Native American Cuisine includes all food practices of the native peoples of the Americas. Information about Native American cuisine comes from a great variety of sources. Modern day native peoples retain a rich body of traditional foods, some of which have become iconic of present-day Native American social gatherings (for example, frybread). Foods like cornbread, turkey, cranberry, blueberry, hominy and mush are known to have been adopted into the cuisine of the United States from Native American groups. In other cases, documents from the early periods of contact with European, African, and Asian peoples allow the recovery of food practices which passed out of popularity in the historic htrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr{| class="wikitable" |- ! header 1 ! header 2 ! header 3 |- | row 1, cell 1 | row 1, cell 2 | row 1, cell 3 |- | row 2, cell 1 | row 2, cell 2 | row 2, cell 3 |}of other culinary practices or preferred foods which did not survive into the written historic record. Cuisine (from French cuisine, cooking; culinary art; kitchen; ultimately from Latin coquere, to cook) is a specific set of cooking traditions and practices, often associated with a specific culture. ... Spc. ... Cornbread or Johnny cake is a generic name for any number of quick breads (a bread leavened chemically, rather than by yeast) containing cornmeal. ... “Cranberries” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Blueberry (disambiguation). ... Hominy or nixtamal is dried, treated maize (corn) kernels. ... Mush is a thick cornmeal pudding (or porridge) usually boiled in water or milk. ...

Modern day Native American Cuisine can cover as wide of range as the imagination of the chef that adopts this cuisine to present. The use of indigenous domesticated and wild food ingredients can represent Native American food and cuisine. North American Native Cuisine can differ somewhat from Southwestern and Mexican Cuisine in its simplicity and directness of flavor. The use of ramps, wild ginger, miners lettuce, juniper can impart a subtle flavour to the dish. Native American food is not a historic subject but one of living flavours and ideas. A chef preparing a Native American dish can adopt, create, alter as his imagination dictates.

Native American cuisine of the United States

American Indians of the Eastern Woodlands planted what was known as the "Three Sisters": corn, beans, and squash. In addition, a number of other domesticated crops were popular during some time periods in the Eastern Woodlands, including a local version of quinoa, a variety of amaranth, sumpweed/marsh elder, little barley, maygrass, and sunflower. The Eastern Woodlands was a cultural area of the indigenous peoples of North America. ... The Three Sisters are the three main agricultural crops of some Native American groups in North America: squash, maize, and climbing beans (typically tepary beans or common beans). ... This article is about the maize plant. ... This article is on the plant. ... Species - hubbard squash, buttercup squash - cushaw squash C. moschata- butternut squash C. pepo- most pumpkins, acorn squash, summer squash References: ITIS 223652002-11-06 Hortus Third Squashes are four species of the genus Cucurbita, also called pumpkins and marrows depending on variety or the nationality of the speaker. ... Binomial name Willd. ... “Amarant” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Sunflower (disambiguation). ...

Some Dishes

• Corn bread
• Fry bread is a dish made from ingredients distributed to Native Americans living on reservations.
• Bean bread, made with corn meal and beans; popular among the Cherokee
• Succotash, a trio of lima beans, tomatoes and corn
• Pemmican, a concentrated food consisting of dried pulverized meat, dried berries, and rendered fat
• Bird brain stew, from the Cree tribe [1]
• Buffalo stew, from the Cherokee Nation also called Tanka-me-a-lo [2]
• Acorn mush, from the Miwok people [3]
• Wojape
• dry meats Jerky
• piki bread
• green chili stew
• mutton stew Navajo
• pueblo bread
• smoked salmon

Cornbread is a variety of quick bread (a bread leavened chemically, rather than by yeast) containing cornmeal. ... Fry bread (also called indian fry bread) is a native american treat that consists of bread fried in oil. ... For the song, see Indian Reservation (song) BIA map of reservations in the United States Tribal sovereignty: Map of the United States, with non-reservation land highlighted. ... Succotash (from the Native American Narraganset language, msikwatash) is a food dish consisting primarily of lima beans and corn (maize), possibly including pieces of cured meat. ... Pemmican is a concentrated food consisting of dried pulverized meat, dried berries, and rendered fat. ... For other uses, see Cree (disambiguation). ... Alternate meanings: Cherokee (disambiguation) The Cherokee are a people native to North America who first inhabited what is now the eastern and southeastern United States before most were forcefully moved to the Ozark Plateau. ... Miwok—also spelled Miwuk or Me-Wuk—refers to native Californians who lived in what is now Northern California. ... Smoked salmon is salmon, typically a fillet that has been cured using salt and generally sugar and then hot or cold smoked. ...

