Native American Buffalo Plate Recipes

BISON POT ROAST WITH HOMINY

Steps:

• Add the hominy to a large bowl and cover with 3 inches of water. Let soak overnight at room temperature. Drain, discarding the soaking liquid.
• Heat the oven to 250 degrees. Season the bison generously on all sides with 2 tablespoons salt. Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high. Add the bison and sear it until browned on all sides, rotating the meat when it releases easily from the pot, about 15 minutes total. Transfer the meat to a plate, then add the drained hominy, stock, sage sprigs, cedar or juniper, and agave to the pot.
• Bring to a simmer over high heat, scraping the bottom of the pot. Return the meat to the pot, cover, transfer to the oven and bake until the meat is very tender, 3 to 3 1/2 hours, turning over the bison about halfway through. Remove and discard the sage sprigs and cedar, if using. (If using juniper berries, you can discard them, but it's not necessary: They add surprising flavor and texture when eaten with the meat.) Stir in the greens until wilted. Season the liquid with more salt to taste.
• Slice the meat into 1-inch-thick slabs and divide among shallow bowls. Spoon some of the sauce, hominy and greens over the slices, and garnish with whole or torn sage leaves.

NATIVE AMERICAN FIREWATER CHILI

Steps:

• Heat a large pot on medium-high heat. Add 1/4 cup of olive oil and 1/2 of meat. Brown on all sides remove or push to side, then add remaining meat. Add next 6 ingredients. Stir. Mix seasonings in, and cook for 2-3 minutes.
• Add Firewater and cover. Cook for 1 and 1/2 hours on medium-low heat till meat is tender, stirring occasionally.
• I recommend for thicker Chili add a slurry of masa harina (2 tablespoons of masa harina mixed with 1/4 cold water, or 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 1/4 cold water), and turn heat up, cook and stir till chili is thickened - a few minutes.