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Paleo Chili Comfort Food
- Posted on April 2, 2016 at 3:15 pm
Who doesn't love a great chili once the weather cools? We are regular chili eaters at our house from football season until early spring. Chili is a great comfort food, but often it isn't as healthy as we think. We often fill it with processed and sugary laced products without even realizing it. Then there's the beans...although beans provide some protein, they also can be calorie dense without adding a ton of nutrients. This fall, I began eliminating some foods from my diet to try to determine what was not agreeing with my digestion. In doing so, I cut out beans and legumes (I had already cut out dairy and gluten). What was left was simply a Paleo diet. This way of eating has worked well so far for my body, daily energy and overall gut health....but what about winter chili?? Y'all, I LOVE some chili when it's cold! Off I went, searching for a Paleo Chili recipe that not only was tasty, but our family of 5 would enjoy. What I found was ok, but not fantastic. After a bit of tweaking, I ended up with this beautiful, healthy, gluten and bean free Paleo Chili that we have probably made 20 times in the past 3 months! It has also become a favorite among my Online Bootcamp Participants as we focus on a gluten and dairy free lifestyle. Of course this Paleo Chili would also be perfect for a large friend or family gathering.
- 2 pounds ground meat (we use lean ground turkey)
- 1 clove minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive or coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or less depending on taste)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato puree or tomato sauce
- 2 cans diced tomatoes with juice (we use Italian style)
- 3-4 medium zucchinis, diced
- 2 cups diced carrots (about 4-5)
- 2 stalks of celery, chopped
- 1 large onion, diced
- Heat 1/2 oil in a pot and brown ground meat. Drain excess fat and place cooked meat in a bowl.
- Add the last 1/2 of the oil to the pan and cook veggies and seasonings (carrots, celery, onions and zucchini) until softened, about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. **Note: To speed up prep time, place veggies in food processor to dice.
- Combine cooked meat, tomato sauce and diced tomatoes to the veggies and bring to a boil, stirring frequently.
- Reduce heat and simmer all day or serve immediately.
Until next time friends, eat well, move more and laugh often! In love and health, Sarah
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