Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Cabbage Chili with Spicy Sausage

Cabbage Chili with Spicy Sausage

Black-eyed peas add savor to this healthy cold-weather pleaser

Cabbage chili? Yeah, not something you’re likely to find in Texas. But totally worth having.

Particularly since cabbage has almost no calories. Many of us are diet conscious this time of year, so that’s a winner.

But the biggest winner is the flavor. We’ve loaded this dish with lots of dried chile powder and other spices, so it has all the deep chili flavor you expect from, well, chili.

This dish makes a great weekday meal, but it’s good enough to serve at an informal weekend gathering with friends. Like, maybe, for football playoffs or the Super Bowl. Score!




Cabbage Chili with Spicy Sausage

Recipe: Cabbage Chili with Spicy Sausage

You can use any spicy sausage you like in this dish. Mexican chorizo is a natural, but any full-flavored sausage works well (we used kielbasa). Just be sure to choose a sausage with lots of flavor. Sausage is an accent element in this dish, but its flavor will stand out – and you’ll definitely be tasting it.

We used dried chile powder to season this dish. You can also use chili (with an i) powder – see Notes for an explanation of the difference. We included a couple of jalapeño peppers for extra flavor. Skip those if you’re heat-adverse.

We suggest using dried black-eyed peas (which don’t need soaking). They’ll cook in 45 minutes to an hour, which is perfect – you need to cook the chili at least 45 minutes in any case to develop the flavor. See Notes if you want to substitute canned beans, or another variety of bean.

This recipe makes a batch large enough for a crowd – 4 to 5 quarts. But chili freezes well, so you can save some for later. Leftovers will also keep for a few days in the refrigerator if stored in an airtight container.

Prep time for this recipe is 20 to 30 minutes. Cooking time adds about an hour, mostly unattended. You can make most of the dish ahead of time, then refrigerate it (prepare through Step 10). When ready to serve, just add the cabbage and cook for an additional 15 minutes (Steps 11 and 12).

Ingredients
  • 12 ounces dried black-eyed peas (~2 cups)
  • 2 onions (about 2 cups, or a bit less, when chopped)
  • 3 to 4 garlic cloves (to taste)
  • 2 jalapeño peppers (or to taste; optional)
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil (can substitute any cooking oil of your choice)
  • salt to taste (about ½ teaspoon kosher salt for us)
  • 2 to 3 potatoes (about a pound total, although exact quantity isn’t critical)
  • 10 to 16 ounces spicy sausage (whatever kind you like; see headnote)
  • 2 tablespoons dried chile powder (we recommend ancho or medium Hatch; see Notes)
  • 1 tablespoon dried coriander
  • 1 tablespoon dried cumin
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 8 cups water  (add more during the cooking process if necessary)
  • 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
  • additional salt to taste
  • ~1½ pounds cabbage (either green or Savoy; about ½ large head)
  • garnish of jalapeño slices (optional)
Procedure
  1. Sort through the dried black-eyed peas, picking out and discarding any stones or pieces of grit. Place the black-eyed peas in a large bowl, fill the bowl with water to wash them, then drain the beans. Set aside.
  2. Peel the onions and cut them into dice of about ½ inch. Set aside.
  3. Peel the garlic and mince or dice it finely. Set aside.
  4. Wash the jalapeño peppers (if using) and cut them lengthwise. Use a teaspoon to scoop out the ribs and seeds (be careful, the oil on these is hot; keep fingers away from your eyes). Chop the peppers into very small dice, or use a mini food processor (reserve a slice or two of the pepper for garnish). Set the chopped peppers aside, then wash your hands with soap and water to remove the hot jalapeño oil from your skin. 
  5. Place a large cooking pot (one that holds at least 6 quarts) on medium stovetop heat. When hot, add the oil. When the oil is heated (it’ll shimmer), add the chopped onions. Season to taste with salt (about ½ teaspoon kosher salt), and sauté for 5 minutes.
  6. Meanwhile, wash the potatoes and peel them. Cut the potatoes into dice of about ½ inch. Set aside.
  7. Meanwhile, cut the sausage lengthwise into halves or quarters. Then slice across the width into pieces of about ½ inch. Set aside.
  8. After the onion has been sautéing for 5 minutes (Step 5), add the garlic and jalapeño peppers. Sauté for another minute or two. Then add the potatoes and sausage. Sauté for an additional 2 minutes.
  9. Add the chile powder, coriander, cumin, and oregano. Stir to combine, then sauté for 1 minute.
  10. Add the black-eyed peas, water, and diced tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Taste, and add salt if necessary. Cook at a simmer for 45 minutes.
  11. Meanwhile, wash and dry the cabbage, then cut it in half (reserving one half for another use). Cut the cabbage half into half again (giving you two cabbage quarters), and remove the core. With a knife, shred the cabbage across the width of each quarter (no need to shred as finely as for coleslaw; pieces of about ½ inch will work fine). Set aside.
  12. After the chili has cooked for 45 minutes, taste it again and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Add the shredded cabbage, stir it in, then cook for 10 to 15 minutes. The cabbage will be a bit crunchy if you stop cooking after 10 minutes, but its color will be greener. (Also, when you first add the cabbage it'll be pretty voluminous -- it'll fill up the pot. But it cooks down quickly.)
  13. Serve the chili. Garnish with a slice or two of jalapeño pepper, if desired.
Cabbage Chili with Spicy Sausage

