National Indian Taco Championship adds dessert division

By Sharon Dowell

Published: May 7, 2008

PAWHUSKA — The National Indian Taco Championship was established four years ago by the Pawhuska Chamber of Commerce. This year, the event takes a big leap forward as the contest expands and unveils a new sponsor: the Osage Nation of Oklahoma. The city of Pawhuska still remains actively involved in the event, said Caroline Hogan of the Osage Nation Tourism Department.

Amateur and professional cooks can enter two categories of the contest: traditional or classic tacos and the new category, dessert Indian tacos. Prizes in each category are $1,500 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place. Winners must provide a recipe to the Osage Nation for promotional purposes.

The classic Indian taco entries must include fry bread, lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese, sour cream and a meat, which can include beef, buffalo, beefalo, lamb, venison or pork. Adding chiles is optional, as are seasonings and additional toppings. The dessert Indian taco entries must have fried or baked fry bread but no other required ingredients.

"The more creative the Indian tacos, the better the event,” Hogan said. "What we don't want is to count calories, fat grams and carbohydrates,” she said.

Indian tacos were created from rations provided to American Indians by the U.S. military. Fry bread, the base of the Indian taco, is made with flour, baking powder, shortening and salt that is mixed and then kneaded into a soft dough and fried golden brown. According to the Osage Nation, the Navajos are credited with creating the Indian taco by adding meat to the center of a piece of fry bread and folding it to be eaten. Other tribes then crafted their own forms of the dish by adding beans, lettuce, tomatoes and cheddar cheese

Deadline for submitting entries for the contest is May 15; go online to www.indiantacochampionship.com to print entry forms then mail each entry with a $20 registration fee to Osage Nation Tourism, 222 W Main, Pawhuska, OK 74056. For more information, call Hogan at (918) 948-5860.

Visitors can pay $5 for the chance to help judge the Indian tacos. Judging will begin at 10 a.m., and winners will be announced between 3 and 4 p.m.

The event will also include concessions, music and entertainment

Comments