Coming Home Chili

Let's lay all secrets bare: I'm an American. You knew that, right? And that I'm from the Southwest, home of American-Mexican food and a love of all things sharp and spicy. So obviously, chili is one of my tip-top comfort foods. 

My parents keep cans of chili in the basement for contingencies. But me, I've got my own recipe. It's very nearly as easy as opening a can; in mine, you have to dice an onion and a garlic clove, open three cans and mix some spices. Then wait a little while while the flavors get friendly with each other. Bada-boom, that's all.

I call this one Coming Home Chili because the husband loves it just as much as I do, and because every time we come back from a far-flung vacation, this is one of the first things we eat. After Malta, where I grew tired of capers and tomatoes and olives. After Bali, where we'd been eating tempeh and some form of peanuts every day. This chili does for us what any comfort food should do: every bite makes you feel at home.

Coming Home Chili

serves 2, with a bit left over

prep time: 10 minutes

cook time: 40 minutes or more

ingredients:

1 tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 can black beans, rinsed of their canning liquid

1 can chickpeas, rinsed of their canning liquid

1 can diced tomatoes

3-4 tsp Chili Spice Mix (see below)

salt and pepper to taste

optional:

fresh chili peppers

sour cream

Cheddar or other melty cheese

directions:

Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook 5 minutes until translucent. Add the garlic and cook another 30 seconds. Stir in 3 teaspoons of Chili Spice Mix and cook until fragrant. Add diced fresh chili peppers, if using.

Add the beans and the tomatoes. Stir well. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Hold off on adding more spice mix; the flavors will develop with time.

Bring to a slow simmer over low heat. Cook for 30 minutes. Taste again and add more spice mix, salt or pepper as needed.

Serve with rice, bread, or cornbread. If you like, stir in sour cream and/or a lovely melty cheese. (It's just not comfort food if it doesn't have cheese, y'know?)

Chili Spice Mix

makes enough for 1.5 to 2 batches of chili

ingredients:

1 tsp smoked paprika

2 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp oregano

2 tsp garlic powder

if you like 'em:

1 tsp chipotle powder and/or 1 tsp New Mexico chili powder 

directions:

Mix all spices together. If you have extra, seal it in an airtight bag for next time.