What Is Cherokee Food?

Author: * SkyEyes Sequoyah - 1 Post on this thread out of 560 Posts sitewide.
Date: Aug 20, 2007 - 10:45

Kituwah means the land where food is plentiful. The abundant water and the gentle climate of Kituwah territory create ideal growing conditions for a variety of cultivated and wild vegetables, fruits and nuts. The forests in pre Columbian days abounded with game and the Tsalagi were great hunters. The streams and rivers provided fish and shell fish in abundance.

The staple diet of The Tsalagi year round was what is called, "The Three Sisters." These include corn, beans and squash. Any recipe with any or all of these is appropriate to this cookbook. The main meat was venison and rabbit and although there were no chickens, ducks and their eggs were used. The Tsalagi were fishermen as well and made use of the abundance of the many waterways throughout the territory. Wild fruits were used and The Tsalagi kept orchards of apples, Paw Paw, plums, and native persimmons.

Chocolate, tomatoes, and potatoes existed far to the south and did not come to Kituwah until after The Europeans.

We are not attempting here to historically re create ancient recipes, but rather, to use foods available to The Tsalagi in a more modern way which can be reproduced in todays kitchen with readily available ingredients. If the main ingredients are among those used by The Tsalagi, other, more contemporary things such as butter and milk and sugar, can be included to make the dish. acceptable to modern tastes.

If you have a question as to the appropriateness of a main ingredient, just post a question on this thread and it will be answered the same day. Anything goes here as long as the main ingredient was available to The Tsalagi People of Kituwah Territory.