A well-stocked pantry makes weeknight cooking a little easier. While most kitchens already have basics like flour, spices and cooking oil, adding a few Indigenous ingredients can introduce new flavors and plenty of versatility. Here are five pantry staples that deserve a spot on your shelf.
Wild rice
Wild rice is one of the most versatile ingredients you can keep on hand. It works well in soups, grain bowls, casseroles, salads and stuffing, and it can even be served as a simple side dish with roasted vegetables or grilled meat.
Our traditional wild rice is packed by SweetGrass Trading Company and sourced directly from the heart of Minnesota’s wild rice country. It is hand-harvested and processed by members of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, preserving a harvesting tradition that continues today.
If you’re interested in learning more, be sure to read our blog about the differences between cultivated and wild rice, as well as the traditions behind wild rice harvesting.
Maple syrup
Maple syrup is often associated with pancakes, but it has plenty of uses beyond the breakfast table. Try whisking it into a homemade salad dressing, brushing it onto roasted vegetables or adding a splash to marinades for chicken, salmon or pork.
Products like Passamaquoddy Maple syrup bring rich flavor to both sweet and savory recipes, making it one of the most useful ingredients to have on hand.
Honey
Honey has been a pantry favorite for generations because it can be used in so many different ways. Stir it into tea, drizzle it over yogurt or oatmeal, mix it into vinaigrettes or use it as a natural sweetener in baked goods.
Raw honey from producers like Ioway Bee Farm is an easy way to add a touch of sweetness while supporting Native-owned businesses.
Tepary beans
Tepary beans have been cultivated by Indigenous communities in the Southwest for centuries. Their firm texture makes them a great choice for soups, chili, salads and grain bowls, and they hold their shape well during cooking.
Ramona Farms offers several varieties of Tepary beans that are easy to keep in the pantry until you’re ready to use them. Cooking a large batch at the beginning of the week also makes meal prep much easier.
Olive oil
A good bottle of olive oil is one of the hardest-working ingredients in any kitchen. Use it for roasting vegetables, sautéing, making homemade dressings or simply drizzling over finished dishes. Extra virgin olive oil from Seka Hills is made with 100 percent natural, unrefined and unfiltered California olives. Its fresh flavor makes it a pantry staple you’ll reach for again and again.
Keeping a handful of quality ingredients on hand makes it easier to put together simple meals without a trip to the grocery store. These Indigenous pantry staples are versatile enough for everyday cooking and offer plenty of opportunities to try new flavors while supporting Native-owned businesses and Tribal enterprises.