There were also always trucks just sitting on the shoulders of the highways in the middle of nowhere, with folks selling fry bread, tacos, tamales, turquoise, silver jewelry, and pottery.
I loved living in the Four Corners area.
Also, my neighbor always brought me a big paper grocery bag of sopapillas whenever she made some.

Ok, for us heathens, what's the difference between lamb and mutton?

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James L. "Jim" Rhiner

Mutton are old :-D and have a much stronger flavor.

Think of a Lamb as some 18 year old kid....Mutton is like us Old Codgers.....Lamb is young... .Mutton is mature.




WuzzFuzz

Don't worry, Jim. I'm sure you're not the only one who doesn't know.

Lamb is any sheep under a year of age. Usually a lamb is butchered somewhere between four months and twelve months.

Mutton is a sheep that is a year old or older. There's a big difference in flavor. Lamb is pretty mild and flavorful. Mutton, on the other hand, is pretty darn stout and as greasy as the underside of a 1944 Willys.

Edit: Oops. Just saw that WuzzFuzz beat me to the definition. His is definitely a better comparison.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

Sopaillas...That's it Arjay and Pilgrim....

Now I don't have to stay up half the night trying to figure out the name of it, or driving into the city to find some Mex joint still open, just so I could order some......


I do remember, going to the State Fair in Az several times, and other states too, that they tried to sell some Indian Fry bread...Made by Gringo....I don't think so.....They just never tasted as good as the real thing from up on the Reservations. Even sprinkled with powdered sugar or dipped in honey.


Mutton???? The best I can tell folks about eating mutton stew is the meat looks like beef stew meat, we're used to eating, except the mutton was more like 1/4 meat and 3/4 fat. The meat itself isn't bad. It's the fat that gives it's ( shall I say distinct taste).....Reminded me of some corned beef
and cabbage I had one time when I was in Spain...Real fatty meat..(That one I up chucked.) I think one of the things folks aren't used to, is the Indians didn't season everything when they cook it, like we're all used to...A person can kill any taste with enough salt or pepper or hot sauce.

But to me......."Give it to Mikey...he'll like it"...It's not all that bad...Really....


Now Tripe...That's a different story.....NEVER... Unless I want to force it on someone to make them talk.....or watch them barf it up.


WuzzFuzz.

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups warm water
Oil, for frying

Directions

Put flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Mix well, add warm water and stir until dough begins to ball up. On a lightly floured surface knead dough. Do not over-work the dough. After working dough, place in a bowl and refrigerate for 1/2 to 1 hour.

Heat oil to 350 degrees in a frying pan or kettle. Lightly flour surface and pat and roll out baseball size pieces of dough. Cut hole in middle with a knife (so the dough will fry flat) to 1/4-inch thickness and place in oil and cook until golden brown and flip over and cook opposite side until same golden brown. Dough is done in about 3 minutes depending on oil temperature and thickness of dough.

After fry bread is done top with favorite topping or, chile and cheese first, then cover with lettuce and tomatoes, onions, green chile and you have an Indian Taco.


Something for the chefs in the audience here to try making tomorrow.

(Me too)


WuzzFuzz...

Thanks for the recipe. I ate some with my meal just like regular bread and put apricot jelly on some. It was good. Larry

but I like your analogy of "as greasy as the under side of a
1944 Willys"...Mule Packer.



WuzzFuzz

Speaking a little more about mutton..


I think if you were out in the boon docks, and needed to lubricate your gun...Just rub it down with a piece of mutton...That ought to do it.....probably more plentiful than finding some bear grease


WuzzFuzz

Mom has been making them for as long as I can remember. She starts with a deep fried flour tortilla, beans, ground beef, lettuce, tomato, cheese then covers it all with her home made green chilli.
She actually calls them Indian Taco's!!

Good stuff man!!!!!

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NRA Life member

Never eaten any Navajo taco-but I AM willing to try.