Native American cuisine of Mesoamerica

Main articles: Aztec cuisine and Maya cuisine

The pre-conquest cuisine of the Native Americans of Mesoamerica made a major contribution to shaping modern-day Mexican cuisine. The cultures involved included the Aztec, Maya, Olmec, and many more (see the List of pre-Columbian civilizations). The most important staple of Aztec cuisine was maize (corn), a crop that was so important to Aztec society that it played a central part in their mythology. ... Ancient Maya cuisine was varied and extensive. ... The Spanish colonization of the Americas began with the arrival in the Western Hemisphere of Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón) in 1492. ... Native Americans redirects here. ... Location of Mesoamerica in the Americas. ... This topic should not be confused with Tex-Mex, which is often referred to as Mexican food in the U.S. Mexican food is a style of food that originated in Mexico. ... The Aztecs is a term used for certain Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican peoples of Mexico. ... This article is about the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. ... Monument 1, one of the four Olmec colossal heads at La Venta. ... This list of pre-Colombian civilizations includes those civilizations and cultures of the Americas which flourished prior to the European colonization of the Americas. ...

Some known dishes

• Tacos
• Tamales
• Tlacoyos (gordita)
• Pozole
• Mole
• Mezcal
• Tortillas
• Champurrado, a chocolate drink [4]
• Pejelagarto, a fish with an alligator-like head seasoned with the amashito chile and lime [5]
• Pulque
• Chili

barbacoa tacos. ... It has been suggested that nacatamal be merged into this article or section. ... Tlacoyos are oval shaped fried cakes made of masa. ... A well stuffed gordita. ... Pozole (from Spanish pozole, from Nahuatl potzolli; variant spellings: posole, posolé, pozolé, pozolli, posol) is a traditional pre-Columbian soup or stew made from dried lime-treated maize kernels (also called maiz blanco or cacahuazintle), with pork (or other meat), chili, and other seasonings and garnish (lettuce, oregano, cilantro, avocado... Mole (MOH-leh, IPA: /ˈmo. ... A cheap commercial bottle of Mexican Mezcal bought in Cancun. ... Two cooked flour tortillas. ... Champurrado is a chocolate-based atole. ... Pejelagarto is the spanish name for a freshwater fish very common in the Mexican Southeast and particularly in the state of Tabasco. ... Pulque, or octli, is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of the maguey, and is a traditional native beverage of Mesoamerica. ... Chili (also spelled Chilli) may refer to: Chili pepper, the fruit and plant of any one of several hot species of the genus Capsicum Chili con carne or Chili sin carne, a spicy stew-like dish traditionally made with chili peppers and beef Cincinnati style chili Chili powder, a spice...

Native American cuisine of South America

Main article: Inca cuisine

This currently includes recipes known from the Inca and Nazca of Peru. Pachamanca, a traditional dish consisting of food prepared in a huatia. ... For other meanings of Inca, see Inca (disambiguation). ... Late Intermediate Period Cultures The Nazca culture flourished in the Nazca region between 300 BC and 800 AD. They created the famous Nazca lines and built an impressive system of underground aqueducts that still function today. ...

• Grilled guinea pig, a native to most of the Andes region this small rodent has been culivated for at least 4000 years
• Fried green tomatoes, a nightshade relative native to Peru
• Saraiaka or Chicha, a corn liquor [6]
• Quinoa Porridge
• Ch'arki, a type of dried meat
• Humitas, similar to modern-day Tamales, a thick mixture of corn, herbs and onion, cooked in a corn-leaf wrapping. The name is modern, meaning bow-tie, because of the shape in which it's wrapped.

