First Nations Bannock Recipe

I asked my sister a while back if she had a recipe for bannock; a traditional bread made by the First Nations people of North America.  I had tried it once about 15 years ago and it was a HUGE disaster!  Now I was ready to try again.

Coralie didn’t have one so she asked her friend, Erin, who kindly asked her mother…and here is the recipe.  I must admit that the first time I tried to make it, it didn’t go quite so well, but after a word with my sister and halving the recipe, we had success on Wednesday!

This is the recipe Bannock as I made it:

• 3.5 C     Flour
• 5 TBSP Baking powder
• 1 C        Oil
• 1 1/3 C  Water

And this is how you make Bannock:

1.   Flour a cookie sheet. 2.   Mix the flour and baking powder together in a bowl.
3.   Add the oil and water and mix again. 4.   You may have to add more flour or water to get the right consistency.  The mixture changes with your altitude, weather/humidity, and perhaps your mood.  Or maybe that’s just me! 5.   Knead the dough to form a ball about the consistency of pizza dough. 6.   Spread it out or roll it evenly on the pan.
7.   Prick it all over with a fork. 8.   Bake at 350F until it’s golden brown on top. We enjoyed this bread together with some beef jerky.  I described to the children how beef jerky is made, and how you would take some of the bannock dough and wrap it around a stick to cook it over a campfire in the days before ovens, or if you do not have electricity.  This must be a good recipe as Tristan wants to make it again already!
My sister makes several smaller rounds for individual portions.  I think we may try it this way next time. In case you were wondering how the first attempt turned out, here’s a photo:
It wasn’t too bad, but not quite cooked through to the middle. I believe the problem was that we used the whole recipe, and a smaller pan.  (The recipe above has been halved and a larger pan was used). Let me know how this works for you!

If you enjoy new breads, try our Irish Soda Bread!  To see more of our learning of the First Nations, check our our sweat lodge activity.  For even more ideas, please check out our pages on First Nations and Multicultural meals, or see our Multicultural Activities for Kids page where you’ll find all of our multicultural ideas in one place.