5 Indigenous-Inspired Recipes To Make At Home

Canada is rich in Indigenous history. Thousands of years before Europeans arrived, Indigenous people thrived across the land. Many Indigenous traditions still thrive among the Indigenous communities. My family and I have been lucky enough to have taken part in incredible celebrations and traditions during our Aboriginal road trip through Quebec as well as amazing Indigenous experiences right here in Ontario. To celebrate these experiences, I wanted to share some of my favorite Indigenous recipes and Indigenous-inspired recipes that you can make at home.

Indigenous experiences in Canada should be a part of everyone’s travels in the country, whether they are local or from abroad. Whether you’re experiencing a pow wow for the first time or taking part in an Indigenous storytelling experience, you’ll gain a much richer sense of what it means to be Canadian.

Nowadays, Indigenous fusion restaurants have begun springing up across the country. Places like the Hotel Musee Premiere Nations in Wendake Quebec are examples of traditional Indigenous-inspired recipes being used in high-end restaurants. And from Vancouver to Toronto, more and more Indigenous restaurants have popped up as a greater audience recognizes the amazing flavors and health benefits of traditional Indigenous foods. 

What Is Indigenous Food Like?

Indigenous recipes are often based on traditional ingredients. This often means combining the three sisters or the three staples that make up much of the traditional Indigenous diet in North America. The three sisters consist of corn, squash, and beans. The story behind the tradition of the three sisters is one worth knowing before you begin.

Many Indigenous meals begin with a base of plants and meat that can be harvested from the land and sea around us. Many traditional Indigenous recipes use moose, caribou, elk, seal, buffalo, rabbit, salmon, and more. Plants such as corn, squash, fiddleheads, wild rice, nuts, and berries were used as well

Food was, and still is a very important part of Indigenous life. And traditionally, every part of the animal was used for either food, clothing, tools, or shelter. Eating traditional isn’t just delicious, there are loads of health benefits to eating fresh Indigenous cuisine as well. By sticking to food that isn’t processed, you ensure that you know exactly what you’re eating.

Here Are My Favorite Indigenous-Inspired Recipes To Make At Home

My family absolutely loves attending pow wows. The dancing and revelry is a big part of that. But another huge part of the fun of attending a pow wow is the mouthwatering food you find everywhere. Often when we come home from one of the local celebrations we’ll whip up some of our favorite Indigenous-inspired meals so we can re-live the experience.

We’re always looking for new Indigenous experiences in Canada, but while we spend our time exploring we’ll continue to try new Indigenous foods at home and on our travels. And to help you enjoy them as well, I’ve created this list of my favorite Indigenous recipes that you can make at home.

Easy Bannock And Berries Recipe

There are few foods that I associate more with Indigenous recipes than bannock and berries. I grew up eating this tasty treat at childhood camps before learning of its aboriginal origins. Bannock and berries are as much a comfort food as they are a staple among the first people of Turtle Island.

My family has gone on to make this dish at the Great Spirit Circle Trail on Manitoulin Island in Ontario as well as on a Wendake storytelling experience in Montreal, Quebec. And I think we’ve got the recipe and the technique squared off!

Bannock is a super easy Indigenous recipe. But it can be varied in the way its served. Traditionally it’s a simple combination of flour and water. It can be deep-fried, baked, or, as is traditional, cooked on a stick over an open flame. You can serve bannock with meat, with stew, or, my favorite, enjoy bannock with wild berries.

Three Sisters Soup

There are few foods that are more steeped in lore among the Indigenous people in Canada than the three sisters. Corn, squash, and beans can be found at the center of many traditional Indigenous recipes. These were three vegetables that were in abundance and the various nations would build their agriculture systems with them at the core.

Three Sisters soup was a dish that my family first tasted on our Amishk Adventures glamping experience in Quebec. The soup was hearty and tasty, and we were all asking for seconds before our bowls were nearly empty. It may have been from a hunger built from hiking and canoeing in search of massive beaver dams. But even now we can’t seem to make enough of this Three Sisters soup.

Barbecue Chicken FryBread Tacos (Indian Tacos or Navajo Tacos)

Frybread tacos are one of the classic pow wow fares. This delicious dish caused me a lot of concern when I went to my first pow wow. That’s because, at most Indigenous events, it’s listed as an “Indian Taco,” in the north, and “Navajo Taco” further south. And I’ll be honest, I just wasn’t comfortable saying it. I fumbled over the right words to use and finally muttered “uhh, I’ll have an, um, number 6 please.” The lady behind me in line laughed heartily and clapped me on the back in pity.

These tacos are crispy on the outside and soft and moist on the inside. They’re normally topped with ground beef or chicken. These Indigenous tacos are then layered with shredded lettuce, salsa, sour cream, tomatoes, and corn. Although you can top them to your taste really.

Frybread tacos are by no means one of the traditional Indigenous recipes. They take various elements of cultures throughout the Americas, both ancient and modern. But the result is one of my family’s all-time favorite Indigenous dishes.

Moose Stew (Can Be Substituted With Beef)

Nothing is better on a cold day than a rich and hearty bowl of stew. For those who enjoy the fall hunt and bring back fresh game meat to share with friends and family, this moose stew recipe is a perfect way to prepare and celebrate the animal that will nourish you through the winter months.

This is based on Indigenous recipes for moose. However, those who don’t hunt or cook with game meat can easily substitute the moose meat with beef, bison, or any high-quality red meat. Personally, I love combining this Indigenous-inspired recipe with bannock or frybread for dipping into the hearty gravy.

Indigenous-Style Blueberry Pie

Wild berries have always been a major part of the harvest. Berry picking is one of my family’s all-time best summer activities. This blueberry pie recipe is based on an Indigenous recipe that I learned while my son and I were traveling in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They were serving it at a local festival we went to which featured loads of great storytelling and dancing. It was so delicious that I cornered the woman who made it and wouldn’t stop complimenting her until she finally relented and gave me the recipe.

What do you think of these easy Indigenous recipes? Do they make for a simple First Nations meal, or would you substitute for something else? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Or swing over to our Facebook page and say hello!

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