Sausage Sweet Potato Chili with Kidney Beans

Serves 8 in about 1 hour. Celery goes in first, and chicken broth low finishes the pot.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion
• 1 cup chopped celery (about 2 ribs)
• 2 chopped jalapeños (remove seeds for less heat)
• 1 pound ground sausage, italian, mild
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon chili powder, mild
• 1 tablespoon cumin powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
• ¼ teaspoon chipotle powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 4-ounces roasted red peppers, drained, sliced
• 7-ounce can diced green chiles, mild
• 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes, with juice (not diced tomatoes with green chiles)
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 pound sweet potato, peeled & cubed
• 2 15-ounce cans tomato sauce
• ½ cup chicken broth, low sodium
• 1 15-ounce can black beans, drained & rinsed
• 1 15-ounce can red kidney beans, drained & rinsed
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

Method

1. I highly recommend that you gather all of the ingredients and measure, chop, etc. before you begin cooking. This makes the process so much easier and enjoyable!
2. Warm a large Dutch oven or heavy bottomed pot over a lively medium heat. Tip in the olive oil, onion, celery, and jalapeño. Mix and cook about 5 minutes, until the vegetables start to soften.
3. Stir in the sausage and break it up as you stir it.
4. Tip in the garlic and stir, cooking about 30 seconds.
5. Tip in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, chipotle powder, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix well.
6. Stir in the roasted red pepper, diced green chiles, diced tomatoes (with juice), and bell pepper. Mix and cook about 3 minutes.
7. Stir in the cubed sweet potato, tomato sauce, and chicken broth. Mix well.
8. Tip in the beans and stir well. Set the lid on the pot and reduce the heat to low. Cook, while stirring now and then to prevent sticking/scorching, until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender, about 25-40 minutes.
9. Mix in the cilantro, if using.
10. Plate with your preferred garnishes

More soups and stews ideas are in the soups and stews collection.