Butternut Squash Chili

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Total: 1 hr 25 min
  • Prep: 15 min
  • Cook: 1 hr 10 min
"In the wintertime, I crave stick-to-your-ribs food. This chili is comforting and full of nutrients."
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Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 red bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped

1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, very finely chopped or pressed through a garlic press

1/2 cup dry red wine

3 cups butternut squash cubes, in 1-inch pieces

1 1/2 cups cooked white beans, such as Great Northern (rinsed, if canned)

1 14-ounce can whole tomatoes with juice, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces

1/2 cup store-bought salsa

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Plain reduced-fat Greek yogurt

1 avocado, halved, pitted and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

Directions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat, 1 minute. Add the bell pepper and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft, about 5 minutes.
  2. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 more minute. Pour in the wine and let bubble 1 minute, stirring and scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  3. Add the butternut squash, beans, tomatoes and their juice, salsa, 1 cup water, the chili powder, cumin, cocoa, cinnamon and cayenne, if using. Bring the chili to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the squash is tender and the chili begins to thicken, about 1 hour. (If the soup looks too thick while cooking, add up to 1 cup more water.) Serve topped with a dollop of Greek yogurt and some avocado cubes.
  4. Cook's Note: If you're using dried beans, soak in water overnight, then simmer until just tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours (or cook 4 to 5 hours in a slow cooker on high).

Let's Get Cooking!

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woods1985

This is a hearty recipe with lots of flavor! I would definitely recommend salting to taste at the end. I also sprinkled in some garlic powder in addition to the 2 cloves of garlic. I used low sodium broth instead of water and canned black beans because that was what I had on hand. I served this topped with shredded cheese, yogurt, scallions, and tortilla strips. This is a creative way to use up butternut squash! I found 1/2 inch cubes of butternut squash were a nicer bite size for this too.

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