Three Sisters Vegetables Recipes

THREE SISTERS BOWL WITH HOMINY, BEANS AND SQUASH

Steps:

• Place the hominy and tepary beans in separate medium bowls. Add enough water to each to cover the beans by 4 inches, and soak overnight at room temperature.
• About 3 hours before serving, drain the hominy and the beans and place them in separate 3- to 4-quart pots. Add enough cool water to cover the hominy and tepary beans by 4 inches. Set each over high heat, bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally and skimming any foam that rises to the surface, until tender, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Reserve 2/3 cup of the cooking liquid from each type of beans (for 1 1/3 cups liquid). Drain the hominy and the beans and set aside.
• Meanwhile, prepare the squash: Heat the oven to 425 degrees. On a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet, toss the squash with 1 tablespoon oil and a pinch of coarse sea salt. Arrange the squash in an even layer and roast until golden and very tender, stirring halfway through, 35 to 45 minutes.
• In a large skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high. Add the onion, chile powder, sage and a generous pinch of smoked salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the reserved 1 1/3 cups cooking liquid and bring to a simmer.
• Add the cooked hominy and beans to the skillet, then stir in the roasted squash and greens. Season to taste with coarse sea salt and serve.

THREE SISTERS SAUTE

Steps:

• Toast pine nuts in dry saute pan. Pick sage leaves and parsley so as to leave little or no stem. Combine all ingredients in food processor or blender, process until a pesto consistency is achieved. May store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
• 3 SISTER SAUTE: Sort, rinse and cook beans separately in plenty of water, salting at the end. Rinse and trim squashes. Peel husk of corn down, but not off, remove silk and dress corn again with its husk. Dunk in cool water and grill for 5 to 8 minutes, turning. Let cool and slice kernels from cobs. Rinse tomatoes. Heat olive oil in large saute pan, add squash saute for 1 minute, then in succession, keeping pan moving add beans and saute for another 1 minute. Add the corn and saute another minute, and tomatoes and quickly saute, add sage pesto, stir to distribute. Season with salt if necessary. Serve immediately.

REFRIED BEAN, ZUCCHINI AND CORN GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Oil or butter a 2-quart baking dish or gratin dish.
• Refry beans: Drain off about 1/2 cup of liquid from beans, retaining it in a separate bowl to use later for moistening beans, should they dry out. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large, heavy nonstick frying pan and add ground cumin and chili. Cook, stirring over medium heat, for about a minute, until the spices begin to sizzle and cook. Add beans and optional chipotle. Fry beans, stirring and mashing with the back of a spoon, until they thicken and form a thin crust on the bottom of the pan. Stir up crust and mix into the beans. Cook until beans are thick but not dry, about 10 minutes. Add liquid you saved from the beans if they seem too dry. Taste refried beans and adjust salt (they probably won't need any as the broth reduces when you refry them). Spread in an even layer in the baking dish. (Note: If you use canned beans, do not drain. The frying process will go more quickly.)
• Clean and dry skillet. Heat over medium heat and add olive oil. Add onion and cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add a pinch of salt and garlic and cook, stirring, until garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add squash, oregano, salt and pepper, and turn up heat slightly. Cook, stirring often or tossing in pan, until squash is translucent and tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning. Spread in an even layer over the beans.
• Combine corn and milk in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Simmer 5 minutes, until corn is just tender. Stir in cornmeal and minced serrano, add salt to taste, and continue to simmer until mixture is thick, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in grated cheese. Remove from heat and spread in an even layer over squash. Sprinkle crumbled cheese over top. Dot with butter or drizzle on oil.
• Place in oven and bake 25 minutes, until bubbly and crumbled cheese is lightly browned. Serve hot or warm.

THREE SISTERS' VEGGIE BOWL

Steps:

• Note: For this recipe fresh sage can replace fresh cilantro if you prefer and you will have to reduce the amount significantly. Place the coconut oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic, and cook, stirring often, until vegetables begin to soften and lightly caramelize, about 5 minutes. Add beans and warm through. When beans are warm, remove pot from heat and stir in half the chopped cilantro and the lime juice. Season with salt, if needed. Serve in bowls, topped with reserved cilantro and other garnishes.
• Add squash, corn, chile powder, salt, and ½ cup water, vegetable broth or cooking liquid from beans. Stir well, reduce heat to medium, and cook another 5 minutes, stirring from time to time, until mixture is almost dry.
• Add beans and warm through. Stir in the lime juice.
• Season with salt, if needed. Serve in bowls, topped with reserved cilantro (or sage) and the remaining garnishes.

THREE SISTERS SOUP

Steps:

• Place the hominy, green beans, squash, and potatoes into a pot, and pour in water and chicken bouillon. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, and simmer until vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Blend flour into the butter, then stir into the soup. Increase heat to medium, and cook for 5 more minutes, or until soup thickens. Season with pepper, and serve.

THREE SISTERS VEGETABLE STEW

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 VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Peel, seed and cut squash into bite-sized cubes.
• Trim beans; cut into 1 inch lengths.
• Remove husks and silk from corn; cut off kernels.
• In large heavy saucepan, combine water and squash; cover and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes or just until squash begins to soften, adding more water if necessary.
• Add beans and cook for 5 to 8 minutes or until bright green but still tendercrisp.
• Add corn, butter, salt, and pepper to taste, adding a little more water if necessary.
• Cook, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender and liquid has been absorbed.
• Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.