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Café Brenda Black Bean Vegetable Chili

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 8 to 10

Ingredients

2

1/2 cups dried black beans

1

large onion, chopped

2

tablespoons olive oil

4

garlic cloves, minced

2

large carrots, diced

2

ribs celery, chopped

1

red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

2 to 3

jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced

1

tablespoon minced fresh marjoram or 1 teaspoon dried

1

tablespoon minced fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried Mexican

1

tablespoon chili powder

1

tablespoon ground cumin

1

/2 teaspoon cayenne

1

/2 teaspoon crushed coriander seeds

1

1/2 teaspoons salt

juice of 1/2 lemon

1

ounce unsweetened chocolate

1

cup raw pumpkin seeds

soy sauce

sour cream, optional

1

1/2 cups grated Cheddar cheese, optional

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Pick over the black beans, then soak them in 8 cups of water for 6 to 8 hours. Drain them and cook in 8 cups of water until tender, about 1 hour. Drain, reserving all the cooking liquid.

    Step 2

    In a large skillet, sauté the onion in the oil until soft. Add the garlic, carrots, and celery; sauté 3 minutes. Add the bell pepper and jalapeño peppers; sauté 3 to 5 minutes longer.

    Step 3

    Combine the sautéed vegetables and cooked beans in a large pot. Add the herbs, spices, salt, lemon juice, and chocolate. Pour in about 1 1/2 cups of the reserved cooking liquid or as needed to keep the chili loose. Simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Step 4

    As the chili simmers, place the pumpkin seeds in a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Dry-toast them, stirring and tossing until the seeds glisten and begin to brown. Sprinkle a few drops of soy sauce on them and allow them to cool.

  2. Step 5

    Serve in bowls with the pumpkin seeds sprinkled on top. Add sour cream and/or grated cheese, if desired.

Chili Nation by Jane and Michael Stern Broadway Books