A taste of history: Native American feasts celebrated the land - includes recipes and glossary

Vegetarian Times, Oct, 1995 by Joyce Dodson Piotrowski

PER SERVING: 207 CAL.; 5G PROT.; 6G FAT; 34G CARB.; 80MG CHOL.;462MG SOD.; 4G FIBER. OVO-LACTO

Joyce Dodson Piotrowski recently retired from operating two Southwestern restaurants in Washington, D.C. Her hobby is Native American studies, and she recently taught cooking classes for the Smithsonian's campaign committee for the Museum of the American Indian. She writes and cooks in Albuquerque, N.M.

GLOSSARY

Agave: A succulent (plants with fleshy tissue that retains moisture), also called the century plant. Certain varieties are used to make mescal and tequila.

Amaranth: A tiny round grain that is a good source of protein. Has a nutty, somewhat sweet taste and a glutinous texture. Used by the ancient Aztecs and currently grown in the Southwest.

Arugula: A tender, mustard-flavored green. Its leaves resemble radish greens in appearance but have a stronger flavor.

Mescal: A small cactus with rounded stems. The name mescal also applies to plants, especially the maguey, from which colorless mescal liquor is distilled. Mescal has a bitter almond flavor and is often sold with an agave worm in the bottle.

Pinon: Also called the Indian nut, pine nut, pignoli or pignolia. The nuts, a classic ingredient in Italian pesto, grow inside pine cones of certain evergreens.

Poblano chili: Large, dark fresh green chili with mild to medium-hot taste. In the dried state, they're known as ancho chilies. Poblanos are best known for their use in the Mexican dish, chilies rellenos.

Sunchoke: Not a true artichoke, but a variety of sunflower with a lumpy, brown tuber resembling a ginger root. The flesh is nutty, sweet and crunchy, and can be eaten raw in salads or cooked. Also called Jerusalem artichoke.

Yucca: A plant of the lily family with long leaves, a woody base and a tall stem topped with a crown of white flowers. The name is sometimes confused with yuca, a tropical root vegetable similar to a potato.