Fried Bannock Recipe (2024)

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This Fried Bannock Recipe is soft, fluffy, and pan-fried to golden brown perfection. It's a simple food that can be eaten as a snack, breakfast, or side for any meal.

Looking for more Canadian recipes? Try my Beavertails and Timbits next!

Fried Bannock Recipe (1)
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  • 🥖 About Fried Bannock
  • 🧂 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 📋 Recipe
  • 🍽 More Recipes You'll Love

🥖 About Fried Bannock

Bannock is a type of bread that was eaten by early settlers, fur traders, and Indigenous peoples in North America. While Scottish fur traders initially introduced it, it is now mostly associated with Indigenous peoples.

The first time I had bannock was at the PNE in Vancouver! An indigenous lady was selling them at a small table, along with some homemade clothing and jewelry. They were super delicious!

If you've never had bannock before, they're similar to most flatbreads but thicker and maybe a bit more dense. They taste delicious by themselves, but most people eat them with a side of jam or butter.

🧂 Ingredients

Fried Bannock Recipe (2)

The basic recipe consists of flour, water, fat (or lard), and salt. Some people prefer to use milk instead of water for a softer crumb, but personally, I prefer water because it makes their shelf life longer.

Traditionally, the dough is unleavened, however, nowadays, most recipes include baking powder to make them lighter and fluffier.

  • Flour: This recipe was tested using all-purpose flour.
  • Salt: I used coarse kosher salt in this recipe. I use a 2% concentration to ensure the bread is perfectly seasoned. For 3 cups of flour, that's about one and a half teaspoons. Reduce the amount by half if you use fine sea or table salt.
  • Oil: For frying the bannock bread, choose a neutral-flavored oil, such as canola or vegetable oil. Lard also works well.
  • Baking Powder: Just a small amount makes the bread lighter and fluffier. Usually, 1 teaspoon per cup of flour is required, so my recipe calls for 3 teaspoons, which is equivalent to 1 tablespoon.
  • Water: Yup, you'll need some water, too. You can substitute half of it with milk for a more tender crumb.

🔪 Instructions

STEP 1: In a large bowl, mix together flour, salt, and baking powder.

STEP 2: Add water and stir until a dough forms. Knead the dough for 2-3 minutes until the flour is well-absorbed. Allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes; this helps the gluten relax, making the dough easier to work with.

Fried Bannock Recipe (5)
Fried Bannock Recipe (6)

STEP 3: Heat ½ cup of oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Break off small pieces of the dough, flattening each to about ½ inch thick.

STEP 4: Fry each piece in the hot oil until golden brown on both sides, approximately 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer the fried bannock to a paper towel-lined plate. Serve with your favorite jam, and enjoy!

Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. I like to air-fry them for a couple of minutes at 400℉ to re-crisp them.

Fried Bannock Recipe (7)

📋 Please Note
I'm a non-indigenous home cook sharing my attempt at recreating Bannock. The first time I tried Bannock was at the PNE, where an Indigenous person at a small stand was selling them. It was super tasty.

While my intention is to appreciate this dish, I want to acknowledge its cultural significance for Indigenous communities. My perspective may not fully capture the depth of this tradition. For a better understanding, I encourage you to read this post.

📋 Recipe

Fried Bannock Recipe (8)

Fried Bannock Recipe

This Fried Bannock Recipe is light, fluffy, and pan-fried to golden brown perfection. It's a simple food that can be eaten as a snack, breakfast, or side for any meal.

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine Canadian

Servings 4 people

Calories 590 kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 cups flour (360g, plus more as needed)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons coarse kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 cup + 2 tablespoons water (270g)
  • ½ cup oil (for frying)

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, mix together flour, salt, and baking powder.

  • Add water and stir until a dough forms. Knead the dough for 2-3 minutes until the flour is well-absorbed. Allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes; this makes the dough easier to work with.

  • Heat ½ cup of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Break off small pieces of the dough, flattening each to about ½ inch thick.

