Category: SOUPS & STEWS & CHILIS

INSTA-POT TEXAS BEANLESS RED CHILI

Between the weather and the isolation of the sheltering in place, we were craving some comfort food last week on a cold, rainy, windy day so I decided to make chili and cornbread. I went in search of a new beanless recipe and found this! Personally, I’m wimpier than they are and have made it MUCH milder, but we LOVED the results! I borrowed and altered, trading for what I had on hand from BUTTER-N-THYME who fantastically shared the recipe for their award winning Texas Red Chili. Any good Texan knows there are NO beans in chili! 😀
INSTA-POT AWARD WINNING TEXAS BEANLESS RED CHILI
serves 6 and only 45 minutes total time

2 poblano peppers, diced
2 1 Serrano Peppers, diced
1 Fresno chile
1 Habanero Pepper
2 Thai Chiles
1 large Jalapeno Pepper
1 Anaheim pepper, diced
1 large red bell pepper, diced
1 Guajillo or Mexico Dried Pepper
1 Dried Ancho Chile, crushed

The level of HEAT will be controlled by how you handle the fresh chile peppers. I ALWAYS remove the seeds AND the ribs most of the time. YOUR 3 HEAT Options are:

  • Low/Medium Heat – remove the seeds and the ribs
  • Medium – only remove the seeds
  • HOT – Only remove the stem from the chili pepper

CREATING YOUR BASE
1 tablespoon San Antonio Chili Powder
1 Large Vidalia Onion, chopped – reserve 1 tablespoon
6 cloves garlic, minced
2+ cups Beef stock
1.5 tablespoon Chipotle Chili Powder
1 tablespoon Ancho Chili Powder
1.5 tablespoon New Mexico Chili Powder
2 tablespoons Ancho chili powder
2 tablespoons smoked paprika

  • Using food processor pulse the garlic and onions several times until you have a finely diced mixture.
  • Add peppers, pulsing again to your desired consistency.
  • Add dried pepper, but cover with a dish towel to prevent any mess.
  • Reserve several tablespoons for garnish.

SEASONINGS
1 tablespoon granulated garlic
1 tablespoon granulated onion
1 tablespoon FRESH Ground black pepper
1 tablespoon + 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons dried oregano
Shaved Mexican chocolate – amount of your liking – OPTIONAL
6 ounces Shiner Bock beer – OPTIONAL

MEAT MIXTURE
1 pound cubed chunks of quality beef (I used chuck roast)
FRESH ground kosher salt
1/2 pound ground pork
2+ tablespoons of avocado oil

ASSEMBLY

  • Turn the Instant Pot Saute feature on.
  • Sprinkle kosher salt all over the beef and rub into meat.
  • Add 2 tablespoons avocado oil to insta-pot and allow to heat up.
  • Add beef chunks to insta-pot.
  • Sear the beef then remove from Instant Pot and reserve in a bowl.
  • Clean out the Instant Pot pot.
  • While still on saute, add the BASE to the pot and cook.
  • Add the seared beef and ground pork to the pot with the cooked BASE, stirring to coat.
  • Cook for around 5 minutes or you can see that the BASE has tightened up/thickened UP.
  • Add the dry seasonings, spices and chocolate if using.
  • Add the beef stock and beer if using.
  • Stir everything together and cook for 3 minutes.
  • Place the Instant Pot cover on. Make sure the plastic circle ring/gasket is installed on the cover.
  • Turn to exhaust value to sealing.
  • Press the Pressure Cook button and set the timer for 30 minutes. Make sure the Heat setting is set to “Normal” and the pressure setting is set to “High Pressure”.
  • After 30 minutes
 do a quick release until the small metal PIN drops the pressure has left the Instant Pot.
  • Garnish and Enjoy!

INSTA-POT CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS

INSTA-POT CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS

DUMPLINGS
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup FRESH finely chopped Parsley
1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
2 tablespoons chopped FRESH chives
1 tablespoon baking powder
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
3/4 cup WHOLE milk
3 tablespoons butter, melted

  • Whisk the flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt together.
  • Stir in milk, butter, Parsley and chives JUST until the batter comes together.
  • Set aside.

