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
Americas.Native American cooking of South America
Modern day native peoples retain a rich body ofHumitas, similar to modern-day Tamales, a thick
traditional foods, some of which have becomemixture of corn, herbs and onion, cooked in a
iconic of present-day Native American socialcorn-leaf wrapping. Fried green tomatoes, a
gatherings (for example, frybread). Foods likenightshade relative native to Peru Saraiaka or
cornbread are known to have been adopted intoChicha, a corn liquor Ch'arki, a type of dried meat
the cooking of the United States from NativeCrops and ingredients Maize, beans and squash
American groups. In other cases, documentswere known as the three sisters for their
from the early periods of contact with European,symbiotic relationship when grown together by
African, and Asian peoples allow the recovery ofthe North American and Central American natives.
food practices which passed out of popularity inCrops Beans - Throughout the Americas. Squash -
the historic period (for example, Black Drink).Throughout the Americas. Sweet potato Potato -
Native American cooking of the United StatesSouth American Tomato Coca Kiwacha Maca
The native cooking of the Native Americans ofSouth and Central America. chile peppers bell
the United States: American Indians of thepeppers quinoa South America, Central America,
Eastern Woodlands planted what was known asand Eastern North America. amaranth tobacco
the "Three Sisters": corn, beans, and squash. Incassava Primarily South America.
addition, a number of other domesticated cropsHunted or livestock
were popular during some time periods in theHorse: The only animal on the list introduced by
Eastern Woodlands, including a local version ofEuropeans, the horse was still very important to
quinoa, a variety of amaranth, sumpweed/marshNative American cultures throughout the
elder, maygrass, sunflower, and little barley. SomeAmericas (although famously on the North
known dishes Succotash, a trio of lima beans,American Plains) in the historic era. Squirrel: Many
tomatoes and corn Corn bread Fry bread is a dishgroups had no cultural stigma against the
made from ingredients distributed to Nativeconsumption of small mammals such as squirrels.
Americans living on reservations. PemmicanGuinea pig: Domesticated in the Andes. Bison: A
Buffalo stew, from the Cherokee Nation alsocentrally important wild food and modern livestock
called Tanka-me-a-lo Acorn mush, from theanimal. Llama: Domesticated in the Andes.
Miwok people Bird brain stew, from the Cree tribeGuanaco: Hunted in Southamerica by
Native American cooking of Central Americahunter-gatherer societies, for ex. in Patagonia until
Central America made a major contribution tothe 19th century. Turkey: Domesticated at least
shaping modern-day Mexican cooking. Tamalesonce in Mexico.