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Forum consigliere

You reminded of this great SNL "commercial" that is only funny because it's so true...
Taco Town - Snotr

Just what kind of Navajo taco are you talking about?

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Inconsistently consistent

You haven't lived until you get an Indian Taco up here on the NW Coast. They're made with smoked salmon.

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

I would love to have one! I have eaten salmon tacos made with a regular tortilla, in fact I make them, but never one on a fry bread.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

"TACO TOWN"

Ain't it da trooth, ain't it da trooth!!!!

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NULLI SECUNDUS

When I worked at Grand Canyon National Park, friends and I would drive down to the Cameron Trading Post, north of Flagstaff, AZ, and eat their famous "Navajo Indian Tacos." They served two sizes: small and huge. I remember it took two beers to wash down the huge taco. They were awesome! I miss the Four Corners. What a beautiful part of the world.

Have gone past there a number of times. It's on the Honeymoon Trail.
That was a route used by Mormon couples in AZ (maybe NM) to get to the Temple in St. George, UT.
Repost for Rangers-
Was gassing up in Page, AZ. Looked at the car right in front of me. The driver was a tall slim young lady in full US Park Ranger uniform including Smokey Bear hat. Texas license plate.
'Pardon me miss, are you a Texas ranger?' 'Thats a good one, that's a real good one.'
Just added a pic of the beautiful Colorado Horseshoe, just S. Of Page.

Attached Images

image.jpg (154.1 KB, 9 views)

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I say I can make a meal out of anything but sheep meat is not anything. About 60 yrs. ago pap got some sheep meat and cooked it and I tried one bite. I can't see me ever being so poor or hungry that I will ever try it again. It ranks right up there with boiled peanuts. Larry

I grew up on mutton. If a sheep or a steer or something was unsalable, we ate it.

I haven't eaten mutton in 50 years and I'll be happy if I don't have to again for the next 50.

I suppose...But when you've had "Mountain Oysters", Hogs, not the sliced calf...Then about anything is ok to eat....

There are some innard parts though I won't eat...like brains or tripe...

Now deep fried cow milk ducts...not bad. not bad at all...Ate those down in Mexico.

But mutton is sort of an acquired taste,,Even eating lamb chops or rack of lamb. Speaking of which...Easter is just about here. Time for rack of lamb.


WuzzFuzz

I grew up eating them at fairs, etc. While in SoCal, wife and I participated in many Native American (NA, First Nation, whatever==I use "Indian" and my grandmother was registered in both Cherokee and Chickasaw Tribes=so I hope no one is offended) events. Anyway, we were invited to attend the Indian premiere of Dances with Wolves. My wife started laughing when I went ape at seeing Indian Tacos for sale. She'd never had any.

Then when we moved up to NorCal, we were in Yuba City. One morning we were going to go to SF by ferry and stopped for breakfast at a farm diner. They had Indian Tacos on the Menu. Well, we would stop every time we went that way (and sometimes, we'd go just for breakfast, even if it was 40 miles each way). One day we stopped and they told us they were closing up due to lease issues. Well the owner was 1/2 Indian and the wife was all Indian, both from California Gabrieleno tribes. They invited us back the next week for a final "closing breakfast". The wife called my wife into the back and was teaching her to make fry bread!

Crazy Crow (on the web) has a decent fry bread mix. In a rush/pinch, we'll use Boboli and chili to make our own.

I've had mutton once at Goulding's (well, also had it in Mexico). I'll stick to beef!

This is one half of one Navajo Taco I ordered from a restaurant in Cameron, AZ.

We fix'em at home. That's what I get for living with a part Cherokee/Choctaw.

I have eaten decent mutton when it is boiled and all the fat allowed to rise and skim. It isn't worth the trouble. I have also had what was advertised as lamb in Greece but was older and probably mutton. It was good with plenty of garlic and spices and did not seem to have much fat. It could have been due to grazing conditions or sheep breeds.

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Front sight and squeeze