Saskatoon Berries (Amelanchier alnifolia)
Saskatoon Berries can be found on shrubs in dry to moist forests, thickets and open hillsides on well-drained soils. Whitish flower blooms are produced from April to July and turn into berry-like pomes, which range from purple in colour to nearly black, during the summer and fall. The berries are very sweet and are often mixed with less palatable berries when made into jams, jellies, or pie fillings.
Before foraging for the required ingredients, we recommend taking a look at our Sustainable Foraging Guide!
Culture Connection
ᒥᓵᐢᑲᐧᑑᒥᓇ (misâskwatômina cree dictionary)
The word Saskatoon is an Anglicization of the Nêhiyawêwin (Cree) word misâskwatômina. The berries were used widely throughout western Canada, namely by the Nêhiyawak (Cree), Dené, Nakota (Assinoboine), Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and Anishnaabe (Ojibway). Saskatoon berries were an important trade item, especially on the B.C. coast where they were less plentiful. Saskatoon berries were frequently used in pemmican, which is an energy-rich mixture of dried animal meat, fat and dried berries. This dish was important for hunting and travelling and was made by various plains cultures, including the Niitsitapi and the Nêhiyawak. The Niitsitapi also made another similar dish, a type of sausage with the berries and animal fat stuffed into a length of the intestine which was then boiled.
Ingredients
1 cup saskatoon berries
1-3 teaspoons sugar to taste
Thick-cut bread of your choice (we used sourdough)
Brie or other cheese
Method
In a medium skillet, add saskatoon berries and sugar. Mash some of the berries with a fork and simmer on medium-low until reduced
Slice your bread and butter both sides
Place one of the slices of bread in a skillet. Add the cheese and a spoonful or two of the saskatoon berry mixture and top with the second slice of bread
Cook on medium-low until the bottom is golden brown and crispy. For cooking, low and slow is the way to go! It takes a while to melt the cheese through the thick-cut bread, so be patient
Flip and cook until the other side is golden brown and crispy