We’re entering the third week of the Virtual Potluck Tasty and Healthy New Year Challenge featuring products from Bob’s Red Mill and California Olive Ranch. Once a week for the first four weeks of the year, we’ll be pairing a flour or grain with an olive oil and creating a dish using both. Our third course challenge is to create an entrée with Quinoa (say “KEEN-wa”) and Arbosana Extra Virgin Olive Oil. You’ll have a chance to win both products, but more on that later.
I decided to create a vegetarian entrée in the spirit of being “tasty” and “healthy.” I found a stash of dried chile peppers in the pantry and knew this dish wouldn’t require a trip to the store. Plus, who doesn’t love to eat chili in January?
This version of chili is thick and earthy, yet very smooth. I usually add chunks of tomatoes, meat and other vegetables, so this was a nice change of pace. (I know I’m supposed to be going vegetarian here, but this chili – minus the beans – would be perfect for slathering on hot dogs.) I love the way the quinoa provides a caviar-like “pop” in your mouth.
Arbosana EVOO is a “complex, nutty oil with flavors of fresh tomato and almonds.” I’m not sure my palate was able to discern the tomato flavor, but the nuttiness was certainly there. COR is absolutely right when they say Arbosana is fabulous drizzled on stews. Chili is stew, right?
Cut the whole stack at once with a pizza cutter
The one thing this chili is lacking is crunch. I always need crunch with a meal or I still feel hungry afterwards. I took some corn tortillas (if I’d had time I would have used Homemade Corn Tortillas), brushed them with Arbosana, cut them into wedges and baked them at 400°F for about 8 minutes. These homemade tortilla chips provided the perfect amount of crunch. I used about ½ teaspoon of the olive oil for each 6-inch tortilla. One tortilla (6 chips) adds about 70 calories, 3g fat and 11g carb.
Giveaway
Bob’s Red Mill and California Olive Ranch will be giving one lucky reader a bag of Quinoa and a bottle of Arbosana Extra Virgin Olive Oil. To enter the contest:
- [mandatory] Visit the California Olive Ranch Facebook page and retrieve this week’s Virtual Potluck code word (click on Virtual Potluck in the left column). Then come back here and use the word in a comment on this post.
- [optional] Follow Bob’s Red Mill (@Bobs_Red_Mill), California Olive Ranch (@CA_EVOO) and Virtual Potluck (@virtualpotluck) on Twitter. Tweet about this contest, including a link to this post and the #virtualpotluck hashtag. Then comment here again, letting us know you’ve tweeted.
- [optional] Visit the Virtual Potluck roundup post and enter the giveaways on the other participating blogs.
The contest ends at midnight Eastern on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. The winner will be announced on Mon., Jan. 23. You must have a U.S. mailing address to win. Good luck!
Discount
California Olive Ranch is offering a 10% discount for the duration of the Tasty & Healthy New Year Challenge. Just go to their online store and enter the coupon code BLOGFRIENDS at checkout.
Disclosure: I received free samples of Quinoa from Bob’s Red Mill and Arbosana Extra Virgin Olive Oil from California Olive Ranch. I also received samples to give away on my blog.
Quinoa and Lentil Chili
Adapted from Diabetes Forecast (February 2011)
4 dried guajillo chile peppers, stemmed and seeded
4 dried ancho chile peppers, stemmed and seeded
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
½ teaspoon coriander seeds
4 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon dried oregano (preferably Mexican)
1 can (28 oz) whole tomatoes, undrained
1 tablespoon Arbosana Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1½ cups quinoa (uncooked)
1 cup green lentils (uncooked)
2½ cups water
1 large onion, minced
1 can (14 oz) red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Boil some water. In a large, dry skillet over medium-high heat, toast both types of chile peppers on each side, about 2 minutes. (Don’t let them burn!) Place chiles in a large bowl and cover with boiling water. Place a smaller bowl or plate on top of the chiles to keep them submerged and let stand at least 30 minutes to rehydrate (longer is better).
