In the realm of Native American cuisine, one dish stands out as a testament to the harmony between humanity and nature: the Three Sisters Stew. This hearty and flavorful stew, also known as Succotash, finds its roots in the agricultural practices of the Iroquois and other Native American tribes. The "Three Sisters" in question are corn, beans, and squash, a triad of crops traditionally grown together in a symbiotic garden system. Corn provides structure and support for the climbing beans, while beans enrich the soil with nitrogen, and squash acts as a living mulch, suppressing weeds and retaining soil moisture. This article presents a collection of recipes that capture the essence of the Three Sisters Stew, showcasing the diverse culinary traditions inspired by this Native American staple. From a classic vegetarian stew brimming with fresh vegetables to a hearty bison stew infused with Native American flavors, these recipes celebrate the bounty of the Three Sisters and their enduring significance in Native American culture.
Let's cook with our recipes!
THREE SISTERS STEW
Matt Mead, the governor of Wyoming, recalls being taken out by his grandfather on the family ranch to shoot his first duck for Thanksgiving at age 9, when he was so small that his grandfather had to brace him from behind to help absorb the kick from the shotgun. Game is found on many Thanksgiving tables in the state, but other traditions predate the hunt. The trinity of corn, beans and squash was central to the agriculture of the Plains Indians in what would later become Wyoming, and some cooks honor that history each Thanksgiving with a dish called Three Sisters stew. The writer Pamela Sinclair's version is a highlight of her 2008 cookbook, "A Taste of Wyoming: Favorite Recipes From the Cowboy State." The stew works nicely as a rich side dish for turkey, and can easily be adapted to vegetarian tastes by omitting the pork and adding a pound of cubed butternut squash instead.
Provided by Sam Sifton
Categories dinner, lunch, soups and stews, main course
Time 1h40m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Season pork with cumin, salt and pepper. Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add pork, in batches if necessary, and cook, turning as needed, until lightly browned on all sides, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer pork to a bowl and set aside.
- Add onion to pan and sauté, stirring occasionally, until translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic and sauté, stirring occasionally, until lightly colored, 2 to 3 minutes. Return pork to pan, along with stock and squash, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes.
- Add beans, tomatoes, corn and chiles and cook, uncovered, over medium heat until stew has thickened, about 40 minutes. Add cilantro and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 389, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 44 grams, Fat 14 grams, Fiber 10 grams, Protein 24 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 1071 milligrams, Sugar 6 grams, TransFat 0 grams
THREE SISTERS HARVEST STEW
This comes from a great book. Cooking Like a Goddess by Cait Johnson. The "sisters" are corn, squash, and beans. This is a hearty vegetable stew that'll warm you body and soul after a crisp fall day of raking leaves. Pair with crusty bread and apple cider, mmmmm. I've served this with great success at quite a few pot-lucks.
Provided by Kitsune
Categories Stew
Time 35m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a large stew pot, heat the olive oil.
- Add the onion and stir to coat with oil.
- Saute until golden, then add garlic, carrot, squash, beans, corn, sage, chipotle, and salt. Add broth a bit at a time until you are satisfied with the consistency.
- Simmer until squash is tender, then add chopped parsley and stir.
- Serve hot.
- I often sustitute a 10 oz. package of frozen pureed squash for the cubed squash for a smoother texture.
"THREE SISTERS" STEW
I was looking for vegetarian main dishes for Thanksgiving and found this one. I haven't made it yet but it looks delicious.
Provided by Ingen
Categories < 4 Hours
Time 2h
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Cut the pumpkin or squash in half lengthwise and remove the seeds and fibers. Cover with aluminum foil and place the halves, cut side up, in a foil-lined shallow baking pan. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until easily pierced with a knife but still firm (if using squash, prepare the same way). When cool enough to handle, scoop out the pulp, and cut into large dice. Set aside until needed.
- Heat the oil in a soup pot. Add the onion and sauté over medium-low heat until translucent. Add the garlic and continue to sauté until the onion is golden.
- Add the pumpkin and all the remaining ingredients except the last 2 and bring to a simmer. Simmer gently, covered, until all the vegetables are tender, about 20 to 25 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- If time allows, let the stew stand for 1 to 2 hours before serving, then heat through as needed. Just before serving, stir in the cilantro. The stew should be thick and very moist but not soupy; add additional stock or water if needed. Serve in shallow bowls.
THREE SISTERS STEW
Make and share this Three Sisters Stew recipe from Food.com.
Provided by dicentra
Categories Vegan
Time 25m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat oil in a large saucepan over med-high until hot. Add rice, onion and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes until onion is crisp tender. (Don't burn the garlic!).
