Serve Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Chickpeas as a main course, next to a crunchy baguette and a glass of red wine for a complete meal. It´s perfect for any meal of the day and can be made ahead of time. Served either warm, at room temperature or even chilled.

Serves 4

spainonafork.com

INGREDIENTS
2 sweet potatoes
15.5 oz can of chickpeas
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp sweet smoked Spanish paprika
1/2 tsp ground cumin
pinch sea salt
dash black pepper
12 cherry tomatoes
handful arugula

For the sauce:
15.5 oz can of chickpeas
2 cloves garlic
1/2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
pinch sea salt
dash black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS
Wash and pat dry the sweet potatoes, then cut each one in half lengthwise, add them cut side down over a baking pan lined with parchment paper, drizzle a kiss of extra virgin olive oil over the sweet potatoes and season with sea salt

Add the sweet potatoes into a preheated oven, bake + broil option (bottom + top heat) 210 C – 410 F

Meanwhile, drain a can of chickpeas into colander and rinse under water, heat a fry pan with a medium heat and add in the chickpeas, dry roast for 2 to 3 minutes, then add in 1 tbsp (15 ml) extra virgin olive oil, 1 tsp sweet smoked Spanish paprika, 1/2 tsp ground cumin and season with sea salt & black pepper, gently mix together, then turn off the heat

To make the sauce, add another can of chickpeas (drained & rinsed) into a food processor, along with 2 cloves garlic, 1/2 tbsp lemon juice and 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, season with sea salt & black pepper, then run the food processor until well mixed, then add in between 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup (60 ml to 120 ml) cold water while running the food processor, once you end up with a creamy sauce set aside

Once the sweet potatoes are roasted, between 30 to 40 minutes (you can always pierce them with a toothpick to ensure they are cooked through), remove them from the oven and let them cool for a couple minutes

To assemble the dish, add one of the sweet potatoes cut side up over a dish, using a fork gently mash the inside of the sweet potato, then add some of the seasoned chickpeas over the sweet potato, decorate a couple of cherry tomatoes cut in half around the sweet potato, top off with the sauce and some chopped arugula

Regarding Texas Red Chili, one thing that is not debatable is the original chili started off as Chili Con Carne (chili with meat) and it started off in the Southwest. Chili was about the meat and the flavors from the chilis. There were no fillers such as beans, noodles or rice. Today the Original Terlingua International Chili Cookoff doesn’t allow them either so you can taste the chili and the meat.

Chili is even the State Dish of Texas – 1977.

NOTES:
– Use 4-5 ancho and around 12 guajillo chilis – don’t go by weight
– Save the chili water to thin out the chili while cooking – that roux is pretty thick. Probably used 2-4 cups
– Cook the chili around 6 hours or so. Partially cover the pot, and stir occasionally and add the chili water
– Use a combo of 32 oz of beef and chicken broths
– That’s a lot of flour – may want to decrease that and use masa harina instead of flour or a combo
– Freeze-dried chilis seem to work – serranos can be spicy – maybe use a chipotle or 2

Serves over 4

meatchurch.com

INGREDIENTS
3-4 lbs of stew meat, cubed (sub chuck roast, brisket or game meat)
5 oz dried ancho chili (~4 chilis)
16 oz dried guajillo chili (~12 chilis)

1st spice dump:
2 Tbl garlic powder
2 Tbl onion powder
1 Tbl black pepper
3 cubes of beef bouillon
2 packets of Sazon Goya Coriander & Annatto (or whatever amount of coriander you want)

2nd spice dump:
1 Tbl Cumin
½ tsp Mexican Oregano (sub regular oregano)

Other:
16 oz of chicken broth/stock
16 oz of beef broth/stock
3 serrano peppers, whole
½ Cup flour
2 Tbl, lard (manteca), sub ¼ C, olive oil
3 cloves garlic
½ Tbl salt

INSTRUCTIONS
Prepare your spice dumps:
Mix spice dumps #1 and #2 and set aside.

