Definition

Noun: 1. A type of bread made from a simple dough (often using wheat or corn flour) that is shaped and then deep-fried or pan-fried, typically in oil, lard, or butter. It is often associated with quick, simple cooking, such as in a skillet over an open fire.

Usage and Examples

• As a general term for fried dough: Fry bread is a versatile food that can be served plain, with honey, or as a base for savory toppings.
  • For breakfast, she made fry bread in a cast-iron skillet.
  • The recipe for basic fry bread requires only flour, baking powder, salt, and water.
• Referring to specific cultural or regional variations: The term can describe various traditional flatbreads that are fried.
  • Navajo fry bread is a well-known and important cultural food.
  • We enjoyed fry bread topped with beans, cheese, and ground beef.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• The term "fry bread" is often used in a general sense for any simple fried dough. Specific types, like Navajo fry bread or bannock, carry distinct cultural and historical significance.
• It is commonly contrasted with baked breads. The cooking method (frying) is the defining characteristic.
• It can be a standalone food, a side dish, or used like a tortilla or plate for other ingredients (e.g., an "Indian taco").

Variants and Related Words

• Bannock: A type of flat, quick bread, often pan-fried or baked, with origins in Scottish and Indigenous North American cuisines. It is very similar to and sometimes synonymous with fry bread.
• Scone: A baked (or sometimes griddled) quick bread, typically richer with butter/milk and often sweet. It is related but distinguished by its usual baking method and richer texture.
• Fried dough: A more generic term that encompasses fry bread as well as other sweet or savory fried pastries like funnel cakes or zeppole.

Synonyms

• Fried dough
• Pan-fried bread
• Bannock (in specific contexts)

Different Meanings and Contexts

• The core meaning consistently refers to a bread product cooked by frying. There is no significantly different meaning for the compound term "fry bread" itself.
• Caution: The individual words "fry" (verb) and "bread" (noun) have their own separate, broad definitions unrelated to this specific food item.

Noun

1. usually cooked in a skillet over an open fire: especially cornbread with ham bits and sometimes Irish soda bread