Ten Recipes that use only Native Foods

In the modern world, there are thousands of different plants that have traveled all over the world to be grown, sold, and eaten. When a new place was discovered, colonizers would bring some of their own foods to make it feel like home. Some of the most well-known foods in a region probably did not come from there, for example, tomatoes did not grow in Italy. This movement of food has created some delightful recipes, but it is harming our planet. It releases tons on carbon dioxide into the air when food is shipped, and forests and meadows are destroyed to make room for farmland. There is a way to fight against this climate killer though, and that’s by eating more native foods. There are plenty of delicious foods that originated in the United States before the new world was discovered. This is not limited to America; many countries have plenty of native foods.

Here is a list of ten recipes that use foods native to the united states:

1. Healthy Cranberry Sauce

Cranberries are a native food to the United States, and most are grown in Wisconsin. This healthy cranberry sauce is a perfect side at Thanksgiving, without all of the added sugar from the canned version. Cranberries contain lots of vitamins and antioxidants.

2. Vegetarian Succotash

This recipe uses corn and beans, which are both native to the United States. Succotash is traditionally a Native American dish, the name coming from sohquttahhash, meaning “broken corn kernels.” This is a great side dish during the summer, when sweet corn is fresh. You can also use frozen corn kernels and make it in the winter. Either way, it will still taste amazing. The beans and corn contain plenty of fiber to improve your gut health.

3. Healthy Pecan Pie

Pecans are a native nut to the United States. This is a great pie to make for a holiday, without any refined sugars. It’s also a great way to get heart healthy fats into your diet from the pecans.

4. Salmon & Wild Rice Soup

Both Salmon and Wild Rice are native to the United States, especially the great lakes region. Lots of wild rice in grown in Wisconsin and Minnesota, but it is becoming hard to get, making the price quite high. However, if it is possible, making a dish with wild rice can significantly improve your health, because it contains lots of antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The salmon also contains heart healthy fats.

5. Healthy Blueberry Muffins

Blueberries are native to the United States. They were commonly eaten fresh by Native Americans in summer, then dried to be eaten in winter. Blueberries are an excellent source of antioxidants, fiber, and vitamin C, making them a healthy choice in these muffins.

6. Jerusalem Artichoke Stew

Jerusalem Artichokes are a native vegetable to the United States. They are a tuber just like potatoes, growing under the ground. They are a good source of vitamins and minerals. They are great cooked into a stew, which can be served at holiday meals or just as dinner.

7. Zucchini Noodles

Squashes are native to the United States, and Zucchini is one of them. These are a great noodle replacement for people who are trying to eat less carbs or improve their health. Zucchini contains lots of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

8. Vegetarian Gumbo

Sassafras is native to the United States. In gumbo filé powder, sassafras is the main ingredient. This healthy gumbo uses lots of beans and veggies, which fill you up quickly with fiber and complex carbs. They also give you plenty of minerals.

9. Air Fryer Walleye

Walleye are a freshwater fish native to lakes and rivers in the United States. In the right places, these can be caught right off of a dock! They are an excellent source of lean protein.

10. American Persimmon Pie with a Chestnut Flour crust & Maple whipped cream.

Persimmons are native to the United States, as long as you use the American variety, and so are Maple trees. This recipe combines both maple syrup and American persimmons to make a decadent desert fit for a family gathering. Persimmons contain plenty of antioxidants, vitamin C, and Vitamin A. Maple syrup contains minerals and antioxidants. Pie can be quite healthy after all.