Pioneer Woman Black Bean Chili Recipes

BEEF-AND-BEAN CHILI

Steps:

• In a large heavy pot, brown the ground beef with the garlic until it's totally cooked. Drain off most of the excess fat, leaving a little behind for moisture and flavor.
• Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and cayenne. Stir together well, cover the pot and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. If the liquid level seems low, add up to 1½ cups water to keep the chili from burning.
• Stir the beans into the chili. In a small bowl, combine the masa harina with 1/2 cup water and stir with a fork until smooth, then stir into the chili. Let simmer for another 10 minutes to thicken. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Top with cheese, bacon and jalapeños.

CHILI BEANS

Steps:

• Rinse the beans under cold water, sorting out any rocks/particles. Cover in cold water and soak for 6 to 8 hours.
• Drain the beans and place in a stockpot with the ham hock; cover with fresh water by 2 inches. Add the tomato sauce, chili powder, brown sugar, white vinegar, garlic, onions, 1 tablespoon salt and 2 teaspoons pepper.
• Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer, adding a little more liquid if the level gets too low, until the beans are tender, 3 to 4 hours. Taste, and season with additional salt and pepper if needed.

BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• For the beans: Place the beans in a bowl or pot, cover with cold water and allow to soak overnight. Drain and rinse before proceeding. (Alternatively, add the beans to a medium pot and cover with hot water. Bring to a boil, and then boil for 2 minutes. Turn off the heat, cover the pot and allow the beans to sit for 1 hour. Drain the beans and rinse them with cold water before proceeding.)
• In a medium pot, add the soaked beans, chicken broth, 2 cups water, the garlic, onions and green, red and yellow bell peppers. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Then add the chile powder, cumin and salt and stir. Cover and continue simmering until the liquid level is to your liking, about another hour. Taste for seasoning and add more of what it needs.
• For the fixins: Serve in a bowl with sour cream, cilantro, lime wedges and diced bell peppers on the side.

SIMPLE, PERFECT CHILI

Steps:

• Place the ground beef in a large pot and throw in the garlic. Cook over medium heat until browned. Drain off the excess fat, and then pour in the tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and cayenne. Stir together well, cover, and then reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. If the mixture becomes overly dry, add 1/2 cup water at a time as needed.
• After an hour, place the masa harina in a small bowl. Add 1/2 cup water and stir together with a fork. Dump the masa mixture into the chili. Stir together well, and then taste and adjust the seasonings. Add more masa paste and/or water to get the chili to your preferred consistency, or to add more corn flavor. Add the beans and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve with shredded Cheddar, chopped onions, tortilla chips and lime wedges.

SPEEDY CHILI VERDE

Steps:

• Cook the rice according to the package instructions.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil and butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. When the oil is hot and the butter has melted, add the garlic, poblanos, onions and jalapenos, then stir to combine. Add the sausage meat and season with the salt and pepper. Cook the sausage, crumbling it as you go, until browned, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add the enchilada sauce, salsa verde and green chiles with their liquid. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, to thicken and develop the flavors. Stir in the lime juice. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed.
• Serve alongside the rice and garnish with the sour cream, radish, cilantro and hot sauce.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND BLACK BEAN ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Toss the squash, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 1/2 teaspoon each of chili powder and cumin, the salt and several grinds of pepper on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast, tossing once, until browned and tender, but not falling apart, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over a medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until lightly browned and tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the black beans and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon each of cumin and chili powder. Cook until the beans are heated through and well combined, about 2 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside on a plate. Pour the enchilada sauce into the skillet, then reduce the heat to low and warm through.
• One at a time, hold the tortillas over a stovetop burner set on a medium heat to brown slightly, about 30 seconds per side. Set aside.
• Pour 2 cups of the enchilada sauce into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. To assemble the enchiladas, dip a tortilla into the remaining sauce, then lay on a plate. Sprinkle some cheese down the middle, followed by some of the bean mixture and finally some of the roasted squash. Roll it up tightly, then place seam-side down in the baking dish. Repeat with the rest of the tortillas. If you have any extra pieces of squash or the bean mixture, tuck them in between the enchiladas. Be sure to save a little cheese for the topping!
• Pour the rest of the sauce over the enchiladas, then top with the remaining cheese. Add a final sprinkling of chili powder, then bake until hot and bubbly, 20 to 30 minutes. Let sit for 15 to 20 minutes before serving. Top with the cilantro.

BLACK BEAN, LENTIL AND EGGPLANT CHILI

Steps:

• Put the black beans in a large bowl and cover with cold water; set aside to soak overnight, then drain.
• Combine the soaked black beans, 2 pasilla chiles, the bay leaves and half of the garlic in a large wide pot and add enough water to cover by 3 inches. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until soft, about 1 1/2 hours; remove from the heat and set aside.
• Meanwhile, add the remaining 2 pasilla chiles and the cascabel and chipotle chiles to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, the chopped dried chiles and the cumin and saute until the chiles are soft, about 7 minutes. Add the remaining garlic and the poblano and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 more minutes. Add the eggplant, season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 8 minutes.
• Add the crushed and diced tomatoes, 4 cups water, the bouillon and green lentils to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are almost tender, about 30 minutes.
• Add the prepared black beans and their cooking liquid and simmer until the lentils are soft, about 30 more minutes. (The longer you let the chili simmer, the thicker it will get.) Season with salt and add the lime juice. Remove the whole pasilla chiles and bay leaves before serving.

SQUASH-BLACK BEAN CHILI

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and bell peppers, season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Add the chile powders, cumin, coriander, oregano and tomato paste. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables are coated in the spice mixture, about 2 minutes, adding a splash of water if the mixture is dry.
• Add 2 cups water, the tomatoes, beans, bay leaves and 1 teaspoon salt to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and stir in the squash and rutabaga. Partially cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the chili is slightly thickened, 30 to 40 minutes. (Add up to 1/2 cup water if the chili gets too thick.) Remove the bay leaves and season with salt. Serve with assorted toppings and cornbread.