This article is about the species Cavia porcellus. ... This article is about the mountain system in South America. ... Fried green tomatoes are a traditional side dish of the Southern United States, made from unripe (green) tomatoes coated with meal and deep fried. ... Chicha is a Spanish word for any variety of fermented beverage. ... Binomial name Willd. ... ‹ The template below is being considered for deletion. ... Charqui is a form of jerky common in South America made from dried and salted meat, usually from horse, but also beef. ...

Crops and ingredients

Maize, beans and squash were known as the three sisters for their symbiotic relationship when grown together by the North American and Meso-American natives. If the South Americans had similar methods of what is known as companion planting it is lost to us today. This article is about the maize plant. ... For other uses, see Bean (disambiguation). ... Species - hubbard squash, buttercup squash - cushaw squash C. moschata- butternut squash C. pepo- most pumpkins, acorn squash, summer squash References: ITIS 223652002-11-06 Hortus Third Squashes are four species of the genus Cucurbita, also called pumpkins and marrows depending on variety or the nationality of the speaker. ... The Three Sisters are the three main agricultural crops of some Native American groups in North America: squash, maize, and climbing beans (typically tepary beans or common beans). ... Common Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) in their Magnificent Sea Anemone (Heteractis magnifica) home. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Companion planting in gardening and agriculture is planting of different crops in close physical proximity. ...

