Frybread a welcome surprise at 22nd Annual Silver Lake Powwow

Craig Bakay | Aug 30, 2017

Frybread has been around “ever since we’ve been around,” says ‘Frybread Queen’ Carol Anne Maracle.
And this year, the Queen brought her court to the 22nd Annual Silver Lake Powwow for the first time.
“My grandmother had her recipe, my mother had her recipe and I’ve taken parts of both to make my recipe, to get it the way I wanted,” she said.
For those unfamiliar with the cuisine, frybread is just what it sounds like — a type of bread that’s fried instead of baked.

It’s deceptively simple, essentially a type of dough that is fried in oil. But getting it just right is a matter of much trial and error, she said.
“I use flour, baking powder and water,” she said. “And then fry it in ½ inch of canola oil.”
The result is something quite unique and somewhat difficult to describe.
Essentially, it’s a bun, the size of a very large hamburger bun, but it really isn’t a hamburger bun. It’s fried on the outside, but soft on the inside and kind of like an English muffin, but it isn’t really that much like an English muffin either.

And then then there’s a flavour to it  . . . again, it’s kind of unique.
You can eat it with just butter (recommended) or with jam, and/or peanut butter, or whatever your favourite spread is.
Or, it does make for a unique sandwich.

“When we started, we made just the bread,” Maracle said. “But then people started asking for butter, and jam.
“And then they started asking for fried baloney and pea-meal bacon, other meats. So we started offering that also.”
Whatever it is, it works. Maracle, who’s from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory,  has been in the catering business for 30 years but in the last 10, she’s found a niche travelling around to powwows all over — Toronto, Ottawa, New York State.

“This is our first time here but we’re booked every weekend from June through September,” she said.
When asked if there was a secret ingredient she neglected to mention that makes it taste so good, Maracle did come clean.
“It’s the love I put in it,” she said.