Three Sisters Stew Recipe (2024)

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Mark

Three sisters so-called because Native Americans interplanted corn, beans and squash in the same mound. The 3 thrive together because corn provides a natural pole for the beans to climb, the beans fix nitrogen in the soil, and the squash leaves shade the ground to prevent the growth of weeds.

Henry

Use 1 cup of Hatch,NM green Roasted Chiles.
Cut down on the broth to 2 cups makes this dish less soupy.
Treat the butternut squash as a replacement for the pork - that is, treat it just as described in step 1. I did that, and used vegetable stock, and this turned out delicious! The vegetarian version might even be better than the original, as the butternut squash seems more harmonious with the dish than meat does.

Alexia

I made this yesterday in my slowcooker: I browned the meat in my skillet, then browned the onions & garlic in the leftover fat in the pan and added a 14.5 oz can of tomatoes to deglaze. Then I put all the ingredients (except the yellow squash) into my slowcooker and cooked on low for 6 hours. When I got home, I put in a whole container of cubed butternut squash in the cooker and turned it on high for about 45-60 minutes. SO so good. Everyone loved it.

Susan

I also used butternut squash, doubled the garlic, and added a jalapeño with the onions. Definitely needs a little more heat (I did use double the cumin). Next time I think I'll try the Rotel Tomatoes . Everyone loved the combination and I been asked for the recipe, always a good sign.

Mark R

I got some advice direct from NYT to treat the butternut squash as a replacement for the pork - that is, treat it just as described in step 1. I did that, and used vegetable stock, and this turned out delicious! I think the vegetarian version might even be better than the original, as the butternut squash seems more harmonious with the dish than meat does. I will be making this again.

Leslie Stephen

A big hit for our annual Southwestern night, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Made it with 1 # butternut squash, seasoned and caramelized ala pork, omitted pork and yellow squash, used all black beans (2 cans, drained and rinsed). Served with Mexican crema, queso fresco, chopped cilantro, sliced radishes and shredded cabbage for garnishes. Think it would also be great with hominy instead of (or in addition to) the corn. Delicious!

Heath Quinn

Try adding wild rice, or a brown rice / wild rice combo. Makes it quite thick, kind of gumbo like. The textures are fabulous.

Jason R

Enjoyed the stew but found it somewhat bland, specifically, the flavors of the cumin and chiles were lost. Next time I will try seasoning the pork with more than one teaspoon of cumin, or add a bit of cumin to the onions and garlic as they saute, and will increase the amount of chiles.

Bernice Glenn

I make this stew with turkey thighs( whole or cut into chunks) all year round. I've also made it with turkey meatballs, simmering in the stew, serving this as a one-dish meal. Cutting down on the broth to 2 cups makes this dish less soupy.
Instead of using a can of roasted chiles, I add 1 or two pasilla chiles, cut into 1/3 x 1 1/2 inch strips.
A heartwarming main course dish when served with corn bread for dipping.

ljeanne

Made this vegetarian by roasting a pound of butternut squash tossed with the cumin, salt, pepper and olive oil at 400 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes and then stirring it in at the end of cooking the other ingredients with the cilantro. Also added about a half a teaspoon of red pepper flakes. So good! Perfect for a Thanksgiving appetizer.

Tinsa

Made this 12 times+ and it is demolished by our team at work for two meals. We go vegetarian but sometimes I will fry and cube a Niman Ranch ham steak on the side for the meateaters. The corn is too sweet so 1/4 cup is enough. Red-chili flakes in the onion saute and the finished soup will get 3-4 fresh Thai minced chilies along with the cilantro. Always more beans. We used green and yellow zucchini after seeding the guts over the summer. For winter we will use butternut. Good base recipe.

Mark R

Made this a third time, as we really like it.

I've thought this before but forgot to mention it here - I would add additional butternut squash to this. More like 1 1/2 lbs of cubes rather than the specified 1 lb. Also I cut them more like 1/2 to 3/4 inch rather than 1 inch so they are more bite size. (In the original recipe it was pork rather than squash, which probably shrinks in the cooking so starting at 1 inch makes more sense. The squash shrinks a little bit but not that much.)

LuAnn

Mashing a few of the beans would help to thicken it.

