Three Sisters’ Stew is made from Posole (Mexican Dent Corn), Pinto Beans and Kabocha Squash. The Corn is pressure-cooked for 2 1/2 hours until fully softened and then cooked along with Pinto Beans and Kabocha Squash for a rich, satisfying Stew.
Nature Co-operates!
Native Americans (and Africans) planted these 3 crops alongside each other as they co-operate for each others’ benefit.
The Three Sisters are the three main agricultural crops of some Native American (and African) groups. These three crops work together. The corn provides a structure for the beans to climb, eliminating the need for poles. The beans provide the nitrogen for the soil that the plants utilize. The squash spreads along the ground, preventing weeds. The squash leaves act as a living mulch, creating a micro climate to retain moisture in the soil, and the prickly hairs of the vines deter pests.