A New Mexico-born woman is aiming to introduce the world to Navajo cuisine with her new cookbook, a collection of recipes passed down through generations. Alana Yazzie, the author of The Modern Navajo Kitchen, grew up cooking traditional Navajo dishes alongside her mother and is now sharing her family’s culinary heritage.
Preserving Navajo Traditions in Print
Alana Yazzie, originally from Fruitland near Farmington, New Mexico, is passionate about preserving and sharing her Navajo culture. “I’m just so excited to share my culture with the world,” she said. For Yazzie, the new cookbook is a way to document recipes that have been passed down orally for centuries in the Navajo community.
“A lot of times when it comes to Native or Navajo culture, a lot of these traditions are passed down orally, so there’s not really a resource to open like a book,” Yazzie explained. Her book offers an invaluable collection of recipes, capturing traditions that have rarely been written down.
A Mix of Traditional and Modern Dishes
The Modern Navajo Kitchen features 60 recipes, including staple Navajo dishes like blue corn tortillas and biscuits. The cookbook also offers some New Mexico-inspired recipes, reflecting Yazzie’s upbringing in the state.
“Like green chile stew—there’s a recipe in there for that. There’s also roast mutton sandwiches, which are a big thing on the Navajo Nation, with roast mutton and green chile on a tortilla or fried bread,” Yazzie shared.
A Resource for the Diné and Navajo Communities
Yazzie’s book isn’t just for introducing outsiders to Navajo cuisine—it’s also a resource for Navajo and Diné people who may not have grown up learning these traditional recipes. “I hope it serves as a guide for those in the community who didn’t have the chance to learn these dishes,” Yazzie said.
The cookbook also aims to highlight the influence of Indigenous foods across cultures. “A lot of times we don’t realize how many foods are from Indigenous cultures. They first started in these communities and have lived on for centuries. These foods are a symbol of our resilience,” Yazzie explained.
Available for Pre-Order Now
The Modern Navajo Kitchen will be available for purchase in October, and pre-orders are already being accepted online. With the book’s release, Yazzie is eager to bring the rich flavors and history of Navajo cuisine to a wider audience.
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