I’ve always tried to keep this blog free from personal opinions that don’t have anything to do with food. But this week has been very exciting and eventful. Like I’ve mentioned in past posts I love history, but witnessing a historic event is even better, a million times better. That’s why from this humble space I want to congratulate Mr. Obama, his supporters and this magnificent country in general for, one more time, making the world a better place to live and dream. If you want to read more about my thoughts on this historic event here’s the link to my other blog.
And since we are talking about politics already, I want to share just one more opinion about the world. And that is about the two countries that I love, Mexico and the U.S.A. The relationship between these two countries is many times misunderstood. Many Americans think of Mexico only as the poor neighbor with the beautiful beaches where many immigrants come from. And many Mexicans (especially the middle and upper classes that look up to Europe rather than to their North American neighbor) think of the U.S.A. as the bully neighbor that took away half of their territory and imposes its politics with force.
But the truth is that the two countries, despite their differences and past confrontations, are a lot closer in many ways than most people would think. For example, Mexico is the second largest, just after China, trading partner of the U.S. Mexico’s republican government is modeled after the U.S. constitutional republic. Mexico played an important role in World War 2 by providing raw materials and hundreds of thousands of workers to alleviate labor shortages created by the military draft.
I could sit here and write many other examples of partnership and cooperation between the two countries that I love, but I rather express myself the way I know best, with food. One of my favorite Mexican dishes is mole and one of my favorite American dishes is chili. So I made a dish that combines both and called it moli. I know it is not the best name but it was delicious.
Pumpkin moli
Makes 6-8 servingsFor this recipe you will need:
- 2 TBSP olive oil
- 2 lbs ground beef or turkey
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cups kidney beans
- 1 16oz can pumpkin puree
- 1 16oz can tomato puree
- 1/4 cup almonds
- 1/4 cup peanuts
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 dried ancho chile, cleaned
- 1 dried New Mexico chile, cleaned
- 1 corn tortilla
- 1 garlic head, cloves peeled
- 2 TBSP sesame seeds
- 1 TBSP allspice
- 2 whole cloves
- 1 bar Mexican Chocolate
- tortilla chips
Preparation:
- In a large cast iron skillet toast almonds, peanuts, dried chiles, cinnamon stick, whole spice, cloves, corn tortilla and garlic for 2 to 3 minutes minutes or until the aroma of the spices is very intense. Add sesame seeds and toast for another 30 seconds. Using a blender or food processor grind spices to a grainy powder.
- In a large pot, sautee onion until translucent over medium heat. Add ground meat and cook until brown. Add kidney beans, tomato and powdered spices. Stir well and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and add pumpkin puree, Mexican chocolate and season to taste. Cover and cook for 45 minutes and add chicken or vegetable stock if necessary.
- Cook for another 30 to 45 minutes and taste to adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Serve hot in a bowl over tortilla chips (optional) and sprinkle with dried cheese (optional) and enjoy.
If you want, you can clean a medium pumpkin. Fill it with moli and baked it at 400°F for 15 minutes. That will give it a very nice presentation and accentuate the pumpkin flavor.
Moli spices
There you have it. An amalgam of two of my favorite dishes in one delicious moli.
¡Buen provecho!
I am sending this recipe to the following events. Please click on the badges to know more about the event:
I probably spent a little more than 15 dollars on this dish, but it yielded 8 servings and I had most of the spices already in my pantry.
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MyKitchenInHalfCups
Simply lovely Ben. Chili in a pumpkin, cool. I just baked a stew in a pumpkin now I think I need chili or maybe moli!!
Gloria
Hi Ben. Your chili recipe sounds and looks fabulous. Thanks for entering the chili cook-off challenge. I haven’t posted my recipe yet, but it’s called Chipotle-Mole Chili and it has some of the same ingredients you used–peanuts, chocolate, and cinnamon. Your presentation is beautiful!
Teresa
Ben, what a wonderful recipe. I will definitely be trying this one. Sounds yummy. It’s like when I combined red chile with barbecue saue. It turned out surprisingly good. Bravo chico.
Peter G
This is a great take on chilli Ben…looks very aromatic from th ingredients list. You had me won with that. Cinnamon, allspice and cloves!
joan nova
I was going to suggest entering it in the Chili Cook-Off.
P.S. Stop by my blog and see my latest post (a meme). I’ll say no more.
Peter
The election of Obama as Prez is the American dream itself and the few naysayers are Bush apologists and some still veil their racism.
It’s a glorious moment in US history and despite the challenges ahead, things look good.
This dish is a Mexican-American co-op in the kitchen…pumpkin associated with the American harvest and the flavours of Mexico…OLE!
Mansi
this looks amazing ben! and I just love the photo!! and an interesting recipe too!
btw, just wanted to invite you to participate in my vegetarian thanksgiving recipe event if you can find some time!:)
[eatingclub] vancouver || js
What g reat twist on the standard chili. I’ll take a bowl of moli, please.
Lore
Oh WOW! Cinnamon? Chocolate? This sounds intriguing Ben! Food always brought people together but this dish is also a tribute to people brought together, love it! Thanks for sending it my way
Psychgrad
Beautiful presentation Ben! This is a combination of flavours that would not occur to me in a million years.
We’ve got an award for you!
Bellini Valli
Great dish Ben where your heritage shines through:D
mikky
that’s why i love your blog, i always get to learn something new… i really love the presentation…
Adam
Cinnamon, chocolate, and ground beef? I think you deserve the mad delicious scientist award, my bro
I’ve always liked moli and thought it was so interesting. This looks great 
Heather
For what it’s worth, I always think of Mexico as just one more place we robbed.
This dish is really a winner. I’m glad to see you mix these cultures (that way I don’t feel like such an imposter to use mole with venison or buffalo). This is a masterpiece, muchacho.
Hélène
What a beautiful dish your prepared. Yum!
Dell
Ben this looks & sounds fabulous! love the presentation
Teresa
Hey there Chico. Come around to my blog and pick up on a “Six Random Things About Me” meme that I’m targeting you with. Hey, If I had to do it, so do you!
Kevin
This sounds so good!
kat
Another dish from you that I absolutely have to make!
giz
My mouth’s mind is in a total state of confusion. I think I seriously need to taste this dish. I have no idea what Mexican chocolate is. I’ll join in and say OLE…. or is that oy vey??? You see, we are so very similar.
Jo
yum! This looks so very good and I love your presentation! Wonderful stuff!
recipes2share
Loved the ‘other’ blog & this looks great too!
Lindsay
What a great entry Ben, both the message and the recipe! As a Texan, I definitely straddle both worlds! And you know my affinity for pumpkins, so I’ll definitely be trying this recipe soon!
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Rachel
A great, heartfelt post about two wonderful countries. Thumbs up, Ben!
And your pumpkin dish ain’t bad either!
maris
I love how you have this served in a pumpkin! Such a great idea!
kellypea
I still haven’t taken the time to think about adding chocolate to a savory dish, but this flavor combo has me thinking hard on it. Maybe I could sneak it in and no one would know. Right. Most likely I’d get a, “Why’d you put chocolate in this?” from the menfolk.
Sues
I’m convinced. If I made this, it would be my favorite thing in the world. Ever. It looks/sounds amazing!!!
Bellini Valli
PS Ben. I have invited you to join an event over at my blog if you have the time of course:D
Megan
What an amazing chili recipe! I love the Mexican chocolate!
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