CHICKEN
2 tablespoons avocado oil
2 tablespoons butter
3 carrots, sliced thin
2 stalks celery, sliced thin
1 LARGE shallot, sliced thin
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
2 tablespoons WONDRA flour
2 sprigs FRESH thyme, leaves only
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders, cut into 1 inch pieces
3 1/2 cups chicken broth

  • Set insta-pot to saute’.
  • Add avocado oil and butter.
  • When butter is melted, add carrots, celery and shallots.
  • Season with salt and pepper, cooking 3-4 minutes until softened.
  • Stir in flour and thyme.
  • Add chicken, stirring to coat.
  • Stir in chicken broth and press cancel.
  • Place 12 scoops of batter evenly into pot.
  • Lock lid into place. Be sure the vent is in the sealed position.
  • Pressure cook for 3 minutes.
  • Turn steam valve into the venting position an allow steam to release naturally for 15 minutes.
  • Unlock lid and remove.
  • Ladle the chicken and dumplings into bowls.

SPAGHETTI SOUP

SPAGHETTI SOUP
1 pound ground sweet Italian sausage
3/4 pound ground beef
4 cups beef stock
1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
3 cups water
1 teaspoon dried basil
Parmesan cheese
8 ounces spaghetti, broken into 1 1/2 inch pieces

  • Brown sausage in cast iron skillet.
  • Drain grease.
  • Add sausage to stock pot.
  • Add stock, marinara sauce, water, garlic powder, pepper, salt and basil.
  • Cook, covered, on low 4-6 hours to allow flavors to blend together.
  • Stir in pasta; cook, covered until pasta is tender, 15-20 minutes longer.

FISHY (in a good way) CHICKEN STEW

FISHY (in a good way) CHICKEN STEW
3 slices bacon, chopped
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 LARGE shallot, chopped fine
1 celery stalk, chopped fine
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons anchovy paste
3 sprigs FRESH thyme, minced
3/4 cup white wine
5 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons Bragg’s liquid aminos
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/3 cup WONDRA flour
1 pound white potatoes, diced
3 carrots, diced
chopped FRESH parsley for garnish

  • In a large saute pan, cook bacon JUST until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to drain on paper toweling.
  • Add avocado oil to the bacon rendering in the pan and heat over medium flame.
  • GENEROUSLY season chicken pieces with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Add chicken to hot oil and sear on both sides until cooked through. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
  • Add onion, garlic, celery, anchovy paste and thyme, cooking 2-3 minutes until well blended.
  • Add wine, 1 cup of the broth and liquid aminos, simmering until almost ALL the liquid is evaporated.
  • Preheat oven to 325°.
  • Add butter.
  • When butter has melted, sprinkle with flour, stirring to combine.
  • Whisk in remaining broth,
  • Shred chicken and add to broth along with carrots and potatoes, stirring to combine.
  • Cover and bake 30 minutes.
  • Stir and bake another 30-45 minutes until carrots and potatoes are fork tender.
  • Season to taste and fold in bacon pieces.
  • Garnish and serve immediately.  We like it over pasta.  I know that’s weird, but it’s a family thing.

TOMATO BARLEY SAUSAGE SOUP

TOMATO BARLEY SAUSAGE SOUP
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 pound sweet Italian sausage (no casings), chopped small
1 small onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped small
2 large carrots, chopped small
4 cloves garlic, minced
2-14.5 ounce cans petite diced tomatoes with herbs
4 cups chicken broth
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 cup uncooked pearl barley (NOT quick barley)
+/- 1-2 cups water (depending on desired soup thickness)
sour cream, garnish
chopped green onions, garnish

CROCK POT

  • Heat avocado oil in large skillet over medium heat.
  • Brown sausage and onion and drain off fat.
  • Spray crock pot insert with non-stick spray.
  • Add sausage, onions, celery, carrots, garlic, tomatoes and chicken broth to slow cooker.
  • Season with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Add as much water as you’d like to reach your desired consistency.
  • Cover and cook on low 7 hours until barley and vegetables are tender.
  • Ladle into bowls and garnish.

STOVE TOP

  • Heat avocado oil in large skillet over medium heat.
  • Add carrots and cook 2 minutes.
  • Brown sausage, onion, celery and garlic, cooking until sausage is browned.
  • Drain off grease.
  • In dutch oven whisk together tomatoes, chicken broth, water and barley.
  • Add sausage mixture and stir to blend.
  • Season to taste.
  • Simmer 1 hour.
  • Top with fresh tomatoes, sour cream and cheese.

