Three Sisters and Bison (or Beef) Chili

A hearty, comforting chili that brings together bison with corn, beans, and squash, the Three Sisters. Bison has long been an important source of nourishment for many Indigenous Peoples, while the Three Sisters demonstrate how foods can grow together in a mutually supportive relationship. This recipe brings those ingredients together in a warm, approachable meal made for gathering and sharing.

SHOP CANADIAN 5-SPICE

🍽️ Servings: 4	⏱ Prep Time: 5 min	♨️ Cook Time: 30 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

🌿 Rooted Path Ingredients	🫕 Before You Start
Rooted Path Canadian 5-Spice	Wash and dry all produce
🛒 Your Grocery List *Divide ingredients in 1/2 for 2 servings or times ingredients by 1 1/2 for 6 servings
1 lb ground bison or beef 1 leek or 1/2 small onion, diced sea salt, to taste 1/4 tsp juniper berries, minced or 1/4 tsp of black pepper 1 ear of corn, remove from cob or 1 cup frozen corn or 1 can whole corn kernels 1 cup green beans, 1-inch cut pieces or 1 cup frozen green bean pieces or 1 can cut green beans	1 can navy beans, black beans, kidney beans or chickpeas (optional for extra protein) 1 cup butternut squash, diced or 1 cup frozen diced butternut squash or 1 cup zucchini, diced 1 small jalapeno, minced 1 can no salt added diced tomatoes 2 tablespoons chili seasoning 1 tablespoons fresh sage, roughly chopped or 1 tsp dried sage
👨‍🍳 Directions
In a large pot, cook bison over medium-high heat. Remove from pan and set aside. Add leeks and sauté with sea salt and juniper until soft, about 3-4 minutes. Add the corn, beans, squash, jalapeno, tomatoes, the Rooted Path Canadian 5-Spice (1 tbsp per serving) and chili seasoning. Add additional water as needed to desired consistency. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until squash is soft and beans and corn are cooked through, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in fresh sage. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days or freeze for 3 months.
🔄 Substitutions
Make it vegetarian. Skip the bison or beef and add extra beans for a hearty, plant-based version: Navy Beans • Chickpeas • Black Beans • Kidney Beans Mix it up: Choose one variety or combine a few of your favourites. You can also add extra corn and squash to make the Three Sisters the heart of the dish.

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