School is back in session and today I am sharing three dorm friendly recipes that incorporate indigenous ingredients. I recently partnered with the Southwestern Colorado Area Health Education Center (SWCAHEC) to lead a couple of classes for incoming freshman at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. It was so much fun sharing these 3 dorm friendly Indigenous recipes with these student, I wanted to share with all of you too!
Just a few things about these recipes…
These recipes super SIMPLE and EASY so they can be made in a dorm, which means they require very little equipment and ingredients. All of the recipes incorporate traditional Indigenous ingredients like roasted cornmeal (blue, white, and yellow), juniper ash, and ground sumac berries. The only equipment you’ll need is a mini waffle maker, personal blender, and a microwave!! These recipes are all modern twists to traditional Navajo recipes I grew up eating like Blue Corn Oatmeal, Cornmeal Waffles, and a Sumac Berry Smoothie.
They are all super yummy and I encourage you to change up the recipes using whatever Indigenous ingredients are found in your area.
It’s been quite a while since I was a student. But I remember missing traditional native foods while being away at college at Marquette University. At the time, most Indigenous ingredients were only found at local markets where I grew up and most of the native foods I had were only made by my mom or grandma. I had to learn to make these recipes as I got older. It wasn’t until after graduating college, I realized I could stock up on these Indigenous ingredients and bring them to wherever I was living. However these days, there are many Native owned shops that have Indigenous ingredients that can be shipped right to your door. It’s really amazing how the times have changed.
If you or you know someone who is heading off to college then please share these recipes. Or if you are looking for quick and easy recipes then these are a must try!! Wishing you all wonderful new school year!!
Microwavable Blue Corn Oatmeal
Yield: 1 bowl
Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 cup roated blue cornmeal
- 1/4 teaspoon juniper ash
- 3/4 cup water
- optional: honey or brown sugar
Directions:
- In a medium sized microwave safe bowl, add in the rolled oats, cornmeal, and juniper ash. Mix together with a spoon until thoroughly combined.
- Add in the water and mix together.
- Microwave on high for 1 minute and then carefully stir. *bowl may be hot*
- Microwave for 1 minute and let sit for 2 minutes. Then carefully mix together.
- Remove from microwave and stir.
- Eat alone or top with honey or brown sugar.
Sumac Berry Smoothie
Yield: 1 serving
Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
- 1 whole banana
- 1 cup oatmilk
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon ground sumac berry
- optional: protein powder or 1/2 cup greek yogurt
Directions:
- Slice strawberries into halves and add to the blender.
- Add in banana, oat milk, and ground sumac berries.
- Blend for 3 to 4 minutes or until blended smoothly.
- Pour into a cup and enjoy!
Cornmeal Waffles
Yield: 3 mini waffles or 1 large waffle
Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup dry waffle mix
- 1/4 cup roasted cornmeal (blue, white, or yellow)
- 1/2 cup water
- non-stick cooking spray
- optional: honey or maple syrup
Directions
- Preheat waffle maker.
- In a small bowl add in the waffle mix and cornmeal and mix together.
- Then add in the water and mix together.
- Spray waffle maker with non stick spray.
- For mini waffles add in 1/4 cup of the batter. For a large waffle add in 1/2 cup of the batter.
- Cook according to waffle maker directions.
- Carefully remove the waffle from the waffle maker and enjoy with honey or maple syrup.
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