Chipotle Chocolate Chili

This recipe comes from Our Best Bites.  The original recipe came from Cooking Light. Any of you who know me, know of my love of chocolate.  So when I saw this recipe this week, I had to try it out!

Chipotle Chocolate Chili

1 lb. lean ground turkey

1 large onion, chopped

1 red bell pepper, minced

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

2 cans diced tomatoes

2 cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 can beef broth

3 Tbsp. brown sugar

2 Tbsp. chili powder

1 tsp. ground cumin

1 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder (NOT Nesquik! That would be very bad!)

1/2 tsp. freshly-ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. Kosher salt

Chipotle sauce (from the can of chipotle chilies)

1/2 oz. unsweetened chocolate (1/2 unsweetened baking cube), chopped (optional; use to taste as needed; be careful, because too much will make your chili bitter)

Light sour cream

Chopped green onions

3-4 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

Shredded cheddar cheese

Heat some olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Saute onion, garlic, bell pepper, and ground turkey until meat is cooked through. Add salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, brown sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, tomatoes, beans, and beef broth. Add all of the chipotle sauce from a small can of chipotle chilies. Heat to boiling and then reduce to a simmer (uncovered), stirring occasionally, until thickened as desired (I like it about 30-40 minutes). If desired, add some chopped chipotle chilies. Add 3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar and a small amount of chopped chocolate at a time until desired richness is reached. If necessary, add more red wine vinegar to cut the sweetness of the chili. This is where you can play around a little with the flavors.

When thickened and seasoned as desired, serve with chopped green onions, sour cream, and shredded cheddar cheese.

 My 8-year-old son, who can be a picky eater, ate two bowls!  The chocolate added a unique, but delicious taste.  Next time I make it I will probably add less chili powder.  It had quite a kick to it.  I also used chipotles in adobo sauce because it was what I had on hand.  I just added some of the sauce and not the chilies and that also contributed to how spicy the chili turned out.  It was very yummy.  I just wish I had this recipe in time for the last chili cook-off!!  We'll be having this one again!!