Non-animal foodstuffs

For other uses, see Acorn (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Synonyms Berberis trifoliolata, Mahonia trifoliata Agarita (Mahonia trifoliolata) is a rounded evergreen shrub in the family Berberidaceae. ... “Amarant” redirects here. ... Species Chlorogalums angustifolium Chlorogalum grandiflorum Chlorogalum parviflorum Chlorogalum pomeridianum Chlorogalum purpureum The Soap Plants, Soaproots or Amoles are the genus Chlorogalum of flowering plants. ... Species Populus adenopoda Populus alba Populus grandidentata Populus sieboldii Populus tremula Populus tremuloides Aspens are trees of the willow family and comprise a section of the poplar genus, Populus sect. ... Binomial name Mill. ... For other uses, see Bean (disambiguation). ... Binomial name (Pursh) Nutt. ... This article is about the fruit. ... For other uses, see Blueberry (disambiguation). ... Binominal name Acer negundo Manitoba Maple (Acer negundo), also known as Ash-leaved Maple or (confusingly) Boxelder, is a species of maple, which occurs throughout most of North America. ... Genera See Taxonomy of the Cactaceae A cactus (plural cacti, cactuses or cactus)SEE REBECCA I WAS RIGHT is any member of the succulent plant family Cactaceae, native to the Americas. ... Binomial name Crantz The cassava, casava, yuca or manioc (Manihot esculenta) is a woody shrub of the Euphorbiaceae (spurge family) native to South America that is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates. ... Species See text. ... Binomial name Agave americana L. The Century Plant or Maguey (Agave americana) is an agave originally from Mexico but cultivated worldwide. ... Mezcal is a Mexican distilled spirit made from the agave plant. ... Oca tubers For the fungal genus, see Truffle. ... This article is about the plant section. ... The chile pepper, chili pepper, or chilli pepper, or simply chile, is the fruit of the plant Capsicum from the nightshade family, Solanaceae. ... Binomial name Capsicum annuum L. For green peppercorns, see Black pepper. ... Binomial name Prunus virginiana The Chokecherry is the name for a species of suckering shrub or small tree, Prunus virginiana. ... Species Cylindropuntia abyssi Cylindropuntia alcahes Cylindropuntia caribaea Cylindropuntia cholla Cylindropuntia fulgida Cylindropuntia kelvinensis Cylindropuntia munzii Cylindropuntia rosea Cylindropuntia versicolor Cylindropuntia whipplei etc. ... Binomial name Lam. ... Species Vaccinium erythrocarpum Vaccinium macrocarpon Vaccinium microcarpum Vaccinium oxycoccus Approximate ranges of the cranberries in sect. ... A currant can refer to Redcurrants and blackcurrants, berries of the genus Ribes. ... Datil pepper (Capsicum chinense v. ... Species See text. ... Species See text Elder or Elderberry (Sambucus) is a genus of between 5-30 species of fast-growing shrubs or small trees (two species herbaceous), formerly treated in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae, but now shown by genetic evidence to be correctly classified in the moschatel family Adoxaceae. ... Binomial name Quercus emoryi Torr. ... Binomial name Ribes uva-crispa L. Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ribes uva-crispa See Cape Gooseberry for a tomato like fruit The Gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa (syn. ... Species About 60-70 species including: Celtis australis - European Hackberry Celtis bungeana Bunges Hackberry Celtis caucasica - Caucasian Hackberry Celtis labilis - Hubei Hackberry Celtis koraiensis - Korean Hackberry Celtis jessoensis - Japanese Hackberry Celtis laevigata - Southern Hackberry Celtis occidentalis - Common hackberry Celtis reticulata - Netleaf hackberry Celtis sinensis - Chinese Hackberry Celtis tenuifolia - Georgia... Species See text Crataegus (Hawthorn) is a large genus of in the family Rosaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia and North America. ... Species See text Comparison of Carya nuts Ripe hickory nuts ready to fall, Andrews, SC Hickory is a tree of the genus Carya, including 17-19 species of deciduous trees with pinnately compound leaves and large nuts. ... Hop umbel (branched floral structure resembling nested-inverted umbrellas) in a Hallertau hop yard Hops are a flower used primarily as a flavouring and stability agent in beer, as well as in herbal medicine. ... Species About 16 species, including: Monarda citriodora Monarda clinopodia Monarda didyma Monarda fistulosa Monarda menthifolia Monarda pectinata Monarda punctata Monarda (Bee Balm, Horsemint or Bergamot) is a genus of about 16 species of annual or perennial plants in the Lamiaceae, native to North America. ... Juniper berries, here still attached to a branch, are actually modified conifer cones. ... Binomial name Chenopodium album L. Fat Hen (Chenopodium album), also called white goosefoot, lambs quarters, lambsquarters, or pigweed, is a fast-growing, upright, weedy annual species of goosefoot, very common in temperate regions, growing almost everywhere in soils rich in nitrogen, especially on wasteland. ... Locust can refer to: In nature: The locust, a swarming grasshopper. ... Binomial name Lepidium meyenii Walp Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a herbaceous biennial plant or annual plant grown at altitudes from approximately 12,500-14,500 feet in the Andes in Peru. ... This article is about the maize plant. