When I think Super Bowl, I think a big pot of chili to feed the gang as they watch the game. Chili is a versatile meal that can be made from just about anything, as long as it has chili powder, cumin and some peppery heat (jalapeno), I feel it’s safe to call it a chili.

I chose to make two very different types of chili. I started out with a plan to make one traditional and one vegetarian chili, but after a discussion with a couple of colleagues here at the George Brown Chef’s School, we came up with some interesting ideas for two not-so-traditional chili’s - one meat-based and one totally vegetarian. I hope that you like them.

For today’s recipe I wanted a rich coloured sauce and debated how to achieve this. We decided to give beets a try (I had never heard of a Beet Chili but was very interested to see how it would turn out.)

Can’t Beet this Chili (Beet Chili)
Makes 10 cups
Prep time:10 minutes
Total time: 1 hr 10 minutes

1 tbsp (5 mL) Compliments Pure Olive Oil [1]
2 small packages (848 g) ground beef
2 cup (500 mL) diced onion
1 cup (250 mL) diced carrot
1 cup (250 mL) diced celery
1 tbsp (15 mL) minced garlic
6 tbsp (90 mL) diced Jalapeno pepper
1 cup (250 mL) diced beets
1 x 746 mL can Compliments Diced Plum Tomatoes [2]
1 x 540 mL can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
½ tsp (2.5 mL) smoked paprika
1 tbsp (5 mL) chili Powder
1 tbsp (5 mL) cumin
2 tsp (10 mL) salt
½ tsp (2.5 mL) ground black pepper

1. In a large sautés (straight sided pan) on medium-high heat, add the oil. When it is hot, add in the beef and cook until beef is browned.
2. Add in the onions and cook for 5 min., then add in the carrot, celery, garlic and jalapeno pepper cook for 5 min. Add the beets and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Add the kidney beans and spices, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 40 min. or longer if you want a thicker sauce.

Beets are a great source of folate, which helps protect you from high blood pressure; they are also rich in vitamin C and fiber making them a healthy addition to any diet. So give this recipe a try, I hope that you enjoy it. Stay tuned for the vegetarian chili.

Well now we know the two teams that will be playing for the Super Bowl, The Saints vs. The Colts, it should be a great game.

Regards,
Chef Ian