Primal Pork Chilli

I like to take advantage of sales at the grocery store whenever I can, because if you're eating primally, you'll know it can get rather expensive!  So, when I found minced pork on sale for $2, I picked it up without knowing what I would do with it.  And so, I came up with this next recipe - Primal Pork Chilli.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
450g minced pork
1 can tomatoes, OR tomato sauce if you prefer
1/2 cup diced green pepper
1/2 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp cumin

(adjust spices as desired)

Optional:
Cheese
Greek Yogurt (or Homemade Tzaziki)

Method:

1. Heat olive oil in a frying pan, and add the chopped red onion.  Sauté until softened.
2. Add the minced pork, and continue cooking until browned.
3. Add your tomatoes (or sauce - I used some homemade sauce that I had), and your green pepper (feel free to add other vegetables - carrot, zucchini, hot peppers would all work well), and then add your spices.  (I always just shake right into the pan, so my measurements above are estimates - but pretty close).
4. Allow the tomato to simmer down and all the spices to blend (probably about 20 minutes or so).  Give it a taste before you take it off the stove - make sure the spices are as you like it.
5. Serve, topping with cheese and Greek yogurt/tzaziki if desired.

Chilli con pollo

Last night we made this recipe from a low-fat cookbook we own.  I altered it slightly, and it was almost perfect.  The only other change I would make is to add about a teaspoon of salt next time.

Chilli con pollo
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• about 1/4 of a red onion
• 500 grams minced chicken
• spices to taste (I used chilli powder, chipotle pepper, cumin and garlic powder)
• 2 cups chopped tomato (tin or other preserves)
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tsp soft brown sugar
• 1 tin kidney beans
• 1/2 chopped red peppers

Serve with:

• light sour cream
• light marble cheese
• garlic bread or tortilla chips

Method:

1. Heat the oil in a large sauce pan.  Add the onion and sauté for about 3 minutes or until soft.  Increase heat & add chicken.  Cook for about 6-8 minutes or until the chicken is browned - break up any lumps with a wooden spoon.

2. Add the spices and cook for 1 minute.   Add the tomato, tomato paste and water, and stir well.

3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.  Add the brown sugar, kidney beans & red peppers and cook for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Spoon into bowls & top with cheese and sour cream.  Serve with garlic bread or tortilla chips.

Bon apetit!