CubanMojoBlackBeanChiliw/Rice&TostoneswithGreenSauce

I’velearnedsincemovingherefromSouthFloridalastyear,thatCubanfoodisoftenmisunderstoodhereinPhoenix.Forone,yesit’sLatin,butno,it’snotspicy;atall!Cubanfoodisaboutthe‘sofrito,’lotsofcitrus,aromaticsandblackbeans!Soalthough,chiliisnotatraditionalCubandish,wedohavedishesthatarechockfullofveggiesandmeat,withsidesofbeans.Allofwhich,weblendtogetherfromourplatesintoadeliciousbite.SoitsnothardtobridgeflavorsforthisCubaninspiredchili.

• 1LargeOnion(fromCrookedSkyFarms)• 1LargeBellPepper(oruse1/3eachofred,yellow,orange)(fromAbbyLeeFarms)• 2MediumTomatoes(fromAbbyLeeFarms)• 1HeadofGarlic(fromCommunityExchangeTable)• 2TBSPMelba’sCubanMojoSpiceBlend(fromTheFig&TheKnife)• 2BayLeaves• 2Limes• 3TBSPormoreofExtraVirginOliveOil• 2to3ouncesofDrywhitewine• 12-16ouncesofgroundmeat.(UseMeatlesscrumblesforveganversion)• 2cansofOrganicBlackBeans(ormakeyourownfromdrybeans)• 2handfulsofcrushedbluetortillachips,asneeded(fromWillie’sTomatoes&Chili’s)• SalttoTaste• ServewithwhitericeandTostoneswithTheFig&TheKnifeGreenSauce.(seephotos)

1. Choptheonion,pepperandtomatoesinto¼inchdiceandminceyourgarlic.2. Heata3QTpotonthestoveonmedium-highheatanddrizzleagenerousamountofoliveoilin

pan,whenhotandreadytossinaboveveggies,exceptgarlic.3. Onceveggiesaresoftandonionsaretranslucent,tossingarlicandbayleaves.Stiruntilgarlic

beginstobrown.4. ThenaddMelba’sMojoSpiceblendandjuiceoflimes.Stirwell.5. Adddrywhitewinetodeglazethepanandturndowntheheattomedium.6. Addmeat/meatlessoptionofchoiceandstirinwithveggiestoblenduntilcookedthrough.7. Addonecanofblackbeanswithliquidand,thenaddthesecondcanofbeanswithouttheliquid.8. Stiralltoblendwellandtaste,addsaltasneeded.Turndowntheheattosimmerandcoverfor

about30-45minutes.Stirringperiodically.9. Ifchiliisnottightenough,takeahandfulofbluecorntortillachipsandcrushinyourfistandstir

intochili.Thiswillthickenchili.Waitabout10minutes.Ifnotthickenoughforyou.Addthe2ndhandfulandstir.

10. ForatraditionalCubanexperience,servewithasideofwhitericeandtostones(twicefriedgreenplatanos,separaterecipeavailable)withourownCilantroGreenSauce!!Orgetcreative!

Enjoy, Chef Janette! !