#siouxchef — Public Fediverse posts

#CulinaryAsh (Chahota) - by #IndigenousChef #SeanSherman

"Culinary ash seasoning dates back thousands of years. Just as smoke was an important, primal flavor that cues our original use of fire to transform raw ingredients into delicious foods, burning trees and the hard, inedible parts of plants is an ancient method of creating flavorful spices.

The tastes of ash seasoning vary depending on the plant used -- #corncobs, #sage leaves, #juniper berries, rose hips, #sumac -- and the ash adds color and interest to many dishes. To create ash, hold the food over a flame with tongs or set it on a grill or under a broiler, rotating it until it's thoroughly blackened. remove and place on a baking sheet until it is cool enough to handle.

Any food can be 'ashed,' but here are those we like using the best:

- Corn ash is slightly sweet, dark, and a bit creamy.
- Sage ash is peppery and assertive.
- Juniper ash will turn the foods it seasons a dark, inky blue and add a earthy, peppery note."

Page 182, "The #SiouxChef's Indigenous Kitchen."

#SolarPunkSunday #PlantAsh #IndigenousRecipes #TraditionalIngredients #NativeAmericanRecipes #NativeAmericanIngredients

Native herbs and seasonings to keep on hand

by Molly Roe, July 15, 2020

"This post is inspired by the book 'The #SiouxChef’s #Indigenous Kitchen' by #SeanSherman

Keep these herbs and seasonings in your pantry to add flavor and depth to your indigenous recipes.Some of these grow in the wild and can be foraged. For those that aren’t available, visit your local organic market or health food store.

Bergamot

Bergamot can be maroon, magenta or lilac in color and resembles a chrysanthemum atop a two-foot-high erect stalk. It is a member of the mint family and attracts hummingbirds while repelling mosquitoes and gnats. It is a great addition to apple jelly and wine.

Sage

The dusty green leaves in sage can help infuse meats and soups with an earthy, piney flavor. Chopped sage leaves can add flavor to salads or homemade pickles.

Cedar

Cedar is perfect for braising meats and simmering into grain dishes and stews. Cedar adds a woodsy, smokey flavor to dishes.

Mint

After it becomes warm, it tends to lose its punch, so it’s best used when fresh. Mint is a good addition to savory sauces and teas.

Juniper

Juniper berries add a peppery kick to dishes. They are tart and sharp, with hints of citrus flavor. Rub crushed juniper berries onto meat before cooking to add flavor.

Staghorn Sumac

This northern sumac grows in ditches and along the borders of forests. Its deep red berries have a citrusy, tangy flavor. Ground, dried sumac makes a great rub for meats. The berries can also be used as a salad topping or in sauces.

Mustard

Mustard adds a peppery taste to salads and is also a great garnish. Collect mustard seeds to create a wonderful homemade spice to add to sauces, salads, meat rubs and stews.

Rose Hips

Rose hips add a light citrus-y note to stocks and soups and can be used dried or fresh."

Source:
https://sweetgrasstradingco.com/2020/07/15/native-herbs-and-seasonings-to-keep-on-hand/

#SolarPunkSunday #NativeAmericanFoods #CookingWithHerbs #Herbs

#Barbecue Techniques from #IndigenousChef #SeanSherman

Posted on June 29, 2026

"Understanding Smoke and Flavor

One of the most essential aspects of barbecue is the smoke. Indigenous Chef Sean Sherman emphasizes the significance of using natural woods and herbs to infuse flavor into meats. Each wood type offers distinct characteristics that can elevate a dish, creating a unique culinary experience.

When selecting wood for smoking, consider these indigenous options:

- Pecan: Known for its sweet and nutty flavor, pecan wood is a popular choice for smoking meats and can pair wonderfully with poultry and pork.
- Hickory: Hickory wood provides a strong, smoky flavor that complements beef and ribs, making it a staple in many barbecue recipes.
- Cherry: The subtle sweetness of cherry wood can enhance the natural flavors of meats without overwhelming them, especially for lighter proteins like chicken or fish.
- Mesquite: With its bold and intense flavor profile, mesquite is best used sparingly. It works well with beef and lamb, creating a rich, smoky taste.

In addition to the type of wood, the way it’s prepared can also influence the final product. Chef Sherman recommends soaking wood chips in water for at least an hour before using them to create a slower burn, which helps produce a consistent smoke that enhances the meat over a longer cooking period.

