Friday, June 2, 2023

Read the Latest

Easy, Vegan Chocolate Jalapeño Chili

Share

Warm up your belly with a spicy, vegan, jalapeño chocolate chili. Full of flavor, this easy recipe cooks up in no time.

Chilies offer deep smoky and earthy flavors and are a base for many spicy sauces. They are a rich source of vitamin A. Jalapeños are large green chilies.

Unsweetened or bittersweet chocolate is a combination of cocoa solids and cocoa butter. It is too bitter to nibble, but ideal for cooking, as its intense taste is not easily overpowered by competing flavors.

Vegan Jalapeño Chocolate Chili

Spicy, rich and creamy, this vegan jalapeño chocolate chili is easy to make.

  • 1 medium-size fresh jalapeño chili or 2 tsp (5 mL) chili powder
  • 1½ tsp ground cumin
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped garlic
  • 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 1 cup thinly sliced shiitake mushrooms
  • ½ cup corn niblets, frozen or from a can
  • 1 cup celery, cut into ½-inch pieces
  • 1 lb spinach, washed and thinly sliced
  • ½ cup water or vegetable stock
  • 1 oz bittersweet chocolate, grated
  • 28 oz canned organic diced tomatoes
  • 19 oz canned organic pinto or white beans, with liquid
  • ½ cup toasted cashews
  1. Slice the chili lengthwise; remove stem and seeds. To toast the chili, heat a small dry skillet over medium heat. Add the chili, pressing down with tongs for 1 minutes, turn over, and toast for 30 seconds on the other side.

  2. When cool, slice into 4 pieces. Pulse in a spice grinder until finely ground. Place in a small bowl with the cumin, oregano, cinnamon, and salt.

  3. In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the garlic for 1 minute. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes or until softened. Add the mushrooms, corn, celery, spinach, and ½ cup (120 mL) water or stock. Cook covered and stir occassionally for 5 minutes.

  4. Mix in the chili spice mixture. Stir in the chocolate and tomatoes. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.

  5. Stir in the beans. Simmer for 5 more minutes or until the beans are hot.

  6. Garnish each bowl with 2 tbsp (30 mL) cashews.

Main Course, Soup
Mexican, vegan
chili, chocolate, vegan

Reprinted with permission from The Fair Trade Ingredient Cookbook by Nettie Cronish (Whitecap Books, 2021)

Related

Former NFL QB Jake Plummer Found God In Mushrooms. So Now He Grows Them.

The Mycolove mushroom farm is a labor of love for former Denver Bronco and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer.

Wild Raspberry Waffles With Yogurt and Candied Seeds

Brunch your way to bliss and better health with these vegan waffles topped with raspberry relish, dairy-free yogurt, rose syrup, and candied seeds.

7 Sustainable, Organic, and Fair-Trade Tea Brands: The Benefits are Worth Sipping

Don't let Ted Lasso's disdain sway you. Tea is perfectly acceptable in all its many varieties. Especially when it's sustainable.

‘Every Drop’ of Martini’s Sparkling Wines Are Now Certified Sustainable

Bacardi's best-selling Italian sparkling wine and vermouth label, Martini, says that all of the wineries in its portfolio are now certified sustainable.

The Wine Capital of the World Takes the Lead on Sustainability

Long uptight about wine traditions and production, France is now leading the shift to more sustainable vineyards and cleaner wine production.