Old ingredients. Living traditions. Modern recipes.
These original modern recipes are inspired by documented ingredients and food traditions. They are not recovered ancient recipes or claims of tribal endorsement. Sources support the historical context; quantities, combinations, substitutions and appliance methods are modern.
This collection follows foodways across present-day regions of the United States. Native nations and food networks cross these borders. The regions help you browse; they do not define tribal boundaries or describe a single Native American cuisine.
Before you cook
Use commercially prepared food ingredients, not wild plants identified from this book. Use fully cooked beans and commercially leached food-grade acorn meal. Cook fish to 145 F, poultry to 165 F, ground meat and egg dishes to 160 F, and reheated leftovers to 165 F. Refrigerate perishable foods within 2 hours (1 hour above 90 F) at 40 F or colder. Check allergens and packet directions.
100 recipes
Three Sisters White Corn Stew
Haudenosaunee ingredient traditions; original modern adaptation
White Corn Bean Cakes with Sunflower Cream
Haudenosaunee corn and bean context; original modern adaptation
Acorn Squash with Corn, Cranberries, and Walnuts
Eastern Woodlands crops; original modern adaptation
Soft Cornmeal with Mushrooms and Leeks
Onondaga corn and spring-plant context; original modern adaptation
Strawberry Cornmeal Breakfast Bowls
Onondaga strawberry and corn context; original modern adaptation
Turkey Broth with Corn Dumplings
Haudenosaunee corn and game context; original modern adaptation
Roasted Green Corn and White Bean Salad
Haudenosaunee crop context; original modern adaptation
Maple Pumpkin and Walnut Spoon Bake
Regional squash and maple ingredients; original modern adaptation
Berry and Walnut Corn Porridge Inspired by Nasaump
Wampanoag nasaump context; original modern adaptation
Turkey, Pumpkin, and Sunflower Stew Inspired by Sobaheg
Wampanoag sobaheg context; original modern adaptation
Mussel and Sweetcorn Broth
Wampanoag shellfish context; original modern adaptation
Sheet-Pan Cod with Squash and Sunflower Crumbs
Wampanoag cod and garden-crop context; original modern adaptation
Cranberry and White Bean Oven Pot
Wampanoag bean-growing context; original modern adaptation
Pumpkin Mash with Chestnuts and Toasted Seeds
Wampanoag squash and nut context; original modern adaptation
Blueberry Cornmeal Skillet Cake
Wampanoag corn, berry, and nut context; original modern adaptation
Wild Rice Pilaf with Cranberries and Hazelnuts
Ojibwe and Menominee wild rice context; original modern adaptation
Mushroom and Wild Rice Soup with White Beans
Ojibwe seasonal food context; original modern adaptation
Pumpkin and Wild Rice Bake with Sunflower Crust
Menominee rice and garden-crop context; original modern adaptation
Maple-Glazed Trout with Warm Corn
Menominee trout and maple ingredient context; original modern adaptation
Whitefish and Wild Rice Patties
Ojibwe fish and wild rice context; original modern adaptation
Warm Wild Rice with Blueberries and Maple
Ojibwe rice, berry, and maple context; original modern adaptation
Turkey and Wild Rice Pepper Boats
Ojibwe rice context; original modern adaptation
Silky Squash Soup with Maple and Sunflower Seeds
Menominee squash and maple context; original modern adaptation
Beef and Wild Rice Winter Stew
Ojibwe seasonal food context; original modern adaptation
Chilled Wild Rice with Berries and Maple Cream
Menominee and Ojibwe rice context; original modern adaptation
Steamed Corn and Bean Parcels
Inspired by publicly documented Cherokee bean bread
Grape Broth with Tender Cornmeal Dumplings
Inspired by public southeastern grape and fruit dumpling traditions
Silky Pecan and Corn Soup
Inspired by documented Choctaw nut broths and corn
Cornmeal-Crusted Fish with Warm Squash
Inspired by publicly documented Cherokee fish and corn foods
Soft Grits with Scallion Eggs
Inspired by a living Cherokee onion-and-egg favorite
Turkey and Hominy Supper Pot
Inspired by documented Choctaw hominy-and-meat foods
Pumpkin Soup Thickened with Cornmeal
Inspired by documented Choctaw corn-and-pumpkin soups
Charred Corn and Pecan Skillet
Inspired by documented Choctaw corn and woodland-nut foods
Creamy Beans with Cultivated Greens
Inspired by documented beans and greens, with distinct histories acknowledged
Blackberry Cornmeal Spoon Bake
Inspired by documented Choctaw berries and cornmeal foods
Baked Squash and Pumpkin-Seed Cakes
Inspired by southeastern squash cultivation, with a modern cake format
A Plain Corn Bowl with Toasted Seeds
A modern unfermented corn bowl prompted by public sofkey history
Roasted Squash with Chestnuts and Grapes
Inspired by publicly documented regional nuts, grapes, and cultivated squash
Slow Bison and Squash Braise
Inspired by Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara agricultural and hunting histories
Sunflower and White Bean Table Spread
Inspired by documented Hidatsa beans and sunflower seeds
Dried-Corn Pot with Squash and Beans
Inspired by the stored garden foods of Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara communities
