Monday, June 6, 2011

Chocolate Chili

I love chili and can have it anytime of the day. I try out different versions as well.You can see two versions already posted  here and here and few else are in queue waiting for their turn.  Long time back I have heard about the use of chocolate in traditional Mexican chili recipes and recently tried out the recipe from Vegnews which had not just chocolate but coffee as well. It was simply IRRESISTABLE.

Ingredients:
Dried Beans: 1/2 cup presoaked and cooked or canned beans (I used pinto beans and pink beans)

Olive Oil: 2-3 tsp
Onion: chopped 1 small : around 4-5 tbsp
Carrot: 1/4 cup cubed /minced
Garlic: 1-2 cloves

Cumin Powder: 1/4 tsp +
Chilli Powder: 1 tbsp +/-
Paprika: 1/2 tsp +/-
Oregano: 1/4 tsp
Pepper: 1/4 tsp +
Salt: as  per taste


Tomato: 1/2 cup chopped
Tomato paste: 3-4 tbsp  OR Puree : almost 1/2 cup
Chocolate: 1/2  oz semi sweet or dark, grated

Chipotle in adobo sauce: 1 small or as per taste (chopped /minced)

Sugar: 1/4 tsp + (omit if using semi sweet)

Espresso Coffee :2-3 tbsp or more as needed
Water: as needed (I used the water in which the beans were cooked)

Preparation:
Presoak the dried beans overnight and cook till  done in the pressure cooker or stovetop as per convenience.Keep aside.

Heat oil in a deep pan,add onion,garlic and carrots and cook for a few minutes until they soften. Add in salt,pepper and all the spice powders and also sugar (if using dark chocolate). Saute for a minute. 

Add in tomatoes chopped,tomato puree/paste and chopped/minced chipotle. Stir well and cook for a few more minutes till the tomatoes start to cook.

Add in the beans,coffee and the water to this and bring to boil. Reduce to simmer and let it cook uncovered for about 30 -45 minutes stirring occasionally so that the tastes are well blended and the required thickness is reached. 

Serve as a side with rice/tortillas or as a wholesome soup topped with lowfat cheese slice  and garnished with chocolate gratings.


I enjoyed it as both and everybody licked their bowls clean. Ummmmmmmmm.. 

The aroma while adding the chocolate is GREAT.You savour the feeling as if you are savouring a cuppa of hot chocolate spiced with cinnamon and chilli on a snowy day. It truly lifts your mood. Chipotle as usual adds the smoky authentic chili taste and overall it has all the qualities and taste needed for a comforting chili.I am not sure about the coffee addition as the coffee added just a  mellowed sharpness and it could be because I had add just 2 tbsp of it - I had mixed 1/2 tsp powder with 2 tbsp of water and added to the gravy. But it does blend with the total taste of the gravy and does not stand out of line. 

Go make your own and enjoy as the few spoonfuls I have saved goes to AWED:Mexico,at MyTastyTreats, an event by DK.

10 Comments:

Oriyarasoi said...

Wow....what an awesome combo!!! Never thought taht chilli & chocolate can go togather....kudos to you for posting the recipe!!!

Indian Khana said...

Very interesting ..looks so yum

Deepthi Shankar said...

this is such a yummy recipe ... chocolate & chilli in one dish sounds good

Meatloaf Recipe said...

Delicious Chocolate Chili recipe! Thanks a lot for sharing.

Richard said...

This sounds tasty. I've been meaning to try a chilli recipe that includes chocolate.

Priya Suresh said...

Thats an ultimate chilli, adding chocolate sounds truly interesting and delicious, havent taste this chilli,but that bowl tempts me a lot..

Unknown said...

wow, what an invention :)

Cham said...

I have tasted chili flavor chocolate bar, but the mexican choco chili is very poular and looks great!

Sensible Vegetarian said...

This looks so delicious, adding chocolate and coffee gives a beautiful color to the dish.

Sharan said...

Yum, I love chilli and chocolate chilli sounds delicious!

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