Manoomin: Wild rice
DOWNLOADSeptember 16, 2024
Print
EmailManoomin: Wild Rice
Anishinaabemowin pronunciation: "mun-oo-min"
Resources
How is it our relative?
Manoomin means the "good berry," and "it is a food that has long provided both physical and spiritual sustenance to the Ojibwe people. Some teachings relate that the Ojibwe people migrated from the East having been told to settle when they find the food that grows upon the water, which they discovered in the waters of the Lake Superior region. Highly nutritious, manoomin remains important to the Ojibwe diet today and is also one of several feast foods, traditionally served during ceremonies or community feasts."
—Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission
Why eat it?
- A low-fat, high-fiber whole grain
- Has more protein than white rice
- Good source of iron, potassium and phosphorus
- It's Michigan's official state grain!
Recipe: Stovetop Wild Rice
Ingredients:
- 1 cup wild rice
- 3 cups water or broth (use 2 cups if using a rice cooker)
- Pinch of salt for taste
Directions:
- Wash wild rice
- Heat rice, water, and salt to boiling. Reduce heat and cover.
- Simmer until wild rice has absorbed the water, about 20 minutes. Wild rice should be tender but not "rolled back"
Cooking tip: This whole grain has a robust, nutty flavor. When cooked, it will triple in volume.
Recipe adapted from "A Taste of Red Lake Cookbook"
Miijim (Food) Card Project
Students from several schools in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, joined together to research and create Miijim (Food) Cards as a classroom project. Each card features a hand-drawn miijim item available at the Brimley Bay Mills Farmer's Market, paired with the names of each food item in Anishinaabemowin. This project came about after the students visited their local market, which left them wondering if there was a way to incorporate their culture and language more fully into this important hub for the community.
This project was created in partnership with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, MSU Extension, and the Tribal Food Sovereignty Collaborative, with translation services generously provided by "Aamookwe," Amy McCoy.