In addition to the usual chuck wagon favorites, festival-goers will have the chance to try traditionally cooked Native American recipes at this year’s Annual Chuck Wagon Festival including varieties of traditional corn soup, fry bread and grape dumplings. Many Native recipes are just as rich in tradition and history as they are in flavor.
Pro-chef Arthur “Sonny” Fields will cook at the festival and share the tastes and traditions of his Pawnee heritage. The fry bread Sonny will make at the festival can be considered a traditional Oklahoma recipe. If you just can’t wait until the festival to take a bite of doughy perfection, give Sonny’s Simple Fry Bread recipe a try.
Sonny’s Simple Fry Bread
2lbs of self-rising flour
2 t. salt
2 1/2 cups of water
1/2 cup of sugar
Combine dry ingredients and mix thoroughly before adding 2 1/2 cups of water. Mix with your hands for 25 – 35 seconds until all ingredients are combined to create the dough. The consistency should be sticky. Cover with a towel and let sit for 30 minutes. With a large spoon, scoop out golf ball-sized pieces of dough on a floured surface. Pat or roll out pieces until 1/4 thin and flat.
In a deep, 10-inch cast-iron skillet or heavy saucepan, heat about 1 inch of oil to 375 F. If you do not have a deep-fry thermometer to attach to the pan, dip the handle end of a wooden spoon in the oil. The oil should bubble around it steadily when it is ready. Fry in oil until golden brown on each side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
Tip – Frying at a higher temperature reduces the amount of oil absorbed into your bread. To prevent oil from burning while cooking at higher temperatures, add half of a potato to the pan while frying.
Serves 15 servings.
If your mouth is watering, be sure to come to the Annual Chuck Wagon Festival to meet Sonny and get a taste of traditional foods, cowboy cooking and so much more!
About the Annual Chuck Wagon Festival
Join us for this two-day, fun-filled family weekend showcasing chuck wagon and Native food samples, artisan demonstrations, live music and Western reenactors. Stop by socially-distanced craft stations and pick up take-and-make activities including bandanas for coloring, butter making with Ag in the Classroom, and more! Explore Liichokoshkomo’, the Museum’s premier outdoor education experience and playscape and learn about the diverse cultures of the West.