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Species Many; see text. ... MiNT (MiNT is Now TOS) is an alternative operating system (OS) kernel for the Atari ST computer and its successors which is free software. ... Species Morus alba - White Mulberry Morus australis - Chinese Mulberry Morus indica - Indian Mulberry Morus microphylla - Texas Mulberry Morus nigra - Black Mulberry Morus rubra - Red Mulberry Morus serrata - Himalayan Mulberry For other meanings, see Mulberry (disambiguation). ... For the parody newspaper, see The Onion. ... Palmetto may refer to the following: Two closely related genera of palms: the genus Sabal, containing species such the Dwarf Palmetto and the Sabal palmetto the Saw Palmetto Amtraks Palmetto passenger train. ... Binomial name L. This article is about the legume. ... Binomial name Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh. ... Binomial name (L.) Pers. ... pigweed can mean any of a number of weedy plants which may be used as pig fodder: Amaranthus species Chenopodium species Portulaca species Category: ... For other uses, see Pine (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Pinus monticola Douglas ex D. Don Western White Pine (Pinus monticola; family Pinaceae) is a species of pine that occurs in the mountains of the western United States and Canada, specifically the Sierra Nevada, the Cascade Range, the Coast Range, and the northern Rocky Mountains. ... Pine nuts are the edible seeds of pine trees (family Pinaceae, genus Pinus). ... For other uses, see Pineapple (disambiguation). ... Species Section Cembroides     Pinus cembroides     Pinus orizabensis     Pinus johannis     Pinus culminicola     Pinus remota     Pinus edulis     Pinus monophylla     Pinus quadrifolia Section Rzedowskiae     Pinus rzedowskii     Pinus pinceana     Pinus maximartinezii Section Nelsoniae     Pinus nelsonii The pinyon pines (or piñon pines), are a group of pines, which grow in the southwestern United States... For other uses, see Potato (disambiguation). ... Species Many, see text Opuntia is a genus in the cactus family Cactaceae. ... Binomial name Pursh. ... For the film, see Pumpkin (film). ... Binomial name Portulaca oleracea L. Purslane, also known as Little Hogweed or Pusley, is an annual succulent in the Portulacaceae family. ... Binomial name Willd. ... Binomial name Allium tricoccum Wild leeks (Allium tricoccum), also known as ramps are a member of the onion family (Alliaceae). ... Raspberries has multiple meanings: For the tart fruit of the plant Rubus idaeus, see Raspberry. ... For other uses, see Rice (disambiguation). ... Look up sage in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Binomial name Carnegiea gigantea Britton & Rose Synonyms Cereus giganteus Engelm. ... Binomial name Prosopis pubescens (Screwbean Mesquite), is a small tree or shrub found in the southwestern United States (Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California) and Mexico. ... Genera See text The family Cyperaceae, or the Sedge family, is a taxon of monocot flowering plants that superficially resemble grasses or rushes. ... Binomial name Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. ... Sotol is a distilled spirit made from the Dasylirion wheeleri (commonly known as Desert Spoon or, is Spanish, sotol), a plant that grows in the wilds of Northern Mexico and West Texas. ... Binomial name (Torr. ... Species - hubbard squash, buttercup squash - cushaw squash C. moschata- butternut squash C. pepo- most pumpkins, acorn squash, summer squash References: ITIS 223652002-11-06 Hortus Third Squashes are four species of the genus Cucurbita, also called pumpkins and marrows depending on variety or the nationality of the speaker. ... Strawberries Promo Strawberries is an album by The Damned released October 1982 on Bronze Records (catalogue #BRON 542). ... Species About 250 species; see text Rhus is a genus approximately 250 species of woody shrubs and small trees in the family Anacardiaceae. ... For other uses, see Sunflower (disambiguation). ... Binomial name L. Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. ... Shredded tobacco leaf for pipe smoking Tobacco can also be pressed into plugs and sliced into flakes Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the fresh leaves of plants in genus Nicotiana. ... For other uses, see Tomato (disambiguation). ... Species See text A Persimmon is any of a number of species of trees of the genus Diospyros, and the edible fruit borne by them. ... Binomial name Schoenoplectus acutus (Muhl. ... A rootstock is a plant, and sometimes just the stump, which already has an established, healthy root system, used for grafting a cutting or budding from another plant. ... Species About 100-130 species; see text Salsola (Saltwort*, Tumbleweed or Russian thistle) is a genus of herbs, subshrubs, shrubs and small trees in the family Amaranthaceae, native to Africa, Asia, and Europe. ... Vanilla pods Vanilla is a flavouring derived from orchids in the genus Vanilla native to Mexico. ... Binomial name Vicia sativa Vetch or tare is a nitrogen fixing leguminous plant. ... Evening Primrose was a television musical written in 1966 by Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman for ABC Televisions Stage 67. ... Binomial name Vallisneria americana Michx. ... A cherry is both a tree and its fleshy fruit, a type known as a drupe with a single hard pit enclosing the seed. ... Wild grape may refer to: Vitis species; specially Vitis vinifera subsp. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Binomial name L. Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. ... Wild Rose is the name given to certain flowering shrubs of the genus Rosa, including the following: Rosa acicularis, or Wild Rose, a rose species which occurs in Asia, Europe, and North America Rosa arkansana, or Wild Prairie Rose, a rose species native to a large area of central North... Species See text Oxalis is the largest genus in the wood sorrel family Oxalidaceae. ... Species many, see text Yucca filamentosa in New Zealand Yucca decipiens in Zacatecas, Mexico Joshua Trees growing in the Mojave Desert. ...