Traditional Marinades and Rubs

Marinades and rubs are crucial for infusing flavor into meats before the cooking process begins. Chef Sean Sherman often draws on traditional Native American ingredients to create unique marinades that reflect the flavors of the land. Here are some techniques and tips to consider:

- Use Local Ingredients: Incorporate herbs and spices native to your region. For example, juniper berries, sage, and wild garlic can add depth to your marinades.
- Acid Balance: A good marinade typically includes an acid component, like vinegar or citrus juice, which helps tenderize the meat. Chef Sherman often uses wild berries or fruit juices for a unique twist.
- Salt and Sugar: Salt is essential for flavor enhancement, while sugar can create a caramelized crust when grilled. Consider using natural sweeteners like maple syrup or honey in your rubs.
- Time to Marinate: Allow meats to marinate for several hours or, ideally, overnight. This time allows the flavors to penetrate deeply, resulting in a more flavorful end product.

Cooking Techniques to Master

Barbecue is as much about technique as it is about ingredients. Here are some cooking methods that Chef Sean Sherman advocates:

- Indirect Heat: This technique involves setting up your grill so that the food is not directly over the flames. This method is perfect for larger cuts of meat that require longer cooking times, allowing for even cooking without burning.
- Wrapping in Leaves: Inspired by traditional cooking methods, wrapping meat in leaves can enhance flavor and moisture retention. Consider using corn husks or maple leaves to impart their unique essences.
- Searing: For smaller cuts or when finishing larger pieces, searing can create a flavorful crust. This technique involves cooking meat over high heat for a short period to lock in juices.
- Resting the Meat: After cooking, let the meat rest for at least 10-15 minutes before slicing. This practice allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more succulent bite."

Learn more:
https://howigotjob.com/uncategorized/barbecue-techniques-from-indigenous-chef-sean-sherman/

#SolarPunkSunday #IndigenousFoods #NativeAmericanFoods #NativeAmericanCookingTechniques #AnimalProducts #SiouxChef #TraditionalCookingMethods

In #SeanSherman's book, #TheSiouxChef #IndigenousKitchen, he suggests using a mixture of berries - blackberries, strawberries, cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, elderberries -- pretty much anything you have on hand -- if one can't find chokecherries (which is what was used originally)

What is #wojape? A simple and delicious #NativeAmerican recipe for cranberry sauce

Ronnie Koenig, Updated Wed, November 10, 2021

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/wojape-simple-delicious-native-american-153702849.html

#NativeAmericanRecipes #SiouxChef #IndigenousFood #Berries #MapleSyrup #NativeAmericanFoods

So, I've been looking up substitutes for #chokecherries. #SeanSherman suggests mixed berries, but I'm thinking tart cherries would be a closer substitute, since chokecherries tend to be on the tart side... Hmmmm...

#SiouxChef #IndigenousKitchen

Recipes include making #CornStock out of corn cobs (something the #SiouxChef #SeanSherman talks about as well)!

26 Recipes to Use Up #FoodScraps

"Waste not want not" never tasted so good!

By Cathy Jacobs
Updated on 02/14/25

https://www.thespruceeats.com/recipes-to-use-up-food-scraps-5179510

#SolarPunkSunday #FoodWasteRecipes
#ReduceWaste #ReduceFoodWaste
#FoodWaste #ZeroWaste #ZeroWasteRecipes #FoodScraps

Wagmú Čhaŋháŋpi Tikiča Akáštaŋpi

Griddled Maple Squash

Serves 4-6

This simple technique for cooking squash is quick and easy. Serve the slices on salads, float them on top of soup, or stack them on corn, bean, and wild rice cakes.

1 medium winter squash such as butternut or acorn, about 2 pounds
2 to 3 tablespoons sunflower oil
Coarse salt
Pinch sumac
2 to 3 tablespoons maple syrup
6 fried sage leaves
Toasted squash, pumpkin, or sunflower seeds for garnish

Cut the squash in half lengthwise. Remove the seeds and cut top to bottom into thin slices about ¼ inch thick. Brush the slices with a little of the oil and sprinkle with salt and sumac.

Heat a griddle or heavy skillet and lightly grease with the remaining oil. Griddle the squash slices until nicely browned, about 5 to 10 minutes per side. Brush with the maple syrup. Sprinkle with the coarse salt, garnish with the fried sage leaves and toasted seeds. Then serve as
- A snack right off the griddle
- A base for bean cakes
- A garnish for soups and stews
- A garnish for salads

Source: #TheSiouxChef’s Indigenous Kitchen, by #SeanSherman with Beth Dooley.