Prepare the chilis:
Stem and seed the all the dried chilis. Place in a skillet on medium high heat and toast the chilis. Flip and stir until fragrant. Remove chilis and place in boiling water. Once chilis are soft, remove from the water and set aside.

Prepare the chili:
In a hot skillet, heat ¼ cup of olive oil until it fries a pinch of flour. Mix in ½ C of all-purpose flour and stir vigorously.

Once it gets to a golden color, add a 16oz of chicken stock to this blonde roux and bring to a simmer.

Now add the roux, chilis, 3 cloves of garlic and a ½ T of salt to a blender and blend until smooth. This is now your chili sauce. Set aside.

Brown the meat:
Add some lard or olive oil to a dutch oven or heavy cast iron skillet. Brown the cubes of meat over medium high heat for 6-8 minutes. Brown in 2 batches if necessary, so as not to overcrowd the pan. Drain off excess grease.

Reduce heat to medium and add your chili sauce and beef stock. If you used a cast iron skillet you will need large pot to continue.

Cook the chili:
Add spice dump #1. Then float the serrano peppers.

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer for 45 minutes.

Add spice dump #2. At this stage taste test it.

Simmer for at least another hour stirring occasionally. The chili will be “done” at this point although you can simmer it all day.

Remove from the heat. Enjoy

Here’s another version from the same company – they were plugging their spice mix

Makes around 7 quarts

meatchurch.com

INGREDIENTS
2 lbs of ground meat (Venison also great, Matt’s fav)
1 lb of HOT breakfast sausage
1 lb of chuck roast (Alternatively Matt loves using brisket, venison medallions or quarters.) This ingredient is key to making it hearty.
3 medium red onions, chopped
1 head of garlic, minced (sub 3 T Spice World Ready to Use garlic)
2, 28oz can crushed tomatoes with juice
1, 28oz Italian Style diced tomatoes with juice
1 7oz can Chipotles in Adobo Sauce, chopped. Preserve the liquid.
2 Beers. 1 for the chili and 1 to drink while you’re making it.
6 T Meat Church Texas Chili Seasoning. This is a great heat level, but back it down to 4-5 T for Mild. Add 1-2 T more for even spicier or add 2 T cayenne pepper.

Garnish
Shredded Cheese
Fresh Jalapeños
Chopped White Onions

Tools
Large Slow Cooker or Dutch oven. We make ours in a Lodge 7 qt dutch oven.
Large Skillet (to sauté the veg)
1/3 C, Olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS
Prepare the chili:
Add the olive oil to a very large skillet. I prefer cast iron. Sauté the onions, garlic and adobo peppers (including all the liquid from the can [that can be a lot of heat]). This is a lot of onion, so you may have to cook in 2 batches if you don’t have a really large skillet.

Cook for about 10 minutes until the onions are translucent. Remove from skillet and place the mixture in your slow cooker or dutch oven.

Dice the chuck roast into small pieces. Brown the meat in the same skillet. We are going to simmer this chili all day so you just need to brown it and get some char on the outside. Remove from skillet and place the meat in your slow cooker or dutch oven.

Cook the ground meat and breakfast sausage completely in the same skillet. Drain the fat and place all of the meat in the slow cooker or dutch oven.

Mix the chili:
By this time you already have the meat, onions, garlic and adobo peppers in your slow cooker or dutch oven. Now add the 3 cans of tomatoes with the juice, 1 beer and 6 T of Meat Church Texas Chili Seasoning. Mix thoroughly.

Cook the chili:
The ingredients are already cooked at this point, [stick a whole jalapeño in the middle of chili] but we will simmer this chili all day to break down the meat and meld the flavors together.

If you are using a slow cooker you can run this 6 – 8 hours on low. Stir it periodically throughout the day if you can.