Hunted or livestock

• Antelope
• Badger
• Bear
• Beaver
• Bighorn sheep
• Bison - Originally found throughout most of North America
• Burro
• Cattle - important European import
• Chipmunk
• Deer
• Dove
• Duck
• Elk
• Geese
• Ground hog
• Grouse
• Guanaco - Hunted in South America by hunter-gatherer societies, for ex. in Patagonia until the 19th century.
• Guinea pig - Domesticated in the Andes
• Hog - important European import
• Horse - Although imported by Europeans, the horse was still very important to Native American cultures throughout the Americas (although famously on the North American Plains) in the historic era
• Llama - Domesticated in the Andes
• Moose
• Mountain lion
• Mourning dove
• Mule
• Opossum
• Otter
• Passenger Pigeon - extinct
• Peccaries
• Porcupine
• Prairie dog
• Pronghorns (antelope)
• Quail
• Rabbit
• Sheep - important European import
• Skunk
• Sloth
• Squirrel
• Turkey
• Turtle
• Wood rat
• Woolly mammoth - extinct

Genera Aepyceros Alcelaphus Antidorcas Antilope Cephalophus Connochaetes Damaliscus Gazella Hippotragus Kobus Madoqua Neotragus Oreotragus Oryx Ourebia Pantholops Procapra Sylvicapra Taurotragus Tragelaphus and others Antelope are herbivorous mammals of the family Bovidae, often noted for their horns. ... Genera  Arctonyx  Melogale  Meles  Mellivora  Taxidea For other uses, see Badger (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Species C. canadensis C. fiber Beavers are semi-aquatic rodents native to North America and Europe. ... Binomial name Shaw, 1804 Synonyms Desmarest Cuvier[1] Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis)[2] is one of three species of mountain sheep in North America and Siberia; the other two species being Ovis dalli, that includes Dall Sheep and Stones Sheep, and the Siberian Snow sheep Ovis nivicola. ... Species †B. antiquus B. bison B. bonasus †B. latifrons †B. occidentalis †B. priscus Bison (sometimes referred to as the Prairie Cow) is a taxonomic group containing six species of large even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. ... Binomial name Equus asinus Linnaeus, 1758 The donkey, a. ... For general information about the genus, including other species of cattle, see Bos. ... Species 25 species Bjetushka is the common name for any small squirrel-like rodent species of the genus Tamias in the family Sciuridae. ... This article is about the ruminant animal. ... Subfamilies see article text Feral Rock Pigeon beside Weiming Lake, Peking University Dove redirects here. ... Subfamilies Dendrocygninae Oxyurinae Anatinae Aythyinae Merginae Duck is the common name for a number of species in the Anatidae family of birds. ... For other uses, see Elk (disambiguation). ... Other uses: Goose (disambiguation) Genera Anser Branta Chen Cereopsis † see also: Swan, Duck Anatidae Goose (plural geese) is the general English name for a considerable number of birds, belonging to the family Anatidae. ... This article is about the mammal. ... Genera Tetrao Lagopus Falcipennis Centrocercus Bonasa Dendrapagus Tympanuchus Grouse are from the order Galliformes which inhabit temperate and subarctic regions of the northern hemisphere. ... Binomial name Lama guanicoe (Müller, 1776) The guanaco (Lama guanicoe) is an elegant, fine-boned camelid animal that stands approximately 1. ... This article is about the species Cavia porcellus. ... Hog is a domestic or feral adult swine. ... Binomial name Equus caballus Linnaeus, 1758 The horse (Equus caballus, sometimes seen as a subspecies of the Wild Horse, Equus ferus caballus) is a large odd-toed ungulate mammal, one of ten modern species of the genus Equus. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) The llama (Lama glama) is a South American camelid, widely used as a pack animal by the Incas[1] and other natives of the Andes mountains. ... For other uses, see Moose (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Puma concolor (Linnaeus, 1771) The puma (Puma concolor) is a type of large cat found in North, Central and South America. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) Winter only (blue), summer only (light green), and year-round (dark green) range Subspecies See text The Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) is a member of the dove family Columbidae. ... A barren of mules. ... This article or section should be merged with Virginia_opossum The word opossum (usually pronounced without the leading O, or with only a very slight schwa) refers either to the Virginia Opossum in particular, or more generally to any of the other marsupials of magnorder Ameridelphia. ... This article is about the carnivorous mammal. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1766) The Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) or Wild Pigeon was a species of pigeon that was once the most common bird in North America. ... Species Dicotyles tajacu Tyassu pecari Catagonus wagneri A peccary (also known by its Spanish name, Javelina) is a medium-sized mammal of the family Tayassuidae. ... Genera Family Erethizontidae Coendou Sphiggurus Erethizon Echinoprocta Chaetomys Family Hystricidae Atherurus Hystrix Thecurus Trichys This article is about the rodent mammal. ... Species Cynomys gunnisoni Cynomys leucurus Cynomys ludovicianus Cynomys mexicanus Cynomys parvidens The prairie dog (Cynomys) is a small, burrowing rodent native to the grasslands of North America. ... Binomial name Antilocapra americana Ord, 1815 Subspecies The Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) is the only surviving member of the family Antilocapridae, and the fastest mammal in North America running at speeds of 58 mph (90 km/h). ... Genera Coturnix Anurophasis Perdicula Ophrysia † See also Pheasant, Partridge, Grouse Quail is a collective name for several genera of mid-sized birds in the pheasant family Phasianidae, or in the family Odontophoridae. ... Genera Pentalagus Bunolagus Nesolagus Romerolagus Brachylagus Sylvilagus Oryctolagus Poelagus Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world. ... Species See text. ... Genera Conepatus Mydaus Mephitis Spilogale Skunks are mammals, usually with black-and-white fur, that are best known for their ability to excrete a strong foul smelling odor. ... Families Megalonychidae Bradypodidae †Rathymotheriidae †Scelidotheriidae †Mylodontidae †Orophodontidae †Megatheriidae Sloths are medium-sized mammals that live in Central and South America belonging to the families Megalonychidae and Bradypodidae, part of the order Pilosa. ... This article is about the animal. ... For other uses, see Turtle (disambiguation). ... Species See text. ... Binomial name Blumenbach, 1799 For the rock band, see Wooly Mammoth (band). ...

