There are times of the year when, undoubtedly, you need a good dose of chili in your body to feel comforted, and more in the winter months where the cold takes up all of your body space and it cries out for a delicious hot meal that is able to warm you up. However, there is a false belief that to make a recipe with chili it is necessary to add a generous portion of fat and a lot of oil. However, it is important to stop thinking that way, as there are other healthier alternatives that you can choose to take.
Discover these delicious healthy chili recipes based on nutritious vegetables, unusual cuts of meat and beans that will make your day unforgettable.
Healthy recipes with chili
1. Braised beef with chili and black beans
Braised beef is an inexpensive cut of meat that becomes incredibly tender when cooked in liquid. It provides great benefits for the health of our bones, and it also provides enough flavor so that it can be cooked in water instead of broth. In addition, incorporating seaweed oil adds the richness that is needed, since the arches are lower in fat than other parts of the cow.
1.1 Ingredients (for 6 people)
- 3 bone-in beef legs (about 3 cups raw meat).
- 4 cups of water.
- 1 cup of black beans, preferably soaked in water for 8 hours.
- 50 g of tomato paste and 450 g of diced tomatoes, preferably not canned.
- 1/2 cup Anaheim peppers.
- 2 tablespoons of jalapeños.
- 1 cup of onions
- 3 tablespoons of chili powder.
- 1/2 tablespoon of seaweed oil, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of ground cumin.
1.2 Steps for its elaboration
- Put the pot over low heat and add the oil.
- Add the pieces of meat next to the bones, then the onion and fresh peppers, sautéing them briefly.
- Add the remaining ingredients and cook over high heat for four hours, or until the beans are tender.
- Stir well and cook without a lid if you want to reduce the liquid.
- Remove the bones from the meat arms once they have cooled. Lastly, serve to taste.
2. Chili with chorizo and white beans
Chorizo is generally a heavy, fatty sausage; However, in this recipe the amount of oil is reduced as it is enough with that of the chorizo. In addition, smoked jalapeño is added (which is quite intense), as the spicy flavor helps speed up your metabolism to counteract the fat in the chorizo.
2.1 Ingredients (for 6 people)
- 700 grams of fresh chorizo.
- 2 large onions.
- 450 grams of crushed tomato.
- 2 cups of navy beans and 1 cup of chicken or beef broth.
- 60 grams of tomato paste.
- 1 teaspoon of grapeseed oil.
- 2 teaspoons of oregano, preferably Mexican, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of chipotle pepper powder or smoked jalapeño.
2.2 Steps for its elaboration
- Heat the pot over medium-high heat and add a touch of oil.
- Sauté the three onions until golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Add the chorizo, oregano and chipotle powder. Try to break up the chorizo as much as you can while it cooks. Then add all the remaining ingredients.
- Bring to a simmer and cook until the tomato sauce has darkened, about 10 minutes.
- Serve and share with your loved ones.
3. Vegan chili with beer and beans
This recipe is perfect for those who love the taste of chili but not tomatoes. Instead, this dish takes on the flavor of lemon juice. On the other hand, beer helps to increase the flavor and, since only one cup is necessary, it does not bring health problems.
3.1 Ingredients (for six people)
- 1/2 cup dried black-eyed peas
- 1/2 cup of beans, preferably Calypso.
- 2 medium carrots.
- 1 small eggplant.
- 1/2 cup of mushrooms.
- 1 medium red onion.
- 1 serrano pepper.
- 1 cup of beer, preferably lager.
- A generous amount of lemon juice, about a cup.
- 1/4 cup chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
- 1 teaspoon of ground cumin.
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander.
- 1 teaspoon of avocado oil.
- 1 1/2 teaspoon of epazote.
3.2 Steps for its elaboration
- Rinse the beans, later soaked, and cover them with water in a pot. Add a teaspoon of salt and epazote.
- Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer until the beans are cooked through. This takes approximately 45-55 minutes.
- Drain and rinse the beans from the pot. Then you proceed to put them back in the pot, with medium-high heat.
- Add the oil and sauté the vegetables with the spices for 5 minutes.
- Finally add the beer and beans, simmer them for 5 minutes, and you are ready to gobble up your delicious dish.
4. Mini Chicken Meatball Chili
If you are a lover of chicken wings, with this recipe you get that delicious flavor without the need to fry anything. Making small meatballs with ground chicken creates a fun element and the cilantro adds a delicious Mexican factor. For the chicken, you can choose dark or white meat, ground.
4.1 Ingredients (for six people)
- 680 grams of ground chicken.
- 1/4 cup of coriander.
- 1 teaspoon salt.
- 2 cups of pinto beans (cooked in water).
- 1 cup of strained tomatoes.
- 1/4 cup hot sauce.
- 1/4 cup of chicken broth.
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 1 red ash pepper.
- 60 grams of tomato paste.
- 1 tablespoon of avocado oil.
4.2 Steps for its elaboration
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- On the other hand, mix the ingredients of the meatballs and form approximately 3 dozen small meatballs, place them on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake them for 10 minutes.
- Heat a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Add the oil, chili, garlic, and spices and sauté for 2 minutes.
- Add the tomato products, hot sauce, and broth. Let it boil and reduce, for 5 minutes.
- Finally add the meatballs and beans, and let them heat up.
- Serve to taste.
Conclution
When leading a healthy life it is important to know the various methods of healthy preparation of those recipes that are delicious but at the same time are harmful to your health. In addition, you can share them with your friends and loved ones, so that they can enjoy these recipes, in a healthy and fun way.
References
- Resnick, A. 10 Healthy and Hearty Chili Recipes. For LiveStrong. [Revised November 2018].