If you want to smoke this chili you can run it at 250 degrees in a smoker or pellet grill for 6-8 hours. I leave the lid off for 4-5 hours stirring on the hour. I cover the last couple hours.

Remove from the heat. Allow it to cool. Garnish and enjoy with some cornbread!

Bigos is an Eastern European stew that has many adaptations; some versions incorporate rice and/or a variety of vegetables and meats, so you can use whatever you have on hand. This version is a Polish hunter’s stew that features kielbasa, smoky bacon, melty cabbage, and lots of delicious broth that can be sopped up with bread.

Serves 12

bonappetit.com

INGREDIENTS
1 lb. double-smoked slab bacon, cut into 1″ cubes
1½ lb. kielbasa sausage, sliced on a diagonal ½” thick
8 garlic cloves, crushed
3 Tbsp. double concentrated tomato paste
1 Tbsp. paprika
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. ground cumin
¾ tsp. cayenne pepper
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
1 cup dry white wine
2 Tbsp. kosher salt
1 small head of green cabbage (about 2 lb.), cored, thinly sliced
2 large carrots, peeled, sliced 1½” thick
1 Pink Lady apple, cored, grated on the large holes of a box grater
2 lb. Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbed, cut into 1″ pieces
1 lb. sauerkraut (not drained; about 2 cups)
4 cups homemade beef stock or water
Small dill sprigs, dark rye or pumpernickel bread, and unsalted butter (for serving)

INSTRUCTIONS
Cook bacon in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium heat, stirring often, until brown and crisp, 10–12 minutes. Transfer bacon to a small bowl with a slotted spoon; set aside. Cook kielbasa in bacon fat in pot, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl with tongs; set aside.

Reduce heat to medium-low, add garlic to same pot, and cook, stirring often, until just beginning to turn golden brown, about 3 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until paste darkens slightly in color and begins to stick to pot, about 2 minutes. Add paprika, coriander, cumin, and cayenne and cook, stirring constantly, just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Immediately add onions and turn to coat. Increase heat to medium-high, pour in wine, and cook, scraping up browned bits from bottom of pot, until smell of the alcohol cooks off, about 3 minutes. Stir in salt, then add cabbage, carrots, apple, potatoes, sauerkraut, stock, and reserved bacon. Bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer gently, mixing well halfway through, 1 hour. Mix in reserved kielbasa. Cover and cook until bacon is tender, cabbage is meltingly soft, and potatoes are cooked through, 30–60 minutes.

Divide stew among bowls. Top with dill. Serve with bread and butter alongside.

Do Ahead: Stew can be made 1 week ahead (flavor will improve as time goes on). Cover and chill.

Beer, chocolate, lard and masa harina are critical ingredients – no beans!

[Stock photo]

From Michael Chiarello:

INGREDIENTS
3 pounds beef chuck
Freshly ground black pepper
Gray salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus 1 teaspoon
1 teaspoon ground cumin, plus 2 teaspoons
2 tablespoons chili powder, plus 2 tablespoons
Masa harina (Mexican corn flour)
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup lard (Manteca)
4 red onions, peeled and minced
6 cloves garlic, minced
4 jalapeno peppers, sliced thin with seeds, stems removed [use chipotle in adobo – watch amount]
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 to 3 (12-ounce) bottles beer
1 (12-ounce) can diced tomato in juices
1 quart chicken stock
3 (12-ounce) cans black beans
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, cut into large chunks

INSTRUCTIONS
Cut the chuck into ¾-inch pieces, or, to save time, have your butcher do this for you. Place the chuck in a large bowl. Season liberally with pepper (about 20 turns of the pepper grinder) and grey salt to taste– remember half of this will come off in the pan. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of the cumin, and 2 tablespoons of the chili powder. Mix this well and coat the meat with the masa harina (this is a ground hominy flour common to Mexican cuisine and easily found in the Mexican food sections of many grocery stores). The flour will thicken the sauce and give it a specific, Mexican taste.

