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Dinner recipe · from the recipe book

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili with Cocoa

A deep, gently smoky chili with tender sweet potato cubes, creamy black beans and a hint of cocoa and cinnamon, finished with lime and cilantro.

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili with Cocoa

Ingredients

  • 3 cups516 gBlack beans, canned, drained and rinsed
  • 3 medium400 gSweet potatoespeeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1¾ lb800 gDiced tomatoes, canned
  • 2 tbsp32 gTomato paste
  • 1½ medium160 gYellow oniondiced
  • 1 medium119 gRed bell pepperdiced
  • 1 whole14 gJalapeñoseeded and minced
  • 4 cloves12 gGarlicminced
  • 1½ tbsp20 gOlive oil
  • 1 tbsp8 gChili powder
  • 1 tbsp6 gGround cumin
  • 1¾ tsp4 gPaprika (sweet or smoked)smoked
  • 2 tsp2 gDried oregano
  • 1½ tbsp8 gUnsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ tsp1 gGround cinnamon
  • 1½ cups360 gWater
  • ½ tsp3 gSalt
  • 2 tbsp30 gLime juice
  • ⅔ cup chopped10 gFresh cilantrochopped
  • ½ cup crumbled60 gQueso frescocrumbled

Steps

  1. Prepare the vegetables first: dice the onion and bell pepper, mince the jalapeño and garlic, peel and cube the sweet potato, chop the cilantro and crumble the queso fresco.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring, until soft, about 6 minutes.
  3. Add the jalapeño and garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  4. Stir in the tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano and cinnamon.
  5. Stir in the unsweetened cocoa powder and cook everything for 1 minute until fragrant.
  6. Add the canned tomatoes with their juice, the water, the sweet potato, the black beans and the salt. Stir well and bring to a boil.
  7. Lower the heat, partly cover and simmer, stirring now and then, for 35 to 40 minutes, until the sweet potato is tender and the chili has thickened.
  8. Mash a few spoonfuls of beans and sweet potato against the side of the pot to thicken the chili further, then stir in the lime juice.
  9. Ladle into bowls and top with the cilantro and queso fresco.

Contains: Milk.

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Saved in the Every Helping recipe book on October 24, 2026.

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