Q: I've recently found what's probably my favorite chili recipe, Beef and Pork Chili from a James Beard cookbook.
Between this and my love of mole poblano, I've become enamored of savory recipes that use chocolate. Do you know of any other good ones — stew, sauce or otherwise?
Sent by Mike
Editor: Here's the recipe Mike mentions; it sounds great!
• Beef and Pork Chili at Davis Farmers Market
The first recipe that comes to my mind is this recipe for Cincinnati Chili — it's a dish with cult following in Cincinnati. My recipe here intensifies the signature flavors even more; there is chipotle, cocoa powder, and cinnamon.
Give that a try! Also be on the lookout for recipes that call for cacao nibs, which have all that dark cocoa flavor without the sweetness.
• What Can I Do With Cacao Nibs?
Readers, what would you suggest for Mike?
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Just happened to see this article on NPR today. There is even a recipe that uses cacao nibs. Hope this gives you some ideas.
http://www.npr.org/2011/02/09/133594508/chocolate-savories-for-your-sweet
Also, how about mole sauce?
Duh...I see you've already found mole. :)
I love making couscous with dried cherries, pistachios, orange zest and a bit of cocoa powder (you could even throw some chopped chocolate in there instead of powder) - goes extremely well with roasted lamb. Here's my recipe: http://batterlicker.com/2010/04/couscous-with-dried-cherries-pistachios-orange-zest-and-cocoa-powder/
Chocolate works well in Japanese curries
Funny this should show up today. We're making this right now:
Beef with Spicy Cocoa Gravy
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000001571447
This one rocks!
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Braised-Short-Ribs-with-Chocolate-and-Rosemary-233706
This is one of my all-time favorites:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/short-ribs-with-tagliatelle-recipe/index.html
david lebovitz has a recipe for cacao nib and spiced lamb sausage pizza:
http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2006/01/cocoa-nib-and-s/
haven't tried it yet, but it sounds intriguing.
so, seriously, this is crazy.
but try shake and bake pork chops with hershey's syrup.
is it high class? no. it isn't. is it delicious? hell to the yes.
Whoa, I just made this same recipe 2 nights ago for dinner. You can see my blog posting about how delicious it is, http://liliaspettitscott.blogspot.com/2011/02/beef-take-2.html
At the chocolate shop I work in we sell 99% chocolate and we have a lady that buys oooodles of it monthly, she told me she puts it in almost everything she makes. Because of the low sugar content it doesn't mess with the sweetness , just adds a little sumthin'.
I'm not sure how much she adds but we sell them in little 90gram wafers, so I'd guess she adds it in increments of 90grams.
She said her favorite is in beef gravy.
Just today I saw a recipe from a great blog called Recipe Taster for shrimp risotto with broccoli and chocolate shavings. The pictures convinced me that it would taste great.
Appetizer: roll thumbnail-size goat cheese balls in chile & cocoa powder: I do one chiltepin to 1 Tablespoon cocoa. Add a tiny little bit of sugar and salt to suit your taste.