Mixed-Berry Sauce for a Modern Table
Inspired by public discussions of wojapi, with an original formula
Sunflower Corn Skillet Bread
A modern bread featuring documented sunflower and corn crops
Warm Corn and Bean Salad with Plum Dressing
Inspired by documented Pawnee corn, beans, and gathered plums
Bison Patties with Tart Cherry Pan Sauce
Inspired by documented bison and berry foods, with a modern patty format
Bean-Filled Roasted Acorn Squash
Inspired by publicly documented Dakota corn, beans, and squash
Turnip and Turkey Broth with Corn
A grocery-root substitution inspired by documented wild-turnip soups
Blueberry Corn Breakfast with Sunflower Crunch
A modern breakfast built around documented corn and plant foods
Roasted Squash and Sunflower Spoon Spread
A contemporary spread featuring documented squash and sunflower crops
Sunflower and Berry Snack Balls
A modern snack prompted by documented sunflower seed foods
Blue Corn and Pumpkin Breakfast Bowl
Ancestral Pueblo crop context
Roasted Corn Griddle Cakes
Ancestral Pueblo maize context
Hominy and Winter Squash Oven Bake
Precontact agricultural ingredient context
Pumpkin Masa Steamed Parcels
Maize preparation context; independent modern parcel
Tepary Bean and Summer Squash Pot
O’odham ingredient context
Crisp Bean and Squash Tortilla Wedges
Pueblo agricultural ingredient context
Warm Bean and Roasted Pepper Salad
Regional bean context with modern vegetables
Prepared Cactus and Corn Skillet
Ancestral Sonoran Desert plant-food context
Prepared Cholla Buds with Roasted Squash
O’odham desert-food context
Prickly Pear and Berry Sauce
Ancestral Pueblo cactus-fruit context
Mesquite and Corn Skillet Flatbread
Mesquite pod-meal ingredient history
Mesquite Winter Squash Soup
Desert pod and squash ingredient context
Mesquite Berry Oat Bake
Mesquite food history; fully contemporary dessert
Amaranth and Mushroom Pilaf
Amaranth crop context
Pepita Sauce over Roasted Zucchini
Squash ingredient context; modern seed sauce
Acorn Meal Breakfast Porridge
Sierra Miwok acorn-food context
Acorn and Oat Griddle Cakes
California acorn history; modern batter
Acorn-Thickened Mushroom Soup
Acorn ingredient history; contemporary soup
Toasted Sunflower Seed Breakfast Bowl
Kawaiisu seed-food context
Chia and Blackberry Spoon Pudding
Chumash chia context; modern hydrated pudding
Sunflower Seed Savory Crackers
Seed-meal food history; modern baked cracker
Gently Poached Trout
Yurok aquatic-food context; grocery trout adaptation
Oven Salmon with Toasted Seeds
Yurok salmon-food context; independent oven dish
Warm Blackberry Compote
Kawaiisu berry context; cultivated-fruit adaptation
Berry and Seed Skillet Oat Cake
Miwok plant-food context; modern baked cake
Salmon with a Quick Berry Pan Sauce
Columbia River tribal salmon context
Salmon and Vegetable Parchment Parcels
Salmon ingredient history; modern oven parcel
Salmon and Potato Skillet Cakes
Salmon ingredient history; contemporary cooked-fish cakes
Clam and Potato Chowder
Coast Salish shellfish context; modern chowder
Steamed Mussels with Onion Broth
Coastal shellfish history; simple modern steaming
Huckleberry Compote Yogurt Cups
Nez Perce berry context; modern dairy dessert
Slow-Roasted Grocery Roots
Root-food history; explicit vegetable substitutions
Trout and Vegetable Broth
Regional fish context; modern soup
Cranberry and Nori Table Relish
Fruit-and-seaweed context; contemporary condiment
Creamy Pine Nut and Cauliflower Soup
A modern soup inspired by the documented importance of pinyon nuts
Berry Oat Bowls with Toasted Pine Nuts
A contemporary breakfast prompted by documented regional plant foods
Roasted Parsnip and Celery-Root Mash
An explicit grocery-root adaptation, not a camas preparation
Venison Pot with Plums and Root Vegetables
A modern braise inspired by documented regional game and fruit foods
Strawberry and Toasted-Seed Spoon Relish
A modern condiment featuring documented berries and seeds
Berry Buckwheat Griddlecakes
An explicitly modern griddlecake inspired by public plant-food history
Covered Parsnip and Mushroom Braise
A grocery-vegetable braise prompted by camas history, with no camas used
Trout Packets with Berry and Pine-Nut Topping
A modern oven packet using purchased fish and documented regional plant foods
Baked Salmon with Blueberry Pan Sauce
Alutiiq salmon and berry context; original modern adaptation
Halibut and Potato Parchment Parcels
Alutiiq halibut context; original modern adaptation
Cod and Nori Broth with Potatoes
Alutiiq cod and seaweed context; original modern adaptation
Clam and Barley Skillet with Leeks
Alutiiq shellfish context; original modern adaptation
Cucumber, White Bean, and Nori Salad
Alutiiq seaweed context; original modern adaptation
Crushed Berry Yogurt Bowls
Alutiiq contemporary berry-food context; original modern adaptation
Cranberry and Blueberry Chilled Pudding
Alutiiq contemporary berry preparation context; original modern adaptation
Salmon and Vegetable Pie with Potato Topping
Alutiiq salmon and later fish-pie context; original modern adaptation