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Lunch recipe · from the recipe book

Coconut Beef Chili with Zucchini and Kale

A rich, smoky beef chili mellowed with creamy coconut milk, studded with tender zucchini, carrots and black beans, finished with silky kale and a squeeze of lime.

Coconut Beef Chili with Zucchini and Kale

Ingredients

  • 1 lb450 gGround beef, 90% lean
  • 2¼ tsp10 gCanola oil
  • 1½ medium160 gYellow oniondiced
  • 2 medium120 gCarrotsdiced
  • 4 cloves12 gGarlicminced
  • 1 whole14 gJalapeñoseeded and minced
  • 1 tbsp8 gChili powder
  • 2 tsp4 gGround cumin
  • 1¼ tsp3 gPaprika (sweet or smoked)smoked
  • 2 tbsp32 gTomato paste
  • 14 oz400 gDiced tomatoes, canned
  • 1 cup200 gCoconut milk, cannedstirred well
  • 1 cup240 gReduced-sodium beef broth
  • 1½ cups258 gBlack beans, canned, drained and rinsed
  • 2 cups chopped250 gZucchinicut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 3¾ cups chopped80 gKalestems removed, chopped
  • ¼ tsp2 gSalt
  • 2 tbsp30 gLime juice
  • ⅔ cup chopped10 gFresh cilantrochopped

Steps

  1. Prep first: dice the onion and carrot, mince the garlic and jalapeño, cut the zucchini, chop the kale and cilantro.
  2. Heat the canola oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned and cooked to 160°F (71°C), about 7 minutes.
  3. Add the onion and carrot and cook until the onion softens, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and jalapeño for 1 minute.
  4. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika and tomato paste and cook 1 minute until fragrant and darkened.
  5. Add the canned tomatoes with their juice, the beef broth and the black beans. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer on low for 20 minutes, stirring now and then.
  6. Stir in the coconut milk, the zucchini and the salt. Simmer uncovered until the zucchini is tender and the chili thickens, about 10 minutes.
  7. Stir in the kale and cook until wilted, about 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the lime juice.
  8. Ladle into bowls and top with the cilantro.

Check labels: Gluten-free when you buy reduced-sodium beef broth labeled gluten-free.

Allergens: none in the ingredients as written. Some brands contain gluten.

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

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