- Stir in all the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes until rice is tender and broth is slightly thickened.
THREE SISTERS STEW
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.Remove stem from the pumpkin or squash and cut in half lengthwise. Cover with aluminum foil and place the halves, cut side up, in a foil-lined shallow baking pan. If your knives aren't sharp enough, just wrap the pumpkin or squash in foil and bake it whole. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until you can pierce through with a knife, with a little resistance. When cool enough to handle, scrape out the seeds and fibers (clean the seeds for roasting, if you'd like). Slice and peel, then cut into large dice.Heat the oil in a soup pot. Add the onion and sauté over medium-low heat until translucent. Add the garlic and continue to sauté until the onion is golden.Add the pumpkin or squash and all the remaining ingredients except the last 2, and bring to a simmer. Simmer gently, covered, until all the vegetables are tender, about 20 to 25 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.If time allows, let the stew stand for 1 to 2 hours before serving, then heat through as needed. Just before serving, stir in the cilantro. The stew should be thick and very moist but not soupy; add additional stock or water if needed. Adjust seasonings to your liking. Serve in bowls.
THREE SISTERS VEGETABLE STEW
Make and share this Three Sisters Vegetable Stew recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Diana Adcock
Categories Stew
Time 30m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Saute onions and garlic in a little bit of butter until translucent.
- Add corn and beans and heat thoroughly.
- Add peppers and squash and heat through.
- Add green onions, stir and remove from heat.
- Serve hot in warm tortillas and shredded cheese.
THREE SISTERS STEW
My family bloodlines are the Chickasaw Indian. This soup is a tradition. The Chickasaws were farmers and ahead of their time. They planted their plants in groups of three, the oldest sister is corn, she grew straight and tall to watch over the others. The second sister is squash, she grew low to the ground too keep the feet warm...
Provided by Cathy Smith
Categories Other Main Dishes
Time 2h
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- 1. Drain the beans and rinse lightly. Fry your meat and drain well. Set aside.
- 2. Place all vegetables and meat in stewpot. Add tomatoes and tomato sauce. Add seasoning. Taste and add any more seasoning you need.
- 3. Add enough water or broth to cover. Then bring to a boil and turn heat down and simmer until tender. Serve with crackers, cornbread or fry bread.
- 4. You may use any kind of squash and bean or pea and the corn can be yellow or white. You can change the meat around to beef or it can remain vegetarian. However, pork is the traditional meat.
- 5. Notes: I have been using 1 can of Ro Tel mild tomatoes in place of 1 can of tomatoes. Second, I have some real finicky eaters that do not like some vegetables but to try to up the nutrition as well as flavor, I use V8 and a bit of Knorr caldo de pollo, a chicken bouillon. Everyone likes it very much. I also have been roasting fresh corn on the cob over the summer and roasting 4-5 ears extra and cutting that off the cob and using it.
THREE SISTERS HARVEST STEW
Steps:
- Heat 2 tablespoons water in a soup pot, add the onion and saute until tender. Add the garlic and jalapeno and continue to saute for an additional minute. Add remaining ingredients except spinach. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until all the vegetables are tender, about 25 minutes. Add additional vegetable broth if needed to adjust consistency. Stir in spinach and heat until wilted. Serve topped with toasted pumpkin seeds. In Native American mythology, squash, corn and beans are known as the "three sisters". Interplanting corn, beans and squash in the same mounds enhances their growth and was widespread among American Indian farming societies. Corn acts as a trellis for climbing beans, which nourish the soil with nitrogen, and squash vines shade the shallow corn and bean roots.
Tips:
- Choose fresh, seasonal vegetables: The fresher the vegetables, the better your stew will taste. If possible, buy organic vegetables to avoid pesticides and herbicides.
- Use a variety of vegetables: The more variety of vegetables you use, the more flavorful your stew will be. Try to include a mix of root vegetables, leafy greens, and legumes.
- Don't overcrowd the pot: If you overcrowd the pot, the vegetables will not cook evenly. Leave some space between the vegetables so that they can cook properly.
- Cook the stew low and slow: This will allow the flavors to develop and meld together. Simmer the stew for at least 1 hour, or until the vegetables are tender.
- Season the stew to taste: Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste. You can also add a bay leaf or two for extra flavor.
Conclusion:
Three Sisters Stew is a delicious, healthy, and hearty dish that is perfect for a cold night. It is also a great way to use up leftover vegetables. So next time you have a bunch of vegetables that you need to use up, give Three Sisters Stew a try. You won't be disappointed!
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