Preheat a cast iron Dutch oven on the stove over medium high heat. Add the olive oil and then the coated meat, spreading it evenly so it covers the bottom of the Dutch oven in 1 layer. Leave it alone, without turning it, so the meat will brown and caramelize. Meanwhile, add the lard. The meat has a lot of moisture in it, so a good amount of steam will come from the pan before it is caramelized. As it browns, slowly turn each piece with tongs. Once all sides are caramelized, remove the meat from the pan with a slotted spoon and place on a cookie sheet to cool, leaving juices in the Dutch oven to saute vegetables. Add the onions and garlic and saute for 5 minutes over medium heat until they start to caramelize and get soft. Add the jalapenos and allow to cook for 2 more minutes until soft. Add the tomato paste. Some of the same spices as were used on the meat will be used in the sauce. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons of the cumin, 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon, the oregano, and 2 heaping tablespoons of the chili powder. Add beer. Stir to incorporate everything. Add diced tomatoes, and stir. Then add the reserved meat. Add chicken stock. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours until meat is wonderfully tender. Strain juice from the black beans, add the beans to the chili pot and bring up to simmer. Then add chunks of bittersweet chocolate. Stir until it melts. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days

This warm sweet potato salad from Deliciously Ella makes eating peanut butter everyday easy. Add optional chopped radicchio, for crunch.

Serves 4 as a side

food52.com

INGREDIENTS
For the Salad:
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into small cubes
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 handful of parsley, chopped
1 1/2 ounces dates, pitted and chopped
1 tablespoon (heaped) black sesame seeds (white sesame seeds also work—you’ll just need to toast them)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 handful of peanuts, chopped and toasted, for serving (optional)
1 handful chopped radicchio for serving (optional)

For the Dressing:
2 tablespoons date syrup or maple syrup
2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
1 lemon, juiced (you’ll use the juice)

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 450°F.

Place the sweet potatoes in a large baking tray and drizzle with the olive oil, add the spices and some salt and pepper and mix well, ensuring everything gets coated. Bake in the oven for 45-50 minutes, until they’re really soft.

While the sweet potatoes are cooking, make the dressing, whisking everything with some salt until smooth.

Next, place the parsley and dates in a large bowl with the sesame seeds. Once the sweet potatoes are cooked, add them to the bowl with the dressing and mix everything together. Sprinkle with toasted peanuts, if using, serve and enjoy.

This Spanish Chickpeas with Beer is probably the most flavorful and unique one yet. We´re talking an insane amount of flavor, super easy to make and all done in 30 minutes.

Try adding other vegetables at the end, even sausage.

Serves 4

spainonafork.com

INGREDIENTS
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 30 ml
1 small onion
6 cloves garlic
3 tomatoes
2 cans chickpeas 15.5 oz / 440 grams each
12 oz bottle beer 33 cl
1/2 cup vegetable broth 120 ml
1 tsp ground cumin 2 grams
1/4 tsp saffron threads .17 grams
2 bay leaves
pinch sea salt
dash black pepper
fresh parsley

INSTRUCTIONS
Heat a large fry pan with a medium heat and add in the extra virgin olive oil

Meanwhile, roughly chop the onion, roughly chop the garlic and roughly chop the tomatoes

Add the onion and garlic into the hot pan with the olive oil, mix together, after 4 minutes add in the ground cumin, give it a quick mix, then add in the tomatoes and continue to mix, after 5 minutes and the tomatoes are lightly sauteed, turn off the heat and let the mixture cool

Meanwhile, drain the cans of chickpeas into a colander and rinse under cold water

Once the mixture has slightly cooled off, add into a food processor, along with 1/4 cup (40 grams) of the chickpeas, 1/2 cup vegetable broth and season with sea salt & black pepper, pulse until you end up with a smooth puree

Heat the same pan with a medium heat, add in the puree, the beer and the saffron, mix together and simmer, after 5 minutes add in the drained chickpeas and season with sea salt & black pepper, mix together, then add in the bay leaves and place a lid on the pan, lower to a low-medium heat and simmer for 10 minutes

Transfer into shallow bowls and garnish with fresh parsley

Made with convenient canned beans, this quick and healthy Indian recipe is an authentic chickpea curry that you can make in minutes. If you want an additional vegetable, stir in some roasted cauliflower florets. Serve with brown basmati rice or warm naan.

