| I'm doing some research for a pre-Columbian dinner (details to come shortly) and while I knew that a lot of our indigenous food was a real gift to the world, it's almost staggering seeing it in a list like this. It's not complete (I left off a lot of the hard-to-find exotic fruits and edible weeds) but it's impressive!
LIST OF AMERICAN FOOD PLANTS
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| Agave Cacao Sarsaparilla Sassafras Corn Quinoa Squash Sunflower Wild rice Avocado Gooseberry Blackberry Sapote Blueberry Cacti (nopales and tunas) Cashew Cranberry Elderberry Grapes (particular species are native to N. America) |
Potatoes |
Can you imagine an Indian curry without a chile? Italian food without tomatoes?
I would have bet that persimmons and purslane were Asian. Do you know? I've seen purslane listed as both Asian and as Mayan.
Images: The top illustration is from Mexico: A Study of Two Americas by Stuart Chase and the photo is a detail from a mural in the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City, both by Diego Rivera.
You missed potato!
Steve, have you seen this?
http://www.metaefficient.com/food-and-drink/heirloom-beans-efficient-flavor.html#more-673
You are right Rachael. But blame me, not the book!
Thanks David. That’s a nice link. At least three of the photos are from ranchogordo.com, but that’s ok as long as they link to us.
See this link. It’s about Native American food, diabetes reduction and more; from the “Santa Fe New Mexican”. Definately read this. (Tepary beans,Tuna and more). The’old’ways are’new’again…..
~Robert H.~
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Food/Author-to-host-Native-foods-talk
Traditional Tohono O’odham Food System: http://www.tocaonline.org/Oodham_Foods/Oodham_Foods.html
~Robert H.