This year, we challenged chefs to create a recipe that celebrates the unique local food scene in their region. We will be sharing their recipes, local inspiration and connections to local food in their region throughout Canada’s Agriculture Day.
Join in the celebration by sharing the recipes, posting one of your own, or any other creative way you would like to appreciate Canadian agriculture and use the hashtag #CdnAgDay #NWTag
For more information, visit: https://agriculturemorethanever.ca/cdn-ag-day/(link is external)
Find more recipes from other regions below:
Smoked Rabbit Tacos - North Slave
Caribou Celebration Dinner - Beaufort Delta
Moose Short Ribs with Cranberry Bannock - Dehcho
Bison Tenderloin - South Slave
Battered Trout with Dill Bechamel Sauce
SAHTU REGION
Photo credit Patricia McNeely
ABOUT THE CHEF
Name of Chef: Patricia McNeely
Name of Business: McNeely Gardens, Fort Good Hope, NT
Patricia and her family have been providing healthy local food through their gardens and greenhouse business for nearly ten years. They recently added their café where they serve home-cooked meals to the community. She is passionate about celebrating local food and enjoys teaching others as well as running their growing enterprise.
“In my home region of Sahtu, there is an abundance of food that we can harvest from the land, including animals, berries, and plants for food and medicine. We also can grow many different vegetables and gardening is becoming a popular activity for many families here. It is natural in our culture to share food; for example if a moose is harvested, it is shared among many families. This recipe’s main protein is trout from Great Bear Lake; it was gifted to us from friends in Deline on a recent winter road trip. Most of the ingredients on this plate can be harvested or grown in my hometown of Fort Good Hope.
We own a small garden and shop in our hometown called McNeely Gardens and we offer home harvested meals such as this beautiful trout. Potatoes, beets, and dill are just some of the vegetables that are grown successfully here, so the recipe ideas for creating home grown food is endless!”
RECIPE
- Trout fillets
- Egg wash
- Flour with seasoning salt as desired
- Vegetable or canola oil for deep frying
- Baby potatoes
Lightly dry off fish fillets with paper towels and cut into smaller portion sizes for even cooking. Mix egg with a little milk and mix well. Mix flour and seasoning salt. Heat oil in deep frypan to 375⁰F degrees. Dredge the trout fillets in the egg wash and flour and deep fry for about 2 minutes on each side.
Boil baby potatoes until tender in salted water. Remove from water, and serve with a topping of dill bechamel sauce. The sauce goes well on the trout too. Serve with pickled beets – so delicious!
Bechamel Sauce:
- 4 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoon grated onion
- 2 tablespoon flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup half & half cream
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ white pepper
- 2 teaspoon dill (fresh or dry)
Melt butter on medium heat, then add in flour, salt and pepper and dill. Add cold cream, cold chicken broth and stir well. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly until it thickens. Remove from heat and enjoy.
WHERE TO FIND LOCAL FOOD IN THE SAHTU
Besides the incredible fishing on Great Bear Lake and purchasing produce and café meals from McNeely Gardens in Fort Good Hope, you can find produce in season from Sahtu Gardens in Norman Wells and at the fall farmers markets around the region.
Where do you purchase local food in the Sahtu? Help us share and promote northern agriculture!