Recipe: Mom’s Spicy Chili for Seniors
- 1 pound ground meat (I used ground turkey; use beef or whatever you have. Or try a wildcard like ground bison!)
- 1 red pepper, chopped finely
- 1 onion, chopped finely
- 2 tablespoons chili powder (I used 1 tablespoon regular chili powder and 1 tablespoon ancho chili powder)
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander (I used 1 teaspoon)
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin (I used 1 teaspoon)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice (I didn’t have this, so I vamped with a pinch of cloves, a pinch of cinnamon and a few grinds of nutmeg)
- 1/4 teaspoon jalapeno powder (optional, or use a fresh jalapeno chili, finely chopped)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (I used 1/2-1 teaspoon salt; salt this to your taste!)
- Few grinds pepper
- Dash cayenne (optional, depending on how much heat you like)
- 1 (15-ounce) can Mexican diced tomatoes (I used plain diced tomatoes in their own juice)
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce (or Mexican tomato sauce if you can take the heat)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, optional (Yes, I used this!)
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans
- 1/4 cup caramelized onions (totally optional, this is the wildcard I added because I had some left over)
Garnishes: sour cream, fresh cilantro, and/or shredded cheese (I used Kerrygold Red Leicester cheese)
In a large skillet or pot with a lid, brown the meat; sauté onions and pepper, and then add rest of ingredients through cocoa powder. Simmer on lowest heat, covered, at least 30 minutes. Stir in black beans and caramelized onions, if using, and continue simmering another 30-45 minutes.
Serve in bowls, garnished with a dollop of sour cream, finely chopped fresh cilantro, and shredded cheese.
Serves 4.
Other meat options
- I have made this with ground turkey, and it is great!
- I have made this with ground beef and it is also great!
- For my third batch of this (third in 2 weeks!), I used ground pork, sopping up the released grease with a paper towel from the skillet before adding onions, and subbed mushrooms for the red pepper. Nom nom!
- My pal Kathie made it with ground bison and she said they licked their bowls clean.
- Bottom line: use whatever ground meat suits you.
[1]Disclosure: Kerrygold sent the cheese for use in a recipe.