Jerk Chicken Chili

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From Pam Anderson’s book “Perfect One-Dish Dinners,” we loved this chili. The combination of chicken and chocolate and pickled jalapeños sounded pretty interesting to me, and after eating this chili at least 3 times (by itself, over rice, and with chips and guacamole), I’m now a Pam Anderson convert.

While cooking it up, I considered being wigged out by the fact that the beans go in with all the can goop that I normally rinse away, but there was no grodiness in the final flavor. At all. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Besides being even better after a night in the fridge, this chili provides me with enough fuel to fuel the growing mobility of this tiny tot.

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Hey, this tummy time is no joke. Do you know how much work it takes to lift as head as big as mine?

Alice, I know it’s hard, but keep in mind that the size of your head in proportion to your quite-small body is what makes you so baby-licious.

Ingredients

(Serves 6-8)

1 TBS olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste
3 TBS chili powder
1 ½ tsp dried thyme
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp allspice
Shredded meat from 1 large rotisserie chicken
1 quart chicken broth
1-28 oz can stewed tomatoes
1-16 oz can black beans (undrained)
1-16 oz can small white beans (undrained)
2 TBS diced pickled jalapeños
5 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup chopped cilantro
1 oz semisweet chocolate

1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Add the chopped onions and pepper and cook for 5-6 minutes, until softened, seasoning with salt and pepper.

2. Add the four spices to the pot and stir for 1 minute, until fragrant.

3. Add the shredded chicken and stir to coat with the spices.

4. Add the broth, tomatoes, beans and jalapeños. Bring the chili to a boil, then partially cover the pot and lower the heat. Simmer for 20 minutes.

5. Turn off the heat and stir in garlic, cilantro and chocolate. Taste and re-season if needed.

6. Cover the pot, and let it stand for 10-15 minutes before serving so that the flavors blend. Enjoy!

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