Healthy Chipotle Chicken Chili with Crispy Spiced Tortillas

I love football. I love chili. Yet I never posted a chili recipe for the Super Bowl. That's just wrong.

So today I'm making up for it with my healthy, kickin' chipotle chicken chili. Chili is the perfect belly warmer on a raw March night. And this chipotle chicken chili will warm you from the inside out. It's tantalizing aromatic, sweet and spicy, creamy and rich, and --this is the best part -- it's healthy. Packed with lean protein and fiber rich beans and corn, this chili is filling without being fattening. Plus tomatoes and red bell peppers provide antioxidants which may just help you feel healthier too. Now who could complain about that?




Healthy Kickin' Chipotle Chicken Chili with Crispy Spiced Tortillas

Enjoy rich and spicy chili without the guilt. This chili is packed with lean protein, belly-filling fiber, and antioxidant rich tomatoes and red bell peppers. It's even better with warm and crispy spiced tortillas.

Makes 6-8 servings
Print recipe only here.

Chili:
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 large yellow onion, finely diced
1 1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken cutlets, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 large red bell pepper, diced
1 (15 oz) can corn kernels, drained
2 (15 oz) can black beans OR 1 (15 0z) can black beans and 1 (15 oz) can red beans, drained
2 (28 oz) cans diced tomatoes with juices*
juice of half a lime (about 2 teaspoons)
1/4 cup light brown sugar
4 chipotle chilis in adobo sauce, finely chopped (use fewer chilis for less heat and extra chilis for more heat)**
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 avocado, diced and sprinkled with lime juice
shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, optional
low-fat sour cream, optional

Seasoned Tortillas
4 (6-inch) whole wheat tortillas (low-carb or half corn/half wheat are good substitutes)
non-stick cooking spray
Mexican seasoning of your choice, such as fajita spices, chipotle chili powder, Mexican oregano, cumin and/or cayenne pepper


In a large pot over medium-high heat, warm canola oil. Add onions and saute until translucent and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add chicken and saute until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add red bell pepper; cook for 5 minutes. Add corn, beans, tomatoes, lime juice, brown sugar, and chipotle chilis in adobo sauce; stir well. Reduce heat to low; partially cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until desired level of thickness is reached. Cook longer if you like your vegetables softer. Stir in the fresh cilantro, and adjust seasonings to your taste.

Top individual servings with diced avocado, chopped fresh cilantro, shredded cheese, and a dollop of sour cream, if desired. Leftover chili will last up to 1 week if refrigerated in an air-tight container.

For the spiced tortillas, place a large non-skillet over medium-high heat. Spray both sides of a tortilla with cooking spray and sprinkle with spices. Place in the hot pan for about 1 minute per side, or until crisp. Repeat with remaining 3 tortillas. Cut each tortilla into quarters, and serve alongside bowls of chili.

*Note: This is a rather soupy chili. If you prefer a thicker chili, then use fewer tomatoes; if you prefer it really soupy, then add an extra 1/2 cup water.
**Chipotle chilis in adobe sauce are available at Mexican specialty markets as well as in the Mexican section of most major supermarkets. If you can't find them, then substitute 2 tablespoons of chipotle chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Taste and adjust accordingly.

You might also like:

The Southwest Hamburger





Fish Tacos





Chicken, Jalapeno and Cheddar Quesadillas




Save This Page on Del.icio.us

A Plantain is Not a Banana

The above picture is not a super ripe banana. (Though I have a couple of those on my counter begging to be baked into a banana bread.) It's actually a perfectly ripe plantain.

Though used primarily as a vegetable, a plantain, like a banana, is a fruit that can be used in both savory and sweet dishes depending on its level of ripeness. When still green, a plantain is hard and starchy, like a potato. As it ripens, the peel turns nearly black, while the flesh becomes yellow and sweet. Fully ripe plantains are soft and creamy in texture, emit a mild banana fragrance, and are supremely sweet. Plantains take several days to ripen, so if you want to cook some soon then buy ones that are already blackened in the supermarket.



How is a plantain different from a banana?

1. Plantains are much firmer and heavier than bananas.
2. Plantains have a lower sugar content than bananas, making them less sweet.
3. Plantains should be cooked, whereas bananas can be eaten raw. Note: My friend Aparna who lives in India, noted that certain sweet plantains can be eaten raw. Thanks, Aparna!
4. Plantains can be cooked when still green and not fully ripe, for a starchier consistency and less sweet flavor, or when blackened and fully ripe, for a softer consistency and sweeter flavor. Bananas, however, cannot be eaten when green or unripe, unless you want to experience a distinctly unpleasant chalky aftertaste.

Plantains are a staple in many South American, African, and Asian countries; fortunately, they're gaining status in the US as well. That's a good thing since they're so versatile: they can be boiled, baked, sauteed, and fried and work in dishes ranging from appetizers to desserts.

In the States, many plantain recipes are Cuban or Mexican in origin and feature ingredients such as chiles, honey, lime, and brown sugar. Plantains make an easy and delicious side dish especially with Baja style fish tacos.



Here's how to peel a plantain:

1. Cut off the top of the plantain.
2. Using a sharp knife, gently cut lengthwise along the plantain, being careful not to cut into the fruit (as shown above).
3. Using your hands, open the skin, remove from the plantain and discard.
4. Slice plantain into equal sized pieces (as shown below).



You'll notice when you slice a plantain, that the fruit is a pinkish-yellow. As it cooks, however, it will magically turn a deep, rich gold color, while the flesh becomes creamy.

I usually saute plantain slices in a little olive oil or butter until lightly caramelized and douse them with some Tabasco sauce and lime juice. Today, however, I opted for a slightly sweeter take. Caramelized plantain slices are drizzled with warm, rich honey, and sprinkled with cayenne pepper and lime juice, for a singular sweet and tangy flavor.



Caramelized Plantains with Honey and Lime
Serves 4
Print recipe only here.

2 fully ripe plantains
2 teaspoons olive oil
2-3 teaspoons quality honey
1 lime, cut in half
salt and cayenne pepper, to taste

Pour olive oil in a large non-stick skillet until evenly coated and place over medium-high heat. Add plantain slices in a single layer (do two batches, if necessary). Cook plantains for 1 minute, flip over, and cook 30-60 seconds, or until browned. Keep your eye on the plantains as they'll brown very quickly. Remove from the pan, and place on a paper-towel lined plate. Cover with foil until all plantains are cooked.

Place plantains on a serving platter. Drizzle with quality honey, then sprinkle with lime juice, salt and cayenne pepper, to taste. Serve immediately.


You might also like:

Fresh Pineapple Chutney




Roasted Root Vegetables with Maple Sage Glaze




Elote, or Mexican Grilled Corn




Fresh Fig and Fennel Pizza




Anna's Bajan Plantain Pikelets (they're like pancakes) with Rum-Butter Sauce at Morsels and Musings
Suganya's Plantain Rice Mix at Tasty Palettes
Gretchen Noelle's Baked Plantains in Orange Sauce at Canela & Camino

I'm sending my plantains to Amy and Jonny of We Are Never Full, this week's hosts of Weekend Herb Blogging, created by Kalyn of Kalyn's Kitchen.

Save This Page on Del.icio.us