Notes
  • You can garnish this chili any way you like. We favor jalapeño peppers. But you could also use oyster crackers, diced raw onions, dollops of sour cream, or sprinkles of cheddar cheese. Or try some minced cilantro or parsley.
  • What kind of chile powder to use? We like medium Hatch chile powder, but that can be hard to find (we purchase ours online). Ancho chile powder also has great taste, and is fairly mild; most supermarkets stock it these days. 
  • We use 2 tablespoons of chile powder, which produces a chili that we consider fairly mild. Increase the amount if you want spicier. Or decrease to 1 tablespoon if you don’t want much spice at all.
  • You can substitute chili powder for chile powder in this recipe. Remember, chile (with an e) powder contains just powdered dried chiles. Chili (with an i) powder contains chile powder, but also usually includes oregano, cumin, and other flavorings. If you’re using chili powder, we suggest 3 tablespoons – although, as always, season to your taste. You might also want to reduce the cumin, coriander, and oregano by about half, or eliminate them altogether (since these flavors are already in the chili powder).
  • We use kosher salt, which is more coarse than regular table salt. That makes it less salty by volume. If you’re substituting regular table salt for kosher, always use less – about half as much as we suggest. If the dish isn’t salty enough, you can always add more later.
  • If you prefer to use canned black-eyed peas in this recipe, we suggest 3 cans. Drain them in a strainer, then rinse the gunk off. Add them to the dish in Step 10. Cook for 30 minutes instead of 45, then add the shredded cabbage.
  • Want a substitute for black-eyed peas? We haven’t tried it, but we think canned garbanzo beans or kidney beans would work well (use 3 cans).
  • Or you could use dried beans: Soak them overnight, then drain the beans and add them to the recipe in Step 10. Cook until tender – likely an hour or so. Add the cabbage when the beans are tender.
Cabbage Chili with Spicy Sausage

Chilling Out

“Yum, chili,” said Mrs. Kitchen Riffs. “Perfect for weather of the same name. Which we’ve been having.”

“I’d call it cold,” I said. “But this heats things up – with or without jalapeños.”

“The sausage is a nice touch, too,” said Mrs K R. “You added just enough.”

“Well, not using enough sausage would be the wurst,” I said.

“Very punny,” said Mrs K R. “But be careful. Cabbage heads could roll.”

Chilling thought.

You may also enjoy reading about:
Slow Cooker Homestyle Chili
Chili Basics
Pumpkin and Pork Chili
Jalapeño Cornbread
Vegetarian Chili
Texas-Style Chili con Carne
Meat and Potatoes Chili
Roast Squash & Sweet Potato Chili with Kale
BBQBeef Brisket Chili
Pulled Pork Green Chile Chili
Chunky Pork and Sweet Potato Chili
Sweet Potato Chili with Black Beans
Or check out the index for more recipes

92 comments:

Angie's Recipes said...

