Spirit of the Harvest: North American Indian Cooking [Hardcover]

Beverly Cox (Author), Martin Jacobs (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1991

The reissued James Beard and IACP award winner Spirit of the Harvest brings authentic Native American recipes into the modern home kitchen. This carefully researched cookbook presents 150 recipes from across the United States, incorporating many indigenous ingredients and traditional dishes from the Cherokee, Chippewa, Navajo, Sioux, Mohegan, Iroquois, Comanche, Hopi, and many other North American tribes. Each chapter is introduced by an expert on the region and discusses the cultures of major tribal groups, their diets, their ceremonial use of food, and the historic dishes they developed. Spirit of the Harvest celebrates the many cooking traditions that have stood the test of time and are still very much alive today.

Praise for Spirit of the Harvest:

“Those readers who are unfamiliar with the amazing natural bounty of food that this country provides . . . are in for a real surprise.”
 —Spirituality and Health

“Most of us have scant knowledge about what might be called the original American cuisine. Beverly Cox and Martin Jacobs offer the book to right that wrong.”
 —Today’s Diet and Nutrition

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This handsome volume provides an impressive record of the tribal cooking of the North American Indians. The recipes, organized by region, have been adapted for contemporary kitchens but are as authentic as possible, emphasizing native ingredients over those introduced by the Europeans. The dishes themselves are generally simple, but varied and even exotic--Smoked Salmon Soup, Maple-Basted Broiled Bluefish, Cranberry Fritters. Cox's recipe headnotes are eminently readable mini-histories, filled with information on the various tribes, their histories, and their customs. Jacobs's color photographs of the food feature Indian artifacts, and the page borders and line drawings scattered throughout reproduce tribal motifs and designs. One of the few recent books on the subject, this is a unique work; highly recommended.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Beverly Cox is the author of several award-winning cookbooks, including Eating Cuban. She lives on her family’s homestead in Colorado.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Stewart Tabori & Chang; First Edition edition (September 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556701861
• ISBN-13: 978-1556701863
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.9 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #86,566 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Regional & International > Native American

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great marriage of Native American history and recipes. December 2, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

The explanations of the ceremonies when certain dishes were prepared and eaten gave insights into how Native Americans lived and celebrated life. I was surprised how much history was involved in the dishes I grew up eating and had assumed were of early American or European origin. History books never mention that our early indigenous people were gourmands.

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy Recipes, Beautiful Photographs January 4, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This is a "must have" cookbook if you'd like to prepare authentic Native American food. The ingredients are easy to find in any well stocked grocery store, and the recipes are not difficult. No "weird" ethnic foods here- just good meals made with what's available. The historical background for the foods of different tribes is an interesting read. The photographs and drawings are absolutely beautiful- those alone are good reasons to purchase this book!

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars BEST American cookbook yet! August 1, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

The photography is unbelievable and the recipes work! The book gives us a palatable way to enjoy the true native american way of cooking. I would highly reccomend this book to everyone that loves to experience the enjoyment of cooking new recepies and the even greater enjoyment of eating what they have re-created. A great book for all ages and ethnic backrounds. Good food and lots of it!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Culinary Excellence That is Truly Authentic January 9, 2007

By Carmela Dubois

Format:Hardcover

Great recipes...I orignally bought a copy of this book in 1994 and have tried virtually every recipe in the book. I subsequently purchased a copy in 2006 as a gift for a family member. I asked my family to consider a new tradition in 2006; replacing the standard Christmas dinner with a "Native Harvest" the outcome was brilliant. Consequently my entire family agreed to embrace this concept and pass it along to the children. We found inspiration in the recipes from this truly amazing cook book and an opportunity to honor our ancesters and Native American culture as a whole.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very well done September 8, 2008

By Michelle

Format:Hardcover

This is such a well-done book on so many levels. From the recipes and the ancillary information to the fine photography. The recipes are great. I own a number of books on Native American cooking and while the others are good in their own right, they just pale in comparison to the scope and the craft present in this one. If you are going to buy one book on Native American cooking, be sure it is this one. Very, very well done.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars some good food November 9, 2006

By A. Ivanic

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

i loved the book it gives you many different ideas to make things out of the ordinary

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Spirit of the harvest March 18, 2009

By K. L. Callis

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Beautiful and informative cookbook, however I was disappointed that the ingredients are hard for me to find as I live in the country. It is not a cookbook that I will use in the kitchen frequently. I was tempted to give it only three stars except it is very well compiled and interesting. Just not useful as I had hoped.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "A very interesting book on Native American Cooking" April 8, 2011

By cheryl bendick

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

"Spirit of the Harvest" is a beautifully written and photographed book by Beverly Cox and Martin Jacobs. The book was purchased, along with several others, in order to prepare for a Native American Indian program. Each book had something different to offer within the various tribes. However, "Spirit of the Harvest" was by far the most resourceful book. It includes a map of the United States showing where the various tribes were located and the foods that were harvested in those areas. Chapters include: "Native American Foods", "The Southeastern Coast and Woodlands", The Northeastern Coast and Woodlands", "The Great Plains", "The Southwest", and "The West". Each chapter begins with a short history of the various tribes in each region followed by authentic recipes. The refreshments during the program included "Algonguian Maple Popcorn Balls" and the Pueblo Indians "Feast Day Cookies" . They were quite good. There are recipes for soups, stews, vegetables, game, breads, and sweets. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in Native American Cooking.