Corn recipes

Fry Bread (in Ojibwe: Zahsakokwahn)

Frybread is a staple food of Pow Wows and a symbol of intertribal Indian unity.
Taste differs depending on how it's kneaded and what kind of oil is used.

4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
4 cups shortening for frying

• Combine flour, salt, and baking powder. Stir in 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water.

• Knead until soft but not sticky. Shape dough into balls about 3 inches in diameter.

• Flatten into patties 1/2 inch thick, and make a small hole in the center of each patty.

• Fry one at a time in 1 inch of hot shortening, turning to brown on both sides.

• Drain on paper towels.

Fry bread is very versatile and tastes great sprinkled with cinnamon/sugar, or with maple syrup, honey or jam.

Hominy

A traditional Northern Ojibwe sun-dried corn recipe from Ona Kingbired ( Red Lake)
who lets us in on a secret: "The multicolored kernels have the most flavor."

• Put 2 double-handfuls of ash from oak, maple or poplar wood fires into about 2-3 quarts of water.

• Boil for 1 hour and let it set all night to settle the ash out.

• In the morning, boil dried corn in this water, strained if necessary, until the skins slip off and the
  corn turns bright yellow (1-2 hours).

• Rinse 3 times in fresh water. This fresh hominy can now be used immediately in soups and stews.

The dried corn will absorb 3-4 times its volume of water.

Hominy can also be dried for storage and cooked again (it swells up about 4 times and absorbs
at least 4 times its quantity of water).

Maple Popcorn Balls

an old Algonquian treat ~
the original Cracker Jack

1/4 cup popping corn
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 cup maple syrup
1 1/2 teaspoons butter

• Pop corn according to package directions. Season with salt, if desired.
  
• Heat syrup and butter in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until temperature reaches 250 degrees F on a candy thermometer or until a few drops form soft balls when dropped in cold water.
  
• Remove pan from heat and pour mixture over popcorn.
  
• When mixture is cool enough, toss popcorn with syrup and mold into balls, and cool on a buttered baking sheet.
  
• Store cooled popcorn balls in an airtight container.

Makes about 8.

Maple Recipes

Ojibwe Breakfast

Wild rice
Maple Syrup or Maple Sugar
Raisins, blueberries or raspberries
Milk (optional)

• Cook the rice until it is soft and the kernals break open.
  
• Flavour with fruit, maple syrup or maple sugar and, if so desired, add milk.
  
• Note: If you would like to eat it cold, cook the rice the night before.

Wax on Snow

Heat maple syrup to almost a boil and pour over a basket of fresh, clean snow.
Allow to cool. Roll on a fork and enjoy!

Maple-Glazed Butternut Squash

1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, quartered, cut into half-inch slices
4 tbsp. maple syrup
¼ tsp. ground mace
4 tbsp. dark rum
2/3 cup water

• Place all ingredients in a large saucepan.
  
  Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes, or until the squash is tender.
  
• Reserving the cooking liquid, transfer the squash with a slotted spoon to a heated serving dish.
  
• Boil the cooking liquid until it is thickened, then pour it over the squash.

Serves 4

Maple Mustard Salmon

Salmon fillets for four
2/3 cup melted butter
½ tbsp. dried dill
½ cup maple syrup
¼ cup Dijon style mustard

• Blend ingredients over low heat until melted together.
  
  Grill or broil salmon, basting and turning until flaky and done.

Maple Apple Pie

5 cups sliced apples
½ cup sugar
2 tbsp. flour
½ tsp. cinnamon
dash of salt and nutmeg
¼ cup maple syrup
½ cup sour cream
pastry for double crust 9" pie

• Combine dry ingredients and sprinkle 2 tbsp. of it over bottom of piecrust.
  
• Add the rest to apples, along with maple and sour cream and stir. Turn into pie and cover with lattice top.
  
• Bake at 4250 for 15 minutes, then bake at 3250 for 45 minutes longer or until nicely browned.
  
• Remove from oven and cool.

For more delicious North American recipes

Great Northern recipe links:

Cookin' With The Three Sisters

Nativetech

Fun Ojibway popcorn recipes for the family

Primitive Way of Cooking Foods

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