Hooray for sweater weather and coming home to warm crockpot cuisines! This week we’re featuring all slow-cooked recipes and first up is Elle Penner with her veggie quinoa chocolate chili. Fluffy quinoa and tender veggies drown in chili-tomato sauce thickened with baker’s chocolate. Plus, you can stew it over stove-top OR crank it up crockpot style.
Veggie Quinoa Chocolate Chili Ingredients Directions Stove Top Instructions In a medium sauce pan, combine the quinoa and water. Cook over medium heat until water is absorbed (15-20 minutes) and set aside. (If you have a rice cooker, use that instead.) In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the butternut squash, cooking for 5 minutes. Next, add the onion and bell pepper and cook another 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, jalapeño and zucchini. Cook 5 more minutes (~15 minutes total) until vegetables are tender. Add the black beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Stir in the cooked quinoa. Season with chili powder, cumin, cocoa powder/bakers chocolate, salt, and black pepper. Heat through and reduce to a simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Freeze leftovers for a quick, healthy & delicious meal on a busy night. Slow Cooker Instructions* In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the butternut squash, cooking for 5 minutes. Next, add the onion and bell pepper and cook another 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, jalapeño and zucchini. Cook 5 more minutes. Add all your ingredients to the crockpot: stir-fried veggies, quinoa, *1/2 cup water, black beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, cocoa powder/bakers chocolate, salt, and black pepper. Stir to mix then cover and cook for 4 to 6 hours on the low setting. Nutrition Information Serves: 8 | Serving Size: 1 1/2 cup Per serving: Calories: 263; Total Fat: 5g; Saturated Fat: 1g; Monounsaturated Fat: 2g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 381mg; Carbohydrate: 45g; Dietary Fiber: 12g; Sugar: 9g; Protein 12g Nutrition Bonus: Potassium: 1131mg; Iron: 30%; Vitamin A: 158%; Vitamin C: 127%; Calcium: 13%
Photo courtesy of Elle Penner. Original recipe can be found on According to Elle.