Zucchini Chili Recipes

Steps:

• Char the skins of the poblano chiles by placing them over a gas burner or under a hot broiler with the oven door slightly cracked. Turn the chiles until the skins are black. Remove and cool the chiles in a tightly covered bowl, then peel and finely chop or process into coarse puree in food processor.
• Heat extra-virgin olive oil over medium-high heat and add zucchini, onions, garlic, hot pepper, cumin, coriander, thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper, stir frequently for 10 minutes. Add in the tomato paste, and stir 1 minute more. Deglaze the pan with beer, stir in poblanos and beans and about half of the stock, bring to a bubble then reduce heat and simmer 10 to 15 minutes to combine flavors. Cool completely, cover and store for make-ahead meal. Reheat over medium heat.
• While the chili reheats make the rice. Melt the butter in a saucepot over medium heat and add the rice, toast a minute or 2, then stir in 1 1/2 cups stock, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and cook covered, over low heat 15 minutes.
• To food processor, add the spinach, cilantro, if using, and a little salt, and pulse into a fine paste. Stir the paste into the rice after 15 minutes. Turn off the heat, cover the pot and let the rice stand another 5 to 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve in shallow bowls with zucchini chili and toppings of choice to garnish.
• Toppers to choose from: crushed tortillas or warm soft tortillas, sour cream, shredded cheeses, scallions or finely chopped onions, lime wedges.

Steps:

• In a large pot or Dutch oven, add 1 Tablespoon of oil and cook zucchini for about 5 minutes, until tender firm.
• Remove zucchini from the pan and set aside.
• In the same pan add ground beef, onion and green bell pepper.
• Cook until beef is cooked through and onion and pepper are soft.
• Add taco seasoning, coriander, oregano and tomato paste. Mix well.
• Add beef broth , salsa and green chilies. Bring to a simmer, cooking for 10 minutes.
• Add zucchini and simmer for additional 15 minutes to meld the flavors and cook the zucchini down more.
• If the mixture is too thick, add ½ cup of water (or more, depending on how thick you like your chili).
• Serve with cheese, sour cream, green onions and Fritos.

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook zucchini, onions and peppers in oil over medium-high heat until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute., Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 30 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large chili pot.
• Sauté all zucchini, squash, celery and chopped onion til tender - about 9 minutes.
• To the pot, add the sauce ingredients to the zucchini mixture.
• Simmer slowly, uncovered, 1-1/2 hour. Stir occasionally.
• Add olives, kidney beans, mushrooms, chunked onion, optional pepper. Simmer 30 minutes.
• Serve over slabs of firm polenta or rice. Garnish with chopped cilantro.