FRENCH Onion Potato Soup

FRENCH Onion Potato Soup serves 2
3 tablespoons butter, divided 1 + 2
1 small Vidalia onion, halved root to tip and sliced thin
2 sprigs FRESH thyme, minced
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup white wine
1 large russet potato, peeled and diced small
2 cups beef broth
1/4 cup heavy cream
4 slices baguette, buttered
1 cup grated gruy’ere cheese

  • Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in saucepan.
  • Add onions, thyme, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally until onions are tender and light golden brown, 10-15 minutes.
  • Add garlic, cooking a minute or two until fragrant.
  • Add wine and cook until almost evaporated.
  • Stir in potatoes and broth.
  • Season to taste.
  • Cook, stirring occasionally until potatoes are fork tender, 10-15 minutes.
  • Using an immersion blender puree the soup.
  • Stir in the heavy cream and remaining butter until melted and well blended.
  • Preheat broiler.
  • Pour soup into oven proof boils.
  • Top with baguette slices.
  • Sprinkle with grated cheese.
  • Broil until cheese is bubbly and starting to brown, 2-3 minutes.

CLASSIC CLAM CHOWDER

CLASSIC CLAM CHOWDER
2-10 ounce cans BUMBLE BEE whole baby clams
1-8 ounce bottle clam juice
1 cup white wine
3 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons WONDRA flour
½ LARGE red onion, diced small
2 stalks celery, diced small
8 slices bacon, chopped small
¼ cup chopped Italian leaf Parsley
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
3 LARGE gold potatoes, peeled and diced
1 ½ cups half-and-half
2 green onions, sliced thin

  • In a large dutch oven, melt butter over medium high heat.
  • Cook bacon until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon.
  • Add onions, celery and half of Parsley, sauteing until soft.
  • Add flour and blend well.
  • Strain clams, reserving juice.
  • Add clam juices, white wine and chicken stock, blending well.
  • Bring to a LOW SLOW boil. Reduce heat to medium low.
  • Add potatoes and simmer 15-20 minutes until potatoes are fork tender and soup has thickened to desired consistency.
  • Add clams.
  • Stir in half-and-half, simmering 5-10 minutes until clams are heated through.
  • Adjust seasoning to taste.
  • Garnish with reserved Parsley, green onions and bacon.

CREAMY ROASTED RED PEPPER CHICKEN SOUP

CREAMY ROASTED RED PEPPER CHICKEN SOUP
3 pounds small hot house tomatoes
1 red bell pepper
avocado oil
½ red onion
¼ cup chopped parsley
3 cups diced rotisserie chicken
3 tablespoons caramelized balsamic vinegar
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
½ cup half and half
1 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons butter
Crumbled bacon for garnish

  • Halve and seed red pepper.
  • Holding pepper with tongs roast pepper halves over burner flame. Set aside to cool.
  • Small dice the red onion.
  • Small dice the red pepper.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
  • Fill a large bowl with ice water.
  • Cut an X in the bottom of each tomato.
  • Add tomatoes to boiling water and reduce heat to medium. Cook for 2 minutes or until skins break.
  • Using a slotted spoon immediately transfer tomatoes to ice water.
  • When cool enough to handle, peel the skins off and place tomatoes in a bowl.
  • In a small stock pot heat avocado oil.
  • Add onion, cooking a minute or so to soften.
  • Add red pepper and cook 2-3 minutes until soft and oil is absorbed.
  • Add parsley.
  • Using an immersion blender, cream tomatoes.
  • Add tomatoes to pan, stirring to blend well.
  • Season to taste.
  • Add vinegar and chicken broth, blending well. Cook 5-10 minutes.
  • Add half and half, stirring to blend.
  • Fold in chicken pieces.
  • Add butter, stirring until melted and blended well.

