Chicken Chili

Sometimes I can’t quite get this blog together.  I do the cooking, I take the pictures, I write up the recipe, but then sometimes the words simply don’t flow.  Or the words do flow, but rather than flowing like a delicate creek, they flow like muddy water, bursting out of a sewer drain. 

I’m not sure where this blog post falls in that spectrum; however, I can tell you that the recipe was rather tasty.  This chili is definitely not the most beautiful food to come out of my tiny kitchen, but it certainly went down easy.  I have been pondering the concept of chicken chili for a while.  There are so many options: white chicken chili, green chicken chili, chicken chili with beans, tomatoes, etc.  It was a tough decision.  I knew I wanted a chili with some body to it; I personally don’t like chili that has lots heft in terms of the ingredients, but it all swims around in a thin, non-descript liquid.  I also knew that I wanted chunks of identifiable chicken breast, rather than mysterious ground poultry.

Additionally, I decided against white chicken chili in favor of something with more vegetables so that the chili could more or less be a complete meal.  Green chili was tempting, but I ultimately could not deal with shucking all the necessary tomatillos, nor did I want the responsibility of finding respectable tomatillos.  Nothing is more disappointing than having your heart set on a particular ingredient and all you can find at the market turns browned, bruised and undesirable.  I felt this was a realistic concern with tomatillos, and therefore eliminated them from my list of potential ingredients.

Essentially, I organized chili attributes according to what I did and did not want, and my hearty chicken chili grew from there.  It turned out to be loaded with green peppers, spiced with jalapeno, sweetened with tomatoes and corn, thickened with a touch of flour, and made hearty with chunks of chicken and white beans. 

Sounds good, doesn’t it?  Well, it was.  To avoid the wateriness I was previously griping about, I lightly dusted chopped chicken breasts with flour before sautéing it in olive oil.  At this point, don’t worry about the chicken sticking a bit to the pan or being completely cooked through.  Plenty of liquid will be added later that will pick up those browned bits.  It’s more important to let the chicken brown and form a bit of a crust.  Once the chicken has browned, aromatic vegetables were added along with a jalapeno and dried spices.  The medley was then simmered with some chicken stock, canned tomatoes, beans, and sweet corn kernels.  After bubbling for a bit, it was topped off with some shredded cheese.  What could be bad?  I think the key to this dish was that little bit of flour.  You would never know it was there, but this chili had very pleasing texture.  A generous amount of shredded Monterey jack doesn’t hurt the chili, either. 

A note on chopping jalapenos: be careful and wash your hands.  Once, I put in my contacts after chopping a jalapeno.  My family can confirm I actually shrieked from the pain.  So, be sure the wash your hands carefully and/or wear gloves.  The heat from fresh peppers is a little uneven, and I found that it mellowed out in this recipe after the chili sat for a day or two.  If you are concerned about the chili being too spicy, you can remove all or part of the seeds and ribs to reduce the heat.     

Chicken Chili

1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast

2-3 tablespoons of flour

2 tablespoons olive oil

Salt, pepper

1 onion, chopped

2 green peppers, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 jalapeno, minced (remove all or part of seeds/ribs to reduce heat)

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

½ teaspoon dried oregano

½ teaspoon dried basil

Garlic salt, Lawry's seasoned salt to taste

1-14 oz. can petite diced tomatoes

1-14 oz. can small white beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup frozen corn kernels (no need to thaw)

2-3 cups chicken stock

Accompaniments:  Shredded jack cheese, hot sauce

-       Chop chicken breast and toss with 2 tablespoons of flour.

-       Add to soup pot, preheated over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

-       Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper.

-       Brown for 5-10 minutes

-       Add chopped onion, bell peppers, garlic, and jalapeno.

-       Add cumin, chili powder, oregano, salt, pepper, and other seasonings (like Lawry’s seasoning salt, my favorite) if desired.

-       Stir occasionally, and cook for 5-10 minutes.

-       Add diced tomatoes, beans, frozen corn, chicken stock*.  Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally

-       Top with desired garnishes.

*Start with 2 cups of stock, adding more if your chili looks too thick.  You can always add more when reheating, as well.

White Bean Chili with Bulgur

Every Sunday night, I cook with the intention of having leftovers. I have a love-hate relationship with leftovers.  On one hand, there is comfort in knowing you have something luscious waiting in your refrigerator when you’re ravenous after class or work.  Conversely, I love to cook, and having leftovers puts a kink in being able to cook unless you happen have no scruples about throwing away food.  However, with my current life style, leftovers are a necessity, and I spend abundant time on the decision-making process for my Sunday night cooking to ensure I will not be disappointed throughout the week. 

Recently, I stumbled across a white bean chili recipe that made me swoon.  Generally, I am drawn to vegetarian chili in theory, but disappointed by the reality.  The idea is not without appeal, but after a bowlful, I’m not satiated.  This particular recipe (from the September issue of Real Simple magazine) has a novelty component that won me over: a simple bulgur* salad to garnish the chili.  The bulgur adds heft, texture, and nutritional value; its simple dressing adds freshness to the melded flavors of the chili. 

Chili Recipe (adapted from Real Simple, September 2009)

Bulgur:

½ cup bulgur*

Zest and juice of one lemon

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 scallions, thinly sliced

1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped

3 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, chopped

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Chili:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

2 large cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

½ teaspoon dried oregano

Kosher salt and pepper, to taste

1 14.5 oz. can chicken stock, vegetable stock or 1 ¾ cups water

1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes

2 15 oz. cans small white beans, drained and rinsed

Additional accompaniment:  1 cup shredded Monterey jack

Bring one cup of water to a boil; add bulgur and a dash of salt.  Reduce heat and cover.  Simmer, stirring occasionally for 12-15 minutes, or until the water is absorbed and the bulgur is tender.  Add lemon juice and zest, scallion, jalapeno, 1-tablespoon olive oil, and chopped parsley.  Season with salt and pepper and set aside. 

Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large pot.  Add chopped onion and green pepper, and sauté until tender (about 8 minutes).  Add garlic and all of the remaining spices and herbs; sauté for a minute or two, until garlic is fragrant and spices are evenly distributed.  Add the can of tomatoes and stock or water.  Bring to a boil.  Add the beans and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.  Serve topped with the shredded cheese and a scoop of the bulgur. 

Comments:  The original recipe received minimal adjustments.  I increased the lemon, added a couple more spices, and changed the beans.  The original recipe called for cannellini beans.  I find them to be horsey in size, and I dislike how the skins separate from the bean.  Nonetheless, any bean you enjoy would work here.  Black beans or chickpeas would be delightful.  Next time, I plan to use one can of black beans, and one can of small white beans so I can call it and “Black and White (Bean) Chili.”  Also, the Real Simple recipe didn’t call for cheese, which I didn’t hesitate to amend.  Personally, I always take an opportunity to add cheese if it is contextually appropriate.  It if my favorite food, and I cannot be deterred.  Additional vegetables could enhance the chili, but are not necessary.  Zucchini would be particularly lovely, but I would add it with the tomatoes and broth to avoid mushiness. 

This recipe surpassed my expectations.  I made the chili on Sunday night, and it lasted me through Wednesday; I enjoyed the last bite as much as the first.  In fact, the flavor improved daily.  If you are die-hard meat hawk, you could brown a pound of ground beef before adding the onion and bell pepper.  However, as a vegetarian meal, this dish is a nutritious, delicious bargain that is mindful of your carbon footprint; I personally wouldn’t meddle with such a desirable combination of traits.  

*See glossary for definitions