Miscellaneous section

History of Salsa

The word salsa is the Spanish word for sauce. The salsas many of us think of are salsa frescas or salsa cruda, fresh sauces served as a condiment aside a Mexican meal. These uncooked sauces might be pureed until smooth, semi-chunky, or the uniformly chopped pico de gallo.

The Chile - Tomato Combo The making of a sauce by combining chiles, tomatoes and other ingredients like squash seeds and even beans has been documented back to the Aztec culture.

We have Spanish-born Bernadino de Sahagun to thank for the detailed culinary history of the Aztec culture. His extensive writings documented every food common to the culture. This is an excerpt from Sahagun's writings about the food vendors in the large Aztec markets: "He sells foods, sauces, hot sauces, fried [food], olla-cooked, juices, sauces of juices, shredded [food] with chile, with squash seeds, with tomatoes, with smoke chile, with hot chile, with yellow chile, with mild red chile sauce, yellow chile sauce, sauce of smoked chile, heated sauce, he sells toasted beans, cooked beans, mushroom sauce, sauce of small squash, sauce of large tomatoes, sauce of ordinary tomatoes, sauce of various kinds of sour herbs, avocado sauce".

Ingredients Then and Now

The paragraph above refers to many of the ingredients in our modern-day salsas.

Large tomatoes - We believe this references is to a large red tomato similar to what we eat to day.

Ordinary tomatoes - most likely this reference is to the tomatillo or tomate verde.

Smoked chiles - The chipotle or smoked jalapeno was a staple in the Aztec diet.

Avocado - cultivated by the Aztecs the avocado was an important source of fat and protein and was used in a sauce similar to what we call guacamole.

Mexican cuisine

Mexican food is a style of food that originated in Mexico with a good measure of Spanish influence. It also contains the influence of the French cuisine that dates to the colonial times as well as Italian influence in the form of various cheeses.

Mexican cuisine is known for its intense and varied flavors, colorful decoration, and the variety of spices that it has. Mexican gastronomy, in terms of diversity of appealing tastes and textures, is one of the richest in the world in proteins, vitamins, and minerals, though some people characterize it as excessively spicy.

