This blog post is not about winning you over with my amazing chili. This isn’t a recipe that is passed down from generation to generation. If you take a walk around the recipe world on the internet, you will find some pretty elaborate chili recipes.
What I want to share is my discovery of a beautiful little bean I picked up from the grocery store. I like to call them orca beans, but they are also called “black calypso” and “ying yang” beans. When I spotted them in the bulk isle I was attracted to their distinctive patterns and the fact that they’re heirloom beans. After soaking them over night I was pleasantly surprised to find the pattern on each bean was still very apparent. Even more surprising, was finding it still visible after cooking!
Around this household, I like my chili’s to be a little different from the norm (mole!). Jason is more of a traditional chili lover (chocolate = meh). During this round of chili making, I used what I had in my cupboards. Being the end of the week, the only vegetable I had was an onion and some garlic. Alas, no chilies or peppers.
The great thing about chili is you only really need a few key ingredients: beans, onions, cumin, chili powder, and a base liquid. Simmer for several hours and you have a chili.
The ingredients I used:
About 3 cups dried beans, soaked over night (I used orca and red beans) About 1 1/2 lbs. meat (I mixed organic turkey and beef) 1 onion 3 – 4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped 1 28 oz. can of diced tomatoes 2 cups of chicken stock (mine is always homemade) 2 – 3 tbsp chili powder 2 -3 tsp ground cumin 1 tbsp cocoa powder (sorry Jason, wife wins) salt and pepper to tasteDirections:
In a dutch oven, brown your meat. If you like you can drain the fat (I didn’t), then add the onions and garlic. Cook until soft. Throw in everything else, taste, and adjust to your desires. Simmer for many, many hours. I started mine in the morning, and everything was delicious by dinner time.
You can add a dollop of sour cream (recommended).
Or you can add shredded sharp cheddar (also recommended)
If you choose to stick with these ingredients, the result will be very kid friendly (see above). Of course you can add cayenne pepper or any varieties of chili peppers to add spice and depth of flavor.
But, you didn’t need me to tell you that.
