Chili. No onions. Add pumpkin.
The picture has nothing to do with chili. It was just pretty, and had a pumpkin in it -- this is a local place that sells apples. This time of year is great for pictures!
So, I was asked to make chili tonight for a Boy Scout function, but the restrictions were that we couldn't have any onions or pork.
No onions??
All right, here was a challenge for the ages, because my kids can't have any beans or sugar, both of which I usually add to chili to make it taste good.
My husband recently won a chili cook-off by adding mango puree to the pot, so I had a good place to start.
And I kept seeing recipes with pumpkin in them, so that was another idea.
To hell with it: Throw them all in, and see where it gets me.
And you know what? It was a very good pot of chili.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Chopped garlic -- however much you like
- 1 cup chopped bell pepper -- whatever color you like
- 2 lb. ground beef
- 2 cans diced tomatoes
- 1 can pumpkin
- 1 can mild Rotel
- 1 can of mango chunks, pureed, or use fresh mango, or whatever sweet/fruity/whatever thing you have in the house that might work
- some frozen or canned corn, if you have it and can eat it (we didn't, but it would have been good)
- 3 tablespoons chili powder, if it's mild, or less if it's hot
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander seed
- salt to taste -- mine needed at least a couple of teaspoons
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- ground black pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
HEAT olive oil in large pan over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, for 5 to 7 minutes or until tender. Add ground beef; cook until browned. Drain.
ADD everything else except the cocoa powder and salt, and add a couple of cans of water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Mix the cocoa powder in a small bowl with a little of the chili and add to the pot. Salt to taste. Cover; cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.