#SolarPunkSunday #Vegan #IndigenousFoods #IndigenousCookbooks #NativeAmericanFoods #NativePlants #VeganRecipes #SquashRecipes #SiouxChef #IndigenousKitchen

Hmm... No #Eel recipes in #SiouxChef book. I wonder if #SeanSherman covers that in the #TurtleIslandCookbook? Just put that in my wishlist!

https://seansherman.com/sean-sherman-new-book-turtle-island-foods-and-traditions-of-the-indigenous-peoples-of-north-america/

#DecolonizeYourDiet #IndigenousFoods #IndigenousCooking #IndigenousCookbooks

So, I picked out a few recipes for our Winter holiday feast... All from The #SiouxChef ! Seared duck breast with cider glaze (which utilizes juniper berries and sumac and maple syrup and sage), wild rice pilaf (with wild mushrooms and chestnuts and dried cranberries), and griddled maple squash (with our home-grown squash and local maple syrup). I'll be also trying out stews and soups and breads for later in the season. It's so cool to find recipes which utilize ingredients that we can obtain locally!

#SeanSherman #BethDooley #IndigenousCooking #IndigenousFood #LocalFood #AnimalProducts #TheSiouxChefsIndigenousKitchen #DecolonizeYourDiet #IndigenousKitchen

I ordered a used copy #TheSiouxChef cookbook (by #SeanSherman with #BethDooley) a few weeks ago. It just arrived, and by *used*, it had one tiny smudge on the inside back cover. I can't wait to try out some of the recipes! (And yes, I'll transcribe a few of them -- including the one shown, which is a Wild Rice with Roasted Chestnuts, Wild Mushrooms and Dried Cranberries recipe!

#Cookbooks #Recipes #SiouxChef #NativeAmericanRecipes #DecolonizeYourDiet #SolarPunkSunday #TraditionalFoods #TribalFoodSovereignty #NativeAmericanFoodSovereignty #AnimalProducts #IndigenousFoodSystems

The #SiouxChef is Reclaiming North America’s #Indigenous Cuisine

Sean Sherman, co-author of a new cookbook and co-founder of The Sioux Chef, explains why original North American foods and #NativeFoodways are vital to creating a healthy and #SustainableFuture

Sean Sherman
October 18, 2017

Excerpt: "Although hamburgers, pizza, and Coca-Cola are among the foods most often identified as 'American' cuisine, the truth is that over-sugared, over-salted, and fat-laden processed fare does not represent the true American diet. The original American cuisine arose from the vibrant and diverse indigenous cultures that thrived across the North American continent for thousands of years before #colonization.

"My grandparents were among the first generation to be systematically assimilated to 'American”' culture—I heard stories of children kidnapped and sent to boarding schools, their hair cut, their language forbidden. How I wish I had been taught more than the handful of recipes I learned as a child — #wasna (dried meat and berries), #taniga (tripe soup), #bapa (#bison jerky), and #wojape (#chokecherry sauce).

"When I was 13 years old, I began my working in professional kitchens, and by my early 20s, I had become an executive chef. I mastered the art of Italian, French, and Spanish cuisines until, at the height of my career, I knew I wanted to understand why there were so few #NativeAmerican restaurants across the U.S.

"As part of The Sioux Chef, I work with my partner #DanaThompson and a team of 10 chefs, plus a number of indigenous culinary partners across Indian country. Our vision is to create more than a restaurant—it will be a place where we can share our skills, knowledge, and passion, with the goal of spreading our work across the whole of North America. To help us achieve these ends, our new #NāTIFS non-profit will focus primarily on indigenous food education and access. Through NāTIFS, we have created a research-and-development team called the '#IndigenousFoodLab' to further our own research, document our work, and help us become better educators.

"We are also building a replicable model that will place an #IndigenousFoodHub in larger urban areas. The hubs will house a regionally unique indigenous restaurant that will not only make the indigenous foods available to the public, but also serve as a training center to educate students in the preparation, cooking, and preservation of #IndigenousFoods. They will also house education centers that offer classes based on the many curriculums we have been developing to help people identify, understand, and apply the knowledge of indigenous food systems."

Original story:
https://civileats.com/2017/10/18/the-sioux-chef-is-reclaiming-north-americas-indigenous-cuisine/

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/jFFbO

#DecolonizeYourDiet #SolarPunkSunday #TraditionalFoods #TribalFoodSovereignty #NativeAmericanMonth #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth
#NativeAmericanFoodSovereignty #DecolonizeYourDiet #AnimalProducts #BuffaloHarvest #IndigenousFoodSystems

Here's a favorite fall/winter recipe from #SeanSherman's #siouxchef cookbook: Wild rice pilaf with Mushrooms, cranberries, and chestnuts. https://www.jamesbeard.org/recipes/wild-rice-pilaf-with-mushrooms-chestnuts-and-cranberries