Susan

I would add the yellow squash during the last 40 minutes of simmering as it was too soft for my taste. The beans and corn I would add the last 10-15 minutes as I like more texture. It did thicken up nicely. It is delicious and I will cook it again with these modifications.

dobes

Did it in a slow cooker. Used some top round, browned, that I was going to make into stew anyway. Omitted tomatoes due to allergy, used fresh soaked black and kidney beans and water, not broth. Also added the cubed butternut squash. Let it cook all day, and it was delicious. The whole is definitely more than the sum of its parts. Everyone loved it, and I'll make it again.

BB8

Really good! I made the vegetarian version with butternut squash that a reader suggested. Added some chili powder and more cumin, topped with a bit of shredded cheese. Nice variation on chili.

Charlotte

Can anyone advise what 1 medium squash is? I’m Australian - we call squash butternut pumpkin. But they vary wildly in size, no idea what a medium one is.

Scribblechick

This is a sensational vegan/vegetarian /plant-based stew. Just omit the pork and its steps (faster prep, too!) and substitute with vegetable stock. I make this recipe often because everyone I serve it to raves about it. It is so flavorful and hearty. Freezes great also. Consider adding chickpeas for even more nutrition as a meal in itself.

Scribblechick

This is a sensational vegan/vegetarian /plant-based stew. Just omit the pork and its steps and substitute with vegetable stock. I make this recipe often because everyone I serve it to raves about it. It is so flavorful and hearty. Freezes great also. Consider adding chickpeas for even more nutrition as a meal in itself.

Susan

A hit with the family. Will make it again. The only modifications were no garlic (no garlic family) Out of cumin, so used garam masala and chili powder instead. Also, instead of one can of beans I used potato.

Nancy b

I made it exactly as written the first time and it was delicious. The second time I sautéed the pork and onion together and added the tomatoes earlier. I substituted roasted butternut squash cubs for the yellow squash, adding it with the beans and corn, I think it was even better the second time with these modifications.

Kate

I agree with others that the squash should be added later, otherwise it gets too soft. The flavors and basic ingredient ratios in this dish are good, but it’s a bit bland for our family’s tastes. I added more cumin, as recommended, and would add some oregano and maybe a bit of thyme next time. Chili powder would also be a good addition, but then the stew would end up being Chili, not Three Sisters Stew.

Sandy

I added additional 1 teasp cumin, 1 teasp chili powder and 1 teasp oregano with garlic saute. Also added 1-2 Tablspn molasses and lemon juice towards end and thickened a bit with some flour dissolved in more broth. I reduced original broth to 2-3 cups. Do need to be careful squash doesn't overcook. Served to guests for lunch with cornbread yeast rolls -- got rave reviews. Will definitely make again.

mCats

I use store-bought carnitas or plain pulled/smoked pork instead of pork loin. I find pork loin texture too dry, and I’m not going to spend the extra money on kurobuta or Berkshire for a stew. I like how the shredded pork dissolves into the stew. This stew pleases everyone in the family, and it is easy to customize for personal tastes via toppings. I’ve also used up “undesirable” frozen zucchini in this stew; it’s highly adaptable.

Shanks

Absolutely delicious. I've been looking for recipes for pork loin that isn't just in 'pork chop' format, and this is great! I used a can of sliced jalapenos instead of the roasted green chilies. This recipe is probably quite forgiving in terms of substitutions.

David Holcombe

I used twice the amount of cumin. Also I chopped up a tablespoon of hot green chilies to add to the canned chilies. I used 3 1/2 cups of broth which was plenty.

Jo

I pretty much followed the recipe, except added two additional cloves of garlic, and found it bland. I hope it develops more flavor overnight.

Lindsay Gray

We substituted butternut squash in step 1. It was delicious. The butternut was a little too mushy, but it broke down a bit and thickened the stew, which we didn't mind! We also added a couple of celery stalks and extra garlic. We will definitely be making it again!

Ocean Advocate

Very good & very easy. A few modifications to use what was on hand: crushed tomatoes instead of diced; Trader Joe's tomatillo salsa instead of canned roasted green chiles; an extra 1/2 teaspoon of cumin (will use even more next time); about 1/4 teaspoon ancho chile powder. Used butternut squash & cut it in 1/3-1/2" dice (but perhaps will cut larger dice next time). I used 4 cups of low sodium chicken broth - would cut to 2 or 3 cups and add another 1/2 pound of pork for a thicker meatier stew.

