Native American Cooking

Native American cooking includes practices in theMole Mezcal Tortillas Champurrado, a chocolate
culinary arts of the native peoples of the all thedrink Pozole Pulque Tlacoyos Native American
Americas. Modern day native peoples retain a richcooking of South America Humitas, similar to
body of traditional foods, some of which havemodern-day Tamales, a thick mixture of corn,
become iconic of present-day Native Americanherbs and onion, cooked in a corn-leaf wrapping.
social gatherings (for example, frybread). FoodsFried green tomatoes, a nightshade relative native
like cornbread are known to have been adoptedto Peru Saraiaka or Chicha, a corn liquor Ch'arki, a
into the cooking of the United States from Nativetype of dried meat Crops and ingredients Maize,
American groups. In other cases, documentsbeans and squash were known as the three
from the early periods of contact with European,sisters for their symbiotic relationship when grown
African, and Asian peoples allow the recovery oftogether by the North American and Central
food practices which passed out of popularity inAmerican natives. Crops Beans - Throughout the
the historic period (for example, Black Drink).Americas. Squash - Throughout the Americas.
Native American cooking of the United StatesSweet potato Potato - South American Tomato
The native cooking of the Native Americans ofCoca Kiwacha Maca South and Central America.
the United States: American Indians of thechile peppers bell peppers quinoa South America,
Eastern Woodlands planted what was known asCentral America, and Eastern North America.
the "Three Sisters": corn, beans, and squash. Inamaranth tobacco cassava Primarily South
addition, a number of other domesticated cropsAmerica. Hunted or livestock Horse: The only
were popular during some time periods in theanimal on the list introduced by Europeans, the
Eastern Woodlands, including a local version ofhorse was still very important to Native American
quinoa, a variety of amaranth, sumpweed/marshcultures throughout the Americas (although
elder, maygrass, sunflower, and little barley. Somefamously on the North American Plains) in the
known dishes Succotash, a trio of lima beans,historic era. Squirrel: Many groups had no cultural
tomatoes and corn Corn bread Fry bread is a dishstigma against the consumption of small mammals
made from ingredients distributed to Nativesuch as squirrels. Guinea pig: Domesticated in the
Americans living on reservations. PemmicanAndes. Bison: A centrally important wild food and
Buffalo stew, from the Cherokee Nation alsomodern livestock animal. Llama: Domesticated in
called Tanka-me-a-lo Acorn mush, from thethe Andes. Guanaco: Hunted in Southamerica by
Miwok people Bird brain stew, from the Cree tribehunter-gatherer societies, for ex. in Patagonia until
Native American cooking of Central Americathe 19th century. Turkey: Domesticated at least
Central America made a major contribution toonce in Mexico.
shaping modern-day Mexican cooking. Tamales