Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Mixed Bean Chili
- 1large or 3 small Spanish onions, chopped
- 3 to 4tablespoons olive oil
- 4 to 5cloves garlic, minced
- 1tablespoon + 1 teaspoon ground chili, or to taste
- 1/4 to 1/2teaspoon chipotle chili powder, or to taste
- 1teaspoon ground cumin
- 1teaspoon cumin seeds, lightly toasted and then pounded in a mortar and pestle
- 1tablespoon dried oregano
- 1large can fire-roasted tomatoes. (I use Muir Glen). Otherwise, you could use whole, diced, or petite-diced, according to your preference
- 1/2naval orange, skin and pith removed, coarsely chopped
- 1teaspoon salt or to taste
- Rice as an accompaniment (see my brown-rice pilaf within my recipe for Sephardic Megedarra -- if you start it at the same time you saute the aromatics here, it will be done just about when the chili is done)
- Guacamole (see my recipe for Plain and Simple Guacamole and maybe increase by 1 avocado + extra lime juice and garlic)
- Plain or goat's milk yogurt
- Sliced scallions or minced white onions
- Shredded cheddar
- Fresh mild goat cheese, crumbled
- Lemon or lime wedges
- Refrigerated-type salsa (or homemade: chopped tomatoes, fresh jalapeno, seeded & minced, diced onion, minced garlic and a squeeze of lime)
- Chopped fresh tomatoes (optional)
- Shredded iceberg lettuce (optional)
- In a heavy-bottomed pan, sauté onions until slightly softened; make an opening in the sautéing onions and add a little more oil and the minced garlic, allowing it to sizzle a bit before stirring into the onions. Sauté mixture until onions are translucent. Quickly add the spices and herbs and stir once or twice into the onion mix to bring out the fragrance then remove from heat before they scorch. Add to the pot of beans along with the canned tomatoes (squeeze over the pot to break them up before adding if they are whole), and orange pieces. Simmer mixture for 1/2 hour or so until flavors blend. Taste for salt and seasoning and adjust. May be made a day ahead for best flavor.
- Serve over rice with choice of garnishes: guacamole, yogurt, scallions, minced onions, shredded cheddar or creamy goat cheese, lemon or lime wedges, chopped tomatoes and lettuce.
# posted by Chelsea @ 11:32 AM 