Adia

Made this tonight, exactly as written (OK, OK, I used a tbsp of that squeeze cilantro paste instead of buying an entire bunch of fresh cilantro, only to have to chuck the other half of it next week when it liquefies in the fridge).This is absolutely amazing! Thick, hearty, filling, piping hot, seasonal, PACKED with flavor, and easy to make... the total package. A complete pick-me-up during the ugliest, darkest month of the year. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! ❤️

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Three Sisters Stew Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make the three sisters? ›

The Three Sisters planting method, commonly known as companion planting, entails growing corn, beans, and squash together in a mutually beneficial arrangement. It originated in North America around 3000 years ago.

What are the three sisters in Native American cooking? ›

The Three Sisters is a vegetable medley of corn, squash and beans that are planted together so each plant can support and nourish each other. Corn, beans and squash have provided nutrition for the Chickasaw people for generations.

What are the three sisters vegetables? ›

The Iroquois and the Cherokee called corn, bean, and squash “the three sisters” because they nurture each other like family when planted together. These agriculturalists placed corn in small hills planting beans around them and interspersing squash throughout of the field.

Why is it called Three Sisters soup? ›

This delicious soup is prepared with corn, squash, and beans. In some Indigenous communities, these crops are called the “Three Sisters” because they help each other grow when planted side by side.

What's so special about the Three Sisters? ›

The Three Sisters is essentially an unusual rock formation representing three sisters who according to Aboriginal legend were turned to stone. The character of the Three Sisters changes throughout the day and throughout the seasons as the sunlight brings out the magnificent colours.

How is the Three Sisters made? ›

Formation. The Three Sisters were formed by land erosion around 200 million years ago during the Triassic period when the sandstone bog the Blue Mountains was eroded over time by wind, rain and rivers, causing the cliffs surrounding the Valley to be slowly broken up.

Is the Three Sisters method still used today? ›

In the Southwest, the Three Sisters farming method is not widely used today.

What kind of beans are in 3 sisters? ›

In modern-day gardens, the Three Sisters consists of these three vegetables:
  • Pole beans (not bush beans). Common pole beans such as Scarlet Runner or Italian Snap should work. ...
  • Corn such as sweet corn, dent corn, popcorn, or a combination. ...
  • Small-leafed squash such as summer squash (zucchini) or winter squash (Hubbard).
Jul 23, 2024

Which three foods were the Three Sisters? ›

The Three Sisters is the native legend of how the crops corn, beans, and squash came to be grown together in so many different native cultures.

What corn is best for three sisters? ›

There are many corn varieties to choose from. Dent, flint, and flour corns are especially suited to this system, while popcorn often does not get tall enough and may be overwhelmed by the beans and pumpkins.

What squash is used for three sisters? ›

Typically, Winter squash will work best. The traditional choice would be a Pumpkin, but you can also go with Spaghetti, Butternut, or any other vine-growing Winter squash that you prefer.

What soup did the Cherokee eat? ›

A rich and creamy nut soup of Cherokee origin, kanuchi has few ingredients but a world of deep nutty flavor.

What is the three sacred sisters salad? ›

Corn, beans, and squash; the three sisters are better grown together. The three also provide nutrients for each other and are delectable in this Three Sisters Salad!

Is zucchini one of the Three Sisters? ›

They are one of the Three Sisters (corn, beans and squash), which were developed in the Americas and then taken by European explorers back home. One of them, zucchini is so closely associated with Italian cooking that most people don't realize that it is a native of the Americas, not Italy.

In what order do you plant the Three Sisters? ›

Plant in this order: corn, beans, then squash. Plant 4 corn seeds first, 6 inches apart, so it can grow above the other sisters (make sure you get a tall variety).

Does Three Sisters planting really work? ›

-Success with a Three Sisters garden involves careful attention to timing, seed spacing and varieties. In many areas, if you simply plant all three in the same hole at the same time, the result will be a snarl of vines in which the corn gets overwhelmed.

What is the three sister rule? ›

Definition: Three wicked sisters were three rules that were used by courts in the 19th century to deny workers who were injured on the job from getting compensation. These rules were called contributory negligence, the fellow-servant rule, and assumption of the risk.

How do you fertilize Three Sisters? ›

Add compost or other materials such as peat moss or manure to the soil. This will improve the soil structure and add nutrients. If you have grown a green manure cover crop such as winter rye, turn it under two to three weeks before planting.

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