Bii’oo’éél: A Timeless Navajo Food

“K’ad bii’oo’éél łah nléh daa’”

Bii’oo’éél is an interesting Navajo word that may come from the term biiyi’yooléél, which can be interpreted as “inside a container it waves.” This describes how the gravy waves or jiggles inside a bowl or container.

Bii’oo’éél: A Timeless Navajo Food

with Melissa Saltwater St. Michaels, Arizona

by Keanu Simpson

Full recipe and story

Joo’ yá’át’ééh t’áá anoltsó, shí ’éí Melissa Saltwater hwinishyé. Hastą́diin dóó bi’aan ashdla’ shinahai. Tł’ááshchí’i nishłį́ ’adóó Ashįįhí bashishchiin ’adóó Honaaghánii dashicheii ’adóó Tó dik’ozhí dashinálí. Nléí Jadí’adít’įdi ’éí ’aají naashá. Táágó shiałchiní shee’ holó ’adóó hastą́gó shinálíké shee’ holó adóó díígo shitsóóké shee’ holó. T’áá hwit’áá ’asdzą́ą́ní nishłį́.

I learned to make bii’oo’éél from my mother. We grew up on potatoes. We ate potatoes in many different forms, whether it was cooked, boiled, or baked. That was one of our main food sources. One day, my mother showed me a food with a gravy consistency, to which I questioned her what it was. She replied, “ díí ’éí bii’oo’éél holyé (this is called gravy).”

Leading The Way: April 2025