In the same skillet, toast the cumin and coriander seeds for about 5 minutes over medium-high heat. Grind the seeds into a powder using a coffee/spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
Drop garlic cloves into a running food processor to finely mince them, then turn off processor. Reserve 1 cup of liquid from the chiles and add it to the food processor along with the chiles, ground cumin and coriander, oregano and tomatoes with their liquid. Process until smooth.
Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium heat. Add the quinoa and lentils and toast for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the chile mixture, water and onions. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer until the lentils are tender (at least 30 minutes). If your lentils are old, they will take longer to cook and you may need to add more water. Keep an eye on it. Once the lentils are done, add the kidney beans and simmer for about 5 more minutes, until the beans have warmed up.
Makes 10 servings
Per serving: 233 calories, 3g fat (0g sat), 0mg cholesterol, 227mg sodium, 40g carb, 11g fiber, 4g sugar, 12g protein
Nutritional Analysis: This chili is low in Cholesterol and Saturated Fat. It is also a good source of Dietary Fiber, Folate, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Manganese.
My husband would never go for this but I’m saving the recipe for next time he is gone!
This chili looks delish, but it totally confuses me about your comment on my site. lol
Your use of the quinoa and Arbosana Olive oil is a great twist on an American classic. Looks like it would keep an Eskimo warm on a winter’s day in Alaska. I like the added touch of the chips, I usually have bread with chili, but this sounds even better. Great recipe!
Wow Shelby….I’m loving this idea of incorporating quinoa into chili. You rock sister!
I’ve actually used quinoa in chili before and it was good. I would love to try the Arbosana olive oil.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/GoddessFoodie/status/159636499762130944
I like the idea of using lentils in chili; I always have them on hand. And the Arbosana olive oil is a good way to start it.
This looks great, I’ll have to get some arbosana oil and give this a try
Arbosana olive oil sounds like a great addition to my kitchen.
I think the “arbosana” olive oil would taste so perfect in this lovely chili:-) I love this recipe, so hearty and healthy:-) Hugs, Terra
Just tried quinoa for the first time on Sunday so am really enjoying all the recipes this week. I wouldn’t have thought to toast the quinoa and lentils in Arbosana olive oil. Did you do this to add to the flavor?
Next week, Vanessa. Next week.
Rachel – Isn’t quinoa great? Yes, toasting the quinoa and lentils first brings out a smoky, nutty flavor.
Never occurred to me to use quinoa in chili. Looks good. I like Arbosana olive oil.
I follow all three and tweeted about this giveaway. https://twitter.com/#!/grobiemum/status/160088340341862400
I love the use of quinoa in chili! What a fantastic and healthy idea! Toasting is terrific! :)
Love love love lentils…will have to try this.
My whole family, including kids ages 10, 12, and 14 loves quinoa. We also go through A LOT of EVOO, especially since DD has started sautéing veggies a couple of times a week. We also love Bob’s Red Mill beans, so I think I’d put a variety of beans in this, rather than just kidneys.
Thank you for the recipe!
My whole family, including kids ages 10, 12, and 14 loves quinoa. We also go through A LOT of EVOO, especially since DD has started sautéing veggies a couple of times a week. We will have to try the Arbosana variety, and soon! We also love Bob’s Red Mill beans, so I think I’d put a variety of beans in this, rather than just kidneys.
Thank you for the recipe!
Chili is always good in January! I love lentils and make a mean lentil soup (well at least I like it :)) so many thanks in creating this recipe!. And I’d love to win the Arbosana and try discern the nuttiness myself :)
I follow all 3 on Twitter and tweeted!
https://twitter.com/#!/picatasi/status/161024388471341056
I love this, it looks like amazing chili!
That’s a different style chili but it sound delicious. Even healthier with Arbosana olive oil
I’ve looking for a lentil recipe that is different than my normal. I don’t have quinoa, could I use something else?
Wendy – I like quinoa because it has so much protein. You could also use bulgur, rice (preferably brown), orzo or a whole grains mix such as Bob’s Red Mill Grande Whole Grains. You could also skip the quinoa and add a mix of beans as Waitdonteatthat suggested.