 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
The Healthy Buffalo Meat: A Revived Food Traditon On The Prairies ~ By Habeeb Salloum Continued next page. |
| WAVE Journey.com Women's Adventures, Vacations & Experiences ~ Your Journey Starts Here! |
As I stood gazing on the buffalo herd on a ranch in southern Saskatchewan I thought of the age
when 70 million buffalo roamed the North American western plains. Romanticizing a bit, I could feel
and hear the thunder of a great bison herd, as it stampeded over the open prairie grasslands.
when 70 million buffalo roamed the North American western plains. Romanticizing a bit, I could feel
and hear the thunder of a great bison herd, as it stampeded over the open prairie grasslands.
Today, after being almost obliterated from the face of the earth, the buffalo or bison has made a
comeback, but it no more roams the wild. Farm ranches catering to raising buffalo have begun to
dot the prairie lands. Its meat is to be found in many supermarkets but the romantic picture of
herds of buffalo streaming across the plains has faded into history.
comeback, but it no more roams the wild. Farm ranches catering to raising buffalo have begun to
dot the prairie lands. Its meat is to be found in many supermarkets but the romantic picture of
herds of buffalo streaming across the plains has faded into history.
The buffalo occupied a place of honour in the lives of the Northern Plains Peoples - their means of
survival. It was a gift of love from the Great Spirit - their essence of life; their general store,
offering food, clothing and shelter. There was no part of the animal that they did not use. Its
meat was consumed in various ways: pit-roasted, prepared into sausage or dried and combined
with berries, herbs and nuts and made into pemmican.
survival. It was a gift of love from the Great Spirit - their essence of life; their general store,
offering food, clothing and shelter. There was no part of the animal that they did not use. Its
meat was consumed in various ways: pit-roasted, prepared into sausage or dried and combined
with berries, herbs and nuts and made into pemmican.
Besides using its lean and tender meat for food, the
bones, horns and teeth were hand-manufactured into
clubs, jewellery, spearheads, tools, toys and utensils.
From its sinews, threads were made and the bladder
and stomach were fashioned into vessels. Liver and
gall bladder extracts provided medicines and dyes and
its fat was used for cooking and soap. The animal's
droppings were utilized for fuel and its hide was the
main material employed in clothing, in the building of
tepees and numerous other uses.
bones, horns and teeth were hand-manufactured into
clubs, jewellery, spearheads, tools, toys and utensils.
From its sinews, threads were made and the bladder
and stomach were fashioned into vessels. Liver and
gall bladder extracts provided medicines and dyes and
its fat was used for cooking and soap. The animal's
droppings were utilized for fuel and its hide was the
main material employed in clothing, in the building of
tepees and numerous other uses.
Buffalo hunts were usually carried out, by luring a herd toward a hand-made enclosure. Once the
herd began to head for the pound, the animals were stampeded into the corral where they were
killed. At other times, the herds were driven toward a cliff, over which they leaped to their death.
Later in the 18th century, when horses were introduced into the Great Plains, horsemen rode into
the thundering herds on swift well-trained mounts, slaying their quarry with arrows and spears.
herd began to head for the pound, the animals were stampeded into the corral where they were
killed. At other times, the herds were driven toward a cliff, over which they leaped to their death.
Later in the 18th century, when horses were introduced into the Great Plains, horsemen rode into
the thundering herds on swift well-trained mounts, slaying their quarry with arrows and spears.
Since the dawn of North American history, the bison
was the centre of the Great Plains culture, dictating the
movement of the tribes. It was the main theme in their
spiritual ceremonies, dances, sport activities and
stories. To the Plains Indians, the animal itself had a
noble spirit and to needlessly kill the buffalo was a
grave sin.
was the centre of the Great Plains culture, dictating the
movement of the tribes. It was the main theme in their
spiritual ceremonies, dances, sport activities and
stories. To the Plains Indians, the animal itself had a
noble spirit and to needlessly kill the buffalo was a
grave sin.
The era of the Great Plains bison culture abruptly
ended in the 1880s when non-native hunters and
commercial enterprises almost exterminated the herds.
Barely a thousand of these useful animals remained -
the ancestors of today's buffalo herds.
ended in the 1880s when non-native hunters and
commercial enterprises almost exterminated the herds.
Barely a thousand of these useful animals remained -
the ancestors of today's buffalo herds.
What the Indigenous Peoples had known for hundreds
of years is again being discovered today. Buffalo meat
is one of the healthiest meats known. Modern research
has established that buffalo meat is healthier than all
the other usually eaten red meats. Also, buffalo meat is
lower in cholesterol, contains less fat and has fewer
calories per serving than beef, chicken skinned, lamb,
pork, veal, venison and sockeye salmon - the list is
even more. In addition, buffalo meat has 40% more
protein than beef and is high in iron, selenium and
Vitamin B-12.
of years is again being discovered today. Buffalo meat
is one of the healthiest meats known. Modern research
has established that buffalo meat is healthier than all
the other usually eaten red meats. Also, buffalo meat is
lower in cholesterol, contains less fat and has fewer
calories per serving than beef, chicken skinned, lamb,
pork, veal, venison and sockeye salmon - the list is
even more. In addition, buffalo meat has 40% more
protein than beef and is high in iron, selenium and
Vitamin B-12.
It is no wonder then that buffalo ranches now can be found in almost every prairie area and
many people in Western Canada know buffalo meat. In the same fashion as beef it is prepared
in numerous ways but since it has less fat and to retain its juices, it takes less time to cook.
However, not many I suspect cook it Middle Eastern style.
many people in Western Canada know buffalo meat. In the same fashion as beef it is prepared
in numerous ways but since it has less fat and to retain its juices, it takes less time to cook.
However, not many I suspect cook it Middle Eastern style.
The following recipes, prepared in the Eastern Arab
style of cooking will give one an idea of how buffalo
meat can well become a world gourmet delicacy.
style of cooking will give one an idea of how buffalo
meat can well become a world gourmet delicacy.