When Spanish conquistadores arrived in the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan (on the ruins of which Mexico City was built), they found that the common people's diet consisted largely of corn-based dishes with chilis and herbs, usually complemented with beans and squash. Later on, the conquistadores added to their original diet of rice, beef, pork, chicken, wine, garlic, and onions that they brought with them from Spain to the indigenous foods of pre-Columbian Mexico (including chocolate, maize, tomato, vanilla, avocado, papaya, pineapple, chile pepper, beans, squash, sweet potato, peanut and turkey). The totopo (cooked in a fire oven corn tortilla) may have been created as part of this cuisine.

Most of today's Mexican cuisine is based on pre-hispanic traditions, including the Aztecs and Maya, combined with culinary trends introduced by Spanish colonists. Quesadillas, for example, are a flour or corn tortilla with cheese (often a Mexican-style Mozzarella called quezo casero or Oaxaca), beef, chicken, pork, and so on. The indigenous part of this and many other traditional foods is the chile pepper and the corn. Foods like these tend to be very colorful because of the rich variety of vegetables (among them are the tomotatoes, chili peppers, green peppers, chiles, broccoli, cauliflower, avocadoes and radishes) and meats in Mexican food. There is also a sprinkling of Caribbean influence in Mexican cuisine, particularly in some regional dishes from the states of Veracruz and Yucatan. The French occupation of Mexico also yielded some influences as well: the bolillo (pronounced bo-lee-yo, with the "o" as in "bore"), a Mexican take on the French roll, certainly seems to reflect this.

Mexican food varies by region, because of local climate and geography and ethnic differences among the people and because these different populations were influenced by the Spaniards and other settlers in varying degrees. The north of Mexico is known for its beef production and meat dishes; southeastern Mexico, on the other hand, is known for its spicy vegetable and chicken-based dishes. Veracruz-style is a common method of preparing seafood.

There are also more exotic dishes, cooked in the Aztec or Maya style, with ingredients ranging from iguana to rattlesnake, deer, spider monkey, and even some kinds of insects. This is usually known as comida prehispanica (or prehispanic food), and although not very common, is relatively well known.

A distinction must be made between truly authentic Mexican food, and the Cal-Mex (Californian-Mexican) and "Tex Mex" (Texan-Mexican) cuisine. Mexican cuisine combines with the cuisine of the southwest United States (which itself has a number of Mexican influences) to form Cal-Mex and Tex-Mex cuisine. Another style of cuisine that is commonly mistaken for Mexican food is New Mexican cuisine, which can be found in, of course, New Mexico, USA.

Hispanic Cuisine

There is also no single Hispanic cuisine. Traditional Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Spanish, Argentine, and Peruvian cooking, for example, all vary greatly from each other with varying African, Native American and other European inflences combining with the common Spanish elements. While Mexican cuisine is the most familiar variety of "Hispanic food" in most of the United States, it is not representative of the cuisine of most other Hispanic countries.

In some regions, the cuisine of Mexico can be heavily dependent on staples such as maize, beans, chile peppers and is greatly indebted to the cuisine and diet of the Aztec and Maya. In other regions the cuisine resembles that of other Hispanic countries like Cuba and Puerto Rico. On the other hand, may be dependent on starchy root vegetables, plantain and rice and is influenced by the flavors of Spain, Africa and China. The cuisine of Spain often mirrors the cuisines of its Mediterranean neighbors, and in addition to the abundance of olives, olive oil, tomatoes, seafood and meats, other foreign influences, such as the use of saffron, were introduced during the spice trade. Meanwhile, Argentina relies almost exclusively on red meats, consuming almost everything derived from beef, and is heavily influenced by Italian cuisine. In Peruvian cuisine guinea pigs are popular as a source of meat (derived from the diet of the Inca) and staples indigenous to the region, such as maize and the myriad of potato varieties, are the most utilized there. Rice also plays an important role in Peruvian cuisine.

This diversity in staples and cuisine is also evident in the differing regional cuisines within the national borders of the individual countries. Most groceries in heavily Hispanic areas carry a wide array of specialty Latin American products, in addition to the widely available brands of tortillas and Mexican style salsa.

External links

• Traditional Chiricahua recipes
• Canadian Wild Foods

Bibliography

Niethammer, Carolyn. American Indian Food and Lore. New York: A Simon & Schuster Macmillan Company, 1974. ISBN 0-02-010000-0