Bison Empanadas with Chef Pyet on The Rachael Ray Show
- Pyet DeSpain
- Jul 22, 2025
- 1 min read
I had the absolute joy of appearing on The Rachael Ray Show to share one of my favorite Indigenous Fusion recipes—Bison Empanadas! Cooking alongside the incredible Chef Richard Blais was a full-circle moment for me. It reminded me how powerful food can be when it tells a story.
These empanadas are more than just a delicious bite—they represent my heritage and my mission to uplift Indigenous ingredients in everyday cooking. Ground bison brings a rich, earthy flavor, while roasted sweet potato adds balance and warmth. Wrapped in golden pastry, each empanada is a little celebration of who I am and where I come from.
Bringing this recipe to a national audience meant everything. I want people to know that Indigenous cuisine isn’t stuck in the past—it’s vibrant, alive, and evolving. I’m so proud to be part of that movement.
▶️ Watch the segment here and learn how to make them at home!
Thank you to The Rachael Ray Show team for giving me the space to share my culture through food. I hope you’ll try the recipe, share it with loved ones, and maybe even feel a little more connected to the land and story behind each ingredient.
With love and good food,
– Pyet
It was so exciting to see Chef Pyet on the Rachael Ray Show! The bison empanadas with sweet potato look absolutely incredible, and it’s wonderful to see Indigenous fusion cuisine getting such a well-deserved spotlight on a national stage. This blend of ancestral flavors and modern creativity is truly inspiring. While I’m exploring more of these unique culinary traditions, I’ve also been captivated by a new Book series that shares that same spirit of heritage and storytelling. For anyone who enjoys a journey through culture and resilience, like the Black Angel stories, it’s a perfect way to expand your horizons. Can’t wait to see more from Chef Pyet!
These Bison Empanadas look absolutely incredible! It is so inspiring to see Indigenous Fusion getting the spotlight on a platform like the Rachael Ray Show. Using traditional ingredients like bison and sweet potato to tell a story through food is such a beautiful way to keep heritage vibrant and alive in modern cooking.
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What a wonderful and inspiring achievement for Chef Pyet! It is incredible to see Indigenous Fusion recipes like Bison Empanadas reaching such a wide audience on a platform like The Rachael Ray Show. Highlighting these vibrant, traditional ingredients in a modern way is a beautiful way to honor heritage while evolving the culinary landscape.
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