Chili is one of those foods I can change up with my mood, the ingredients in the cupboard, the time I have, etc. My absolute favorite is my 24 Hour Chili, because the extended cooking time does so much for the flavor. That is one of those recipes I like to keep handy in individual servings in the freezer. Great when I don't wanna cook. Sadly for me, I don't always have that in the freezer. Like today, when the cold rainy weather made me crave a good bowl of red.
Checking my cupboard, I discover that I MIGHT have all the ingredients for a quick pot. Forget the long slow simmer today. I am hungry. I put the lunch items I packed for hubby back in the fridge. I will eat those another day. That is what happens when chili calls. Fortunately, since he is happily dining on my orginal planned meal, I can sneak in some ingredients he won't eat. Ha! I go digging for the can of Rotel tomatoes with chilies. I always buy that, despite knowing my husband threatens to call the fire department when I add it to a recipe. Even when I dilute it with lots of other ingredients, he breaks out in a sweat. He won't be eating today, so I reach for the can opener.
This chili is thick. Really thick, because I have half a can of pumpkin leftover from a Rumple I made for dinner last night. (Remember Rumple from the November Diner News? It is nice and spicy too.) I must be on a roll with the spiciness, poor hubby. Maybe it is hormones? I love adding pumpkin to my chili because it adds a touch of sweetness and makes it look more like those cans of Wolf brand I remember from my single days. Sad to admit but yes, I would eat chili straight from the can back in college and my early working days. Who would have thought that girl would ever write a cookbook?
This is easy to throw together, and easy to change ingredients around to suit your tastes. Almost everything here is a cupboard staple. It is hard to go wrong with chili. .Never made a bad one. Never won a chili cook-off either, though. Oh well, suits me.
Rotel Red
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1/2 chopped onion
10 oz. can Rotel type tomatoes with green chilies
1 cup pumpkin puree
6 oz. can of tomato paste
2 cups water or beef broth
1 1/2 tbsp chili powder ( mine was guajillo, but you can choose milder)
1 tbsp cumin
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp powdered Mexican oregano
1/2 tsp salt or to taste
Chop onion. Brown onion and beef in a dutch oven. Drain fat if not using a lean grind of beef. Stir in tomatoes, pumpkin and tomato paste. Slowly add the can of water while stirring. Add spices and cocoa. Simmer at least 30 minutes. Check salt and serve.
The leftovers are going into the freezer so the next day I am on my own for lunch, this will be a no brainer meal that will make me happy. For more ideas on what to do with lots of chili, check this post. Come to think of it, maybe a chili stuffed omelet would be good tomorrow morning.
Get more great recipes at the Low Carbing Among Friends Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LowCarbingAmongFriends
What is Mexican oregano and how is it different from regular oregano?
ReplyDeleteMexican oregano is actually a different plant from the regular variety, but they have very similar flavor. I buy mine in the Hispanic food section at the grocery store. It is powdered, unlike the dried flakes I use in Italian dishes. Either would work, since the flavors are so similar. They say the Mediterranean style is sweeter.
ReplyDeleteI just made a pot of this chili for dinner. It's EXCELLENT! Thank you for sharing all of your delicious recipes. I have been low-carb and grain-free for only a few months and my husband is just starting to "see the light." It's nice to have recipes that he thinks are delicious and low-carb. He's realizing that he doesn't need all that high-carb food.
ReplyDeleteVera, thanks so much for letting me know you liked it. And the encouragement means more than you ever know!
ReplyDeleteMy husband is a hamburger nut... could eat it every day in different forms. I am definitely going to try this recipe.
ReplyDeleteI'm like Vera, in that it took my husband a while to see he could still eat yummy foods while giving up his beloved carbs. So I, too, appreciate these hubby-friendly meat recipes. :-)
Just made it for a party. I do that all the time, try new things on people. I had my daughter try it before I told her what was in it. We both agreed it is VERY good. We both hope others don't like it too much so I can bring it home, LOL! thanks very much!
ReplyDeleteLisa, I wanted to come by and let you know that several of your recipes have become staples in my home since I purchased your eBook. THIS is one of them. It is so quick, easy and good - and as you said, we usually always have all the ingredients on hand. We've been having 100 degree temps here, but my son asked a couple of days ago if he could make this. No way, I said. Too hot. Well, today it is cooler and rainy. Guess what we're having for dinner? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteTalking about adding whatever you have on hand. . . One time I had a bag of Hershey Dark Chocolate Drops sitting nearby when I was fixing chili and decided to add a few to the pow. I was really surprised what a unique flavor it added to the chili.
ReplyDeleteDid you know you can create short urls with Shortest and receive cash from every click on your short links.
ReplyDelete