Mean Green Black Bean Chili

My friend, Corey, sent me the recipe for this complex, hearty chili with black beans, chili and pork, that takes a bit more effort but is totally worth it. I’ve made it countless times over the years. It’s not too spicy but still has the best flavors. My hubby is a huge fan of chilies and loves when I make this – I can usually recruit him to chop up all the tomatillos and chilies. If you can’t find a good variety of chilies at your local grocery store, try a Mexican grocery store.

This goes well with good tortilla chips or hearty cornbread. Pass the sliced jalapenos and Frank’s Red Hot sauce around separately so everyone can get as spicy as they want!

Mean Green Black Bean Chili

Servings

8

servings

Prep time

45

minutes

Cooking Time

3

hours

Ingredients

• 1 tsp dried oregano leaves, crumbled

• 1 Tbsp cumin

• 3 Tbsp Ancho chile powder OR regular chili powder

• 19 oz can green enchilada sauce

• 16 oz fresh tomatillos, peeled and diced

• 16 oz bottle mild salsa verde

• 3 lbs pork sirloin, cubed

• 1 Tbsp olive oil

• 2 cups fresh minced onion

• 2 Tbsp minced garlic

• 2 lbs diced fresh green chilis *

• 1 cup minced green bell pepper

• 3-15oz cans black beans, drained

• 3 Tbsp lime juice

• 2 avocados, diced

• chopped cilantro (optional)

• sour cream (optional)

Directions

• Combine the oregano, cumin, Ancho chile powder, green enchilada sauce, tomatillos and salsa verde in a large soup pot.
• Heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently.
• In a frying pan, brown the pork in the olive oil with onion and garlic. Work in batches so that all the pork cubes are properly browned.
• Drain the pork and add it to the soup pot along with the diced green chilies. Simmer chili for 2 hours.
• Add green peppers, black beans and salt to taste. Simmer for 1 additional hour.
• After 3 hours total simmering time, add the lime juice.
• Serve the chili with a garnish of avocados, cilantro and sour cream, if using.

Notes

• *I like to us a mixture of green chilis, like Anaheims, Poblanos, and Pasillas for a more complex flavor – but you can use a single type of chili if you prefer.
• You can usually find Ancho chile powder at your local grocery store.