Serves 6

eatingwell.com

INGREDIENTS
1 medium serrano pepper, cut into thirds
4 large cloves garlic
1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 medium yellow onion, chopped (1-inch)
6 tablespoons canola oil or grapeseed oil
2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground cumin
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
2 ¼ cups no-salt-added canned diced tomatoes with their juice (from a 28-ounce can)
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
2 15-ounce cans chickpeas, rinsed
2 teaspoons garam masala
Fresh cilantro for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS
Pulse serrano, garlic and ginger in a food processor until minced. Scrape down the sides and pulse again. Add onion; pulse until finely chopped, but not watery.

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add coriander, cumin and turmeric and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.

Pulse tomatoes in the food processor until finely chopped. Add to the pan along with salt. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 minutes. Add chickpeas and garam masala, reduce heat to a gentle simmer, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes more. Serve topped with cilantro, if desired.

There are as many variations of empanadas as there are cooks in Argentina. This version was developed by BA Test Kitchen Manager Gaby Melian, who is from Buenos Aires and was taught as a little girl by family members how to make them. After years of perfecting her method, she prefers the empanadas baked, not fried, and the addition of green olives and raisins in the filling is essential.

Makes about 36

bonappetit.com

INGREDIENTS
3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 lb. ground beef (20% fat)
2 medium onions, chopped
2 small red bell peppers, seeded, chopped
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
3 Tbsp. ground cumin
2 Tbsp. sweet paprika
1 Tbsp. dried oregano
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
1½ cups low-sodium chicken stock or broth
2 tsp. sugar
½ cup raisins
3 packages (12 each) Puff Pastry Dough for Turnovers/Empanadas (preferably Goya)
½ cup pitted green olives (Picholine or Spanish), rinsed well, cut in half lengthwise

INSTRUCTIONS
Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large pot over high. Cook beef, breaking up with a spoon, until browned but not completely cooked through, 6–8 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl with a slotted spoon, leaving as much fat in pan as possible.

Reduce heat to medium and cook onion, bell peppers, and remaining 1 Tbsp. oil, stirring, until tender but not browned, 6–8 minutes; season with salt and black pepper. Add cumin, paprika, oregano, and cayenne and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chicken stock and reserved beef along with any accumulated juices to pot. Stir in sugar, 4 tsp. salt, and ¼ tsp. black pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring and scraping up any brown bits, until most of the liquid is evaporated, 15–20 minutes; taste and season with salt and black pepper, if needed. Stir in raisins. Transfer to a medium bowl, cover, and chill at least 3 hours.

Preheat oven to 375°. Let dough sit at room temperature 15 minutes to temper. Remove 6 rounds from package, keeping plastic divider underneath, and arrange on a work surface. Place 2 Tbsp. filling in the center of each round. Top with 2 olive halves. Brush water around half of outer edge of each round. Using plastic divider to help you, fold round over filling and pinch edges to seal. Using a fork, crimp edges. Remove plastic and transfer empanada to a parchment-lined sheet tray, spacing 1″ apart. Repeat with remaining rounds (you’ll get about 12 empanadas on each tray).

Bake empanadas, rotating tray halfway through, until golden brown and slightly darker around the edges, 25–35 minutes.

Do Ahead: Filling can be made 3 days ahead. Keep chilled. Unbaked empanadas can be made 3 months ahead; freeze on sheet tray, then transfer to freezer bags and keep frozen.