CREAM OF CARROT FENNEL SOUP

CREAM OF CARROT FENNEL SOUP
1 pound of FRESH carrots, chopped
3/4 cup chopped fennel bulb
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup water
1 teaspoon FRESH ground Pink Himalayan salt
1 teaspoon FRESH ground tri-color peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon ground thyme
3 tablespoons butter
1 large shallot, finely chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons Wondra
1 1/2 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons Cream of Sherry
1/2 cup heavy cream
Fennel fronds for garnish

  • Bring water and chicken broth to a boil in a steamer.
  • Add carrots and fennel to steamer basket.  Steam7-8 minutes or until tender.
  • Remove carrots and fennel to cool slightly.  Save broth, adding enough water to measure 2 cups. Set aside.
  • Add the carrots and fennel to food processor with 1 cup of the steaming broth. Blend until smooth.
  • Melt butter in large sauce pan.
  • Add shallot, sauteing until soft.
  • Add the garlic, sauteing until fragrant.
  • Sprinkle in flour, stirring to blend until golden.
  • Slowly whisk in the whole milk, heavy cream, cream of sherry and remaining 1 cup of broth.
  • Stir in thyme and simmer 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens.
  • Stir in carrot puree.
  • Season to taste.
  • Top with chopped fennel fronds.

ROAST TURKEY & WILD RICE SOUP

Winter seemed never ending this year!  So what did we do? We made MORE soup!  While we were on a trip to the coast I had the most amazing soup at McMeniman’s Sand Trap at their Gearhart Hotel.  So, I came home and set to recreating it.  The re-creation is so close I feel like I’m back in front of the fire enjoying their soup and a cocktail!

ROAST TURKEY & WILD RICE SOUP
1 tablespoon butter
1 small Viadalia onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
3 large carrots, sliced into 1/4 inch slices
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon FRESH ground black pepper
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried parsley
5 cups chicken broth
1 cup wild rice
2-3 cups shredded turkey or rotisserie chicken pieces

  • Melt butter in dutch oven over medium high heat.
  • Add onions, carrots, celery, salt and pepper. Saute’ 5 minutes.
  • Add garlic. Saute’ another 5 minutes.
  • Add thyme, parsley, vinegar, broth and rice.
  • Bring to a SLOW boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.
  • Add turkey and simmer uncovered 30 minutes more until rice is tender.
  • Adjust seasonings to taste.

CREAM OF POTATO HAM SOUP

CREAM OF POTATO HAM SOUP
1 pound YUKON gold potatoes
1 cup chicken broth
1 ½ cup water
1 teaspoon FRESH ground Pink Himalayan salt
1 teaspoon FRESH ground tri-color peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
3 tablespoons butter
1 large shallot, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons Wondra flour
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 cups small diced ham steak
Grated sharp cheddar cheese for garnish

  • Bring water and chicken broth to a boil in a dutch oven.
  • Add potatoes and cook JUST until fork tender.
  • Remove potatoes and save 2 cups of the broth. Set aside.
  • When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, dice one third of the potatoes.
  • Toss the diced potatoes with a pinch of salt and set aside.
  • Mash two-thirds of the potatoes with 1 cup of the steaming broth, whisking until smooth.**
  • Melt butter in large sauce pan.
  • Add shallot, sauteing until soft.
  • Add the garlic, sauteing until fragrant.
  • Sprinkle in flour, stirring to blend until golden.
  • Slowly whisk in the whole milk, heavy cream and remaining 1 cup of broth.
  • Stir in Cream of Sherry and thyme.  Simmer 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens.
  • Stir in potato puree.
  • Season to taste.
  • Add ham pieces, cooking a few minutes until ham is heated through.
  • Top with grated cheese.
  • Serve immediately.

**NOTE: DO NOT use a food processor.  Your potatoes will become gummy.

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP
1 pound of asparagus
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup water
1 teaspoon FRESH ground Pink Himalayan salt
1 teaspoon FRESH ground tri-color peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
3 tablespoons butter
1 large shallot, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons Wondra
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
Parmesan cheese for garnish

  • Bring water and chicken broth to a boil in a steamer.
  • Add asparagus to steamer basket.  Steam 4-5 minutes or until tender.
  • Remove asparagus and save broth, adding enough water to measure 2 cups. Set aside.
  • When the asparagus is cool enough to handle, trim off tops and halve the stalks in half.
  • Toss the tops with a pinch of salt and set aside fr garnish.
  • Add the stalks to food processor with 1 cup of the steaming broth. Blend until smooth.
  • Melt butter in large sauce pan.
  • Add shallot, sauteing until soft.
  • Add the garlic, sauteing until fragrant.
  • Sprinkle in flour, stirring to blend until golden.
  • Slowly whisk in the whole milk, heavy cream and remaining 1 cup of broth.
  • Stir in coriander and simmer 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens.
  • Stir in asparagus puree.
  • Season to taste.
  • Top with asparagus tips and Parmesan.