I felt instantly warm when I saw CHILI :-)) This looks comforting and very tasty!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Angie, definitely a warming dish, isn't it? And this is a wonderful version! Thanks for the comment.

Mae Travels said...

Are you planning a Mexican Saint Patrick's Day? Corned beef instead of chorizo?

best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Gerlinde de Broekert said...

This soup is just right for a rainy day with all its flavors and spices.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Mae, I've actually made a corned beef and cabbage soup. Never put it on the blog -- maybe I should. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Gerlinde, it's a great dish -- quite vibrant flavor. Thanks for the comment.

Evelyne CulturEatz said...

What a fun and different chili. Never would have thought to use cabbage but really great idea and yeah cuts down on the calories. And lots of heat in there too with the sausage and spices. Gotta try this one soon.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Evelyne, yeah, cabbage isn't your typical chili ingredient. It's really good, though! Thanks for the comment.

Pam said...

This is definitely a different version of chili and it sounds delicious! I say, the spicier, the better! Great color too!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pam, isn't this fun? And it's really, really good! Thanks for the comment.

Gingi said...

This looks yummy.. but man, that huge chili piece.. bet its crazy spicy!! Thanks for sharing! <3 - http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Gingi, that's just for garnish. Although I'd eat it! Love spicy. :-) Thanks for the comment.

GiGi Eats Celebrities said...

BLACK EYED PEAS FOR THE WIN!!!!! Love those suckers! Always eat them on New years day... You know, good luck! However... I didn't for the past THREE YEARS! GAHHHH!!!! However, I managed to eat OTHER lucky foods, so I am good! ;)

Judy said...

Love all the flavors here and my hubby would appreciate the chunky texture -- he'd put up with the cabbage for the sausage for sure. Unique. Must give it a whirl. :)

Lydia from Lydia's Flexitarian Kitchen said...

Love the combination of flavors here. I'd definitely give it a try although I'd have to substitute the black eyed peas...very hard to find where I live. Plenty of other beans, though! Thanks!

Sippity Sup said...

Good advice about not bothering to soak the beans. I used to believe that it was ALWAYS necessary with dried beans. The more I cook the more I think it's almost NEVER necessary. Though I'll admit I like the process of planning out the dish and pre-soaking anyway, so I often go ahead wit it. It brings a delightful anticipation to the cooking. GREG

Deb|EastofEdenCooking said...

I agree cabbage is an underrated vegetable. With all the grey and rainy days we've been having this spicy chili would be a wonderful dinner.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi GiGi, this dish actually was our New Year's Day dish -- wanted to do something different this year. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Judy, the cabbage sounds weird but really works! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Lydia, I'd bet garbanzo beans would be nice. Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Greg, black-eyed peas don't take long to cook, so I never soak them these days. And really don't soak other beans as much as I used to -- just cook the dish an hour or so longer. Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Deb, cabbage is good stuff! It's one of those things we almost never ate, but over the last two or so years we've grown to love it and use it all the time. Thanks for the comment.

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

I love cabbage in soups and I also am a huge fan of adding spicy sausage to chili. You chili sounds like a winner!

Liz Posmyk (Good Things) said...

Sounds heartwarming and delicious, John. Sitting at the breakfast table on a summer's morning, so saving this for winter. Peter will love it! x

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Liz, cabbage is great in soups, isn't it? Wait until you try it in chili! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Liz, this isn't great summer fare, is it? But you'll crave it in a few months! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Tricia Buice said...

I've always loved cabbage soup so I know I would love this! It's a brilliant dish - thank you for sharing!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Tricia, we love cabbage soup, too. And chili of all types. So this recipe was a logical outcome of that. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Peachy @ The Peach Kitchen said...

Oh my! something a bit spicy to warm us up on cold January days!

Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes said...

A healthy meal with tons of flavor? Sign me up!

Denise Browning said...

I gotta try this light and creative chili version. So warm and comforting!

Merryn said...

I always love your conversations at the end, most amusing :D This is great although I would use red kidney beans purely due to availability in our region. Thanks for the definition of chilli versus chile powder I have just learned something new for the today. Happy Wