N.M. Native American Cookbooks (foods, books, people)

[Towanda]

My pleasure.

Let me know how it turns out.

[clairz]

Thank you to everyone who has replied to this thread so far. Towanda, I have the feeling that Navajo Fried Bread might be appearing on the tables of quite a few C-D Forum folk very, very soon.

I don't have any experience with any Native American cookbooks or cooking, but I found this one on the Santa Ana Pueblo web page, which is a wonderful resource. It's called The Art of American Indian Cooking and it apparently covers all regions of the country, and the descriptions of the recipes sound delicious. Has anyone seen or used this cookbook?

I'm still hoping to hear from someone who has a favorite cookbook of Native American recipes, though. Or, as CindyB says, maybe someone here will have to put one together...

~clairz

[Towanda]

clairz:

I think your lack of responses on this may show that there is a dearth of Native American cookbooks out there.

I have seen the book you mentioned, The Art of Native American Cooking, on that Santa Ana Pueblo web page. It looks pretty good... it sounds like it encompasses Native American food from all over the country.

But I guess I would be most interested in southwestern Native American cooking ... and I am thinking some Southwestern cookbooks might have sections on that topic.

[tecpatl]

Originally Posted by Towanda

clairz:

I think your lack of responses on this may show that there is a dearth of Native American cookbooks out there.

I have seen the book you mentioned, The Art of Native American Cooking, on that Santa Ana Pueblo web page. It looks pretty good... it sounds like it encompasses Native American food from all over the country.

But I guess I would be most interested in southwestern Native American cooking ... and I am thinking some Southwestern cookbooks might have sections on that topic.

Before I retired from the restaurant biz I cooked some Native American themed meals on a regular basis. For Southwestern stuff I used Southwest Indian Cooking by Marcia Keegan (a smallish softcover) a lot. It's an old book but still available, I think. I also like Spirit of the Harvest (a wider scope) and, more recently, Foods of the Southwest Indian Nations which has some very interesting things in it.
Forget trying to make Piki bread, by the way What a pain, for not much result. Leave it to the Hopi ladies
The fact is, a lot of Native American cooking is simple and bland...even in the Southwest, though less so. Still, there's a lot to love in any of the three books and the recipes can be an interesting jumping off point for one's own creativity.

[Towanda]

tecpatl:

Thanks! That gives us several more books to look for!

What's Piki bread? (Now I am curious and want to try it!)

[tecpatl]

Originally Posted by Towanda

tecpatl:

Thanks! That gives us several more books to look for!

What's Piki bread? (Now I am curious and want to try it!)

Well, Towanda, you better plan a trip up to the Hopi Mesas during a special time, cause you aren't gonna want to make it.
It's finely ground blue corn made into almost a paste, then quickly spread on a greased smooth rock that's been heated. It cooks in seconds and you peel it off the stone and roll it up like a papyrus scroll and let it cool down. Then eat.
Light, crispy, delicate corn flavor and a complete pain the the wazoo to make. A bit like a super thin (translucent) super crispy tortilla.
Hopi ladies can make it quickly and easily once the corn is properly prepared and it doesn't look that hard to do. Looks can be deceiving LOL
I first watched it being made at Shungapovi when visiting a silversmith, and enjoyed it with bland mutton stew on a couple important occasions later on. They eat it at celebrations, weddings, and similar. Seemed like a good idea to at least try making it
It takes less time to drive to Northern AZ

[RamblinRoseRanch]

Okay, the booklet thingy I have is Authentic Indian-Mexican Recipes by William Hardwick.

[Towanda]

tecpatl: Okay, I guess I am skipping the homemade Piki bread.

[desert sun]

to those looking for fry bread you should get it on the rez if you can unless your recipes turn out ok,I have been told by some of the ladies I use to work with in Farmington that there is a certain way of cooking it and the grease has to be hotter than a certain temp.

I have tried fry bread from a few places in the metro area and it just isnt the same as the fry bread I came to know in the 4 corners. I usually just wait and get it at the state fair from the Native American pavilion area. I would have to say that fry bread is one of the best foods on earth.

[clairz]

Originally Posted by tecpatl

Before I retired from the restaurant biz I cooked some Native American themed meals on a regular basis. For Southwestern stuff I used Southwest Indian Cooking by Marcia Keegan (a smallish softcover) a lot. It's an old book but still available, I think. I also like Spirit of the Harvest (a wider scope) and, more recently, Foods of the Southwest Indian Nations which has some very interesting things in it.
...there's a lot to love in any of the three books and the recipes can be an interesting jumping off point for one's own creativity.

Thank you so much, tecpatl, for this information. It's exactly the thing that I am looking for.

~clairz