  • Fry each piece in the hot oil until golden brown on both sides, approximately 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer the fried bannock to a paper towel-lined plate. Serve with your favorite jam, and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 590kcalCarbohydrates: 72gProtein: 10gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 0.1gSodium: 1195mgPotassium: 101mgFiber: 3gSugar: 0.3gCalcium: 193mgIron: 5mg

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.

Did you make this?Let me know how it was!

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Fried Bannock Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is fry bread the same as bannock? ›

Bannock is a fry bread

Bannock is a type of fry bread, which originates from Scotland but was eventually adopted by the Indigenous peoples of Canada, particularly the Métis of western Canada. Bannock stems from the Gaelic word bannach, which means “morsel,” a short and sweet but accurate description.

What is Native American bannock? ›

Bannock, a round of mostly flour, baking powder, water and some sort of fat, has been a part of Indigenous peoples' diets since the 18th century. It is believed that bannock, derived from the Gaelic word bannach, was introduced here by the Scottish fur traders.

What does bannock mean in scottish? ›

The name Bannock seems to originate from the Old Celtic English “bannuc”, derived from the Latin “panicium” for “bread” or meaning “anything baked”. Made simply from oatmeal and flour, the first citing of a bannock or bannuc recipe in Scotland was in the 8th Century. It's amazing this tasty bread is still baked today!

Why is my bannock hard? ›

This is the part where you don't want to knead the dough too much because if you do… your bannock will become real hard. So make sure that you knead the dough only about 3-4 times, it should not take too long to do. Place it on a baking tray, then take a fork and start poking holes in the flat kneaded dough.

Is bannock indigenous or Scottish? ›

It is conventionally believed that Scottish fur traders called Selkirk settlers introduced bannock to the Indigenous peoples of North America during the 18th and 19th centuries. (See also Fur Trade in Canada.) The Scots cooked it in a griddle called a bannock stone, which they placed on the floor before a fire.

Why is bannock popular in Canada? ›

But why did flour-based bannock become such a common food among Indigenous people across the continent? "Well, it's delicious," Turner says with a laugh. She adds that bannock keeps without spoiling for a long time and is a good source of carbohydrates, which historically was hard to come by in some regions of Canada.

What does bannock taste like? ›

Classic bannock has a smoky, almost nutty flavour blended with a buttery taste, while dessert bannock can have flavours resembling a donut or shortbread.

What ethnicity is bannock? ›

The Bannock tribe (Northern Paiute: Pannakwatɨ) were originally Northern Paiute but are more culturally affiliated with the Northern Shoshone. They are in the Great Basin classification of Indigenous People. Their traditional lands include northern Nevada, southeastern Oregon, southern Idaho, and western Wyoming.

Why is bannock good? ›

bannock is the best thing since sliced bread… because it's sliced bread but waaay better. For those who aren't in the know, fry bread and bannock are traditional Indigenous breads that are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. And let me tell you, they're like a warm hug for your taste buds.

What is another name for fry bread? ›

Fried dough is also known as fry dough, fry bread (bannock), fried bread, doughboys, elephant ears, beaver tails, scones, pizza fritte, frying saucers, and buñuelos (in the case of smaller pieces).

What do Native Americans call fried bread? ›

Navajo fry bread, also known as "Indian fry bread," is a traditional Native American dish that can be enjoyed in various ways, either savory or sweet. Here's a basic recipe for making Navajo fry bread: Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour.

What is Native American fry bread called? ›

Also called Navajo fry bread or Indian fry bread, this deep-fried bread puffs up as it cooks, creating a golden brown dough that's light and fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside.

What is the difference between bannock and bread? ›

Bannock is an old English word of Celtic origin and may have been the first word used to describe bread. Many native cultures of North America have also incorporated bannock, or frybread as it is also called, into their cuisine. Bannock is a yeast-less bread that we cook every night in our convection ovens.

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