Thanksgiving is a complicated time for Taelor Barton. The Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Cherokee chef is gathering with family to share a meal on the holiday, but the history of how the US has treated Native Americans hangs heavy in the air.
While the conventional narrative around Thanksgiving has been one of friendship and alliance between the Wampanoag and the Plymouth colonists, Barton sees the holiday as a reminder of all that indigenous people endured with the arrival of Europeans.
Among what was lost: Knowledge of traditional foods and the ways they were cultivated, produced and prepared.
One need look no further than the Thanksgiving table to understand how North American ecosystems have been disrupted, Barton noted. Turkeys were once an animal traditionally hunted by the Cherokee, but livestock farming has made the birds abundant in a way that now feels foreign.
Today's indigenousΒ chefs make it a point to source ingredients locally, whether through farmers markets, tribal producers, gifts or foraging. They want tribes to control their own food production and distribution again.
Dana Thompson, who along with Sherman co-founded the nonprofit North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems, sees the restoration of traditional foodways as key to addressing health and economic crises in Native communities. The organization works with tribal communities to bolster traditional knowledge and support their efforts toward food sovereignty.
Bison once were part of the staple diet. Today 82 tribes across the U.S. have more than 20,000 bison in 65 herds β and thatβs been growing along with the desire among Native Americans to reclaim stewardship of an animal their ancestors depended upon for millennia.
European settlers destroyed that balance, driving bison nearly extinct until conservationists including Teddy Roosevelt intervened to reestablish a small number of herds.
The long-term dream for some Native Americans: return bison on a scale rivaling herds that roamed the continent in numbers that shaped the landscape itself.
Chef Jessica Paemonekot, executive chef of Ketapanen Kitchen in Chicago, said she's educating people on the many culinary contributions of indigenous communities on the foods people eat every day. She is a lifelong member of Wisconsin's Menominee Tribe.
"We're working with bison, we're working with various berries like strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, maple syrup. We've got corn, squash. We've got a corn soup going back there," Paemonekot said. "Those are foods that people eat every day and don't realize are indigenous."
And here are two more tidbits about Thanksgiving's culinary traditions, plus recipes for plant-based fare that you can try any time of year.
12 recipes to add to your Thanksgiving Day feast
This week's recipe roundup is all about Thanksgiving, of course. Whether you're planning your menu from scratch or looking for an interesting side dish, these recipes have you covered.
If you have your butcher cut up the bird for you, ask for the neck, backbone, wing tips, and giblets, along with a few extra wings for making stock. Also, make sure to have an accurate meat thermometer to test the temperatures of the different pieces. Iβve also included the recipe for my favorite make-ahead turkey gravy.
The smoky-sweet red chile rub creates a beautiful delicious exterior on roasted or grilled turkey. Make a double batch of the rub; it tastes great on roasted vegetables such sliced delicata squash or cubed butternut or sweet potatoes.
When you think about a baked potato, you likely envision a russet or Yukon Gold potato sliced open and piled high with sour cream, chives, bacon, cheese and more. But you can achieve a similar effect with a sweet potato.
These garlic mashed potatoes are extra creamy, thanks to the addition of both butter and buttermilk. To prevent the potatoes from getting gummy, be sure not to overmix them in Step 2.
Mashed vegetables tend to get cold easily; keep all tools β the ricer and bowl β warm by running under hot water before using.
The key to a successful Thanksgiving dinner: Plan ahead, then shop and spread the cooking over a couple of days. That way, youβll have plenty of time and energy to spend at the table with your family and friends.
Β The dates are filled with plant-based bacon to give it that smoky, sweet flavor and stuffed with a rich and savory cashew cheese that you can whip up yourself.
This last-minute addition to your table is perfect for those of us who donβt have the desire to make anything else from scratch.Β
Enjoy this as a simple dessert with yogurt or ice cream, an add-in to an endive salad, or a side sauce to roast duck or chicken.
Looks like we are in the season of pumpkin everything.Β This pumpkin cranberry loaf is a welcoming snack with a hot cup of tea or apple cider.
You make the graham cracker nut crust and spread it on the bottom and sides of a sheet pan. The rich autumnal-spiced pumpkin custard is poured on top, and it is baked until just done. Best of all, you can make this a few days ahead of Thanksgiving and store it in the refrigerator covered.
