How To Make Dry Meat Soup.

How To Make Dry Meat Soup.

Spring is here, with it often brings rain. Whenever the weather gets bad it’s always been a natural response to stay inside and keep warm. As well, with the grey clouds covering the sky it’s easy to feel under the weather.

So what do we do when we’re feeling blue, well it’s up to you but a good idea is always bannock and soup.

But what is dry meat soup? how do we make it? let’s learn together on How To Make Dry Meat Soup.

So What is Dry Meat Soup?

Growing up in the reserve most First Nations People didn’t have to much stuff to work with to make food for their family so they had to get creative.

One of the food that was more readily available was the food known as dry meat. Dry meat is an old traditional First Nations food that has been eaten since the birth of Native people.

Mostly made out of deer this dry meat can also be made out of moose, buffalo and many other large game animals.

Dry meat soup is the result of not having enough food to work with has it only has 3 ingredients. Dry meat, Potatoes, and flour.

So how do we make it?

First thing your going to want to do is boil the dry meat

Depending upon how much people you wish to feed you going need about a half a pot full of the dry meat. Next your going to pour cold water onto the dry meat until all the dry meat is submerged.

Next, you’re going to turn the burner to all the way up to high and going to let the meat boil for about 4 to 5 hours in order to make the meat soft and tender, stirring occasionally.

Next is Potatoes.

After the meat is nice and tender, your next going to peel, rinse and cube potatoes in bite-sized pieces. With the water still hot you’re then going to put the potatoes into the pot of dry meat then let them cook for about 20 mins. Stir occasionally.

Putting potatoes into dry meat soup is optional as many First Nations elders don’t put potatoes into the soup but it’s also not uncommon to put potatoes into the soup. Potatoes or no potatoes, I will leave that up to you.

Flour Mixture.

A lot of times people make the mistake of putting the flour into the soup in the wrong way and the results in a clumpy, dry kind of soup that you do not want, so we must put the flour in a certain way.

Before putting the flour into the soup you must mix it out of the soup in a large cup or bowl. Using 2 cups of lukewarm water you have to start gradually adding the flour with a tablespoon into the water then mixing it constantly.

If any clumps form inside the water you can press the lump against the inside of the cup or bowl and try to get the flour to mix into the water correctly.

To tell if you have got enough flour in the water is if you take some of the flour water and dump it back in the cup. Look closely at the consistency of the liquid.

If it is still translucent and water then more flour most be added, If it seems thick and the water drops slowly into the cup then it is too thick.

If the flour-water looks not too thin and not too thick then it is perfect. It should somewhat resemble milk.

Lower The Heat.

After your done making your flour mixture you have to make sure that you reduce your heat to low and then put your flour water into the soup.

If you put the flour water into the soup while it is boiling, it will result in clumps forming in the soup and you want to eliminate any clumps that appear.

After you put the flour mixture in the soup, you must then stir the contents and let simmer for about 10 mins.

Then you are done!

Dry meat soup with some wonderful fry bread and pemmican is sure to hit the spot.

If You Have Any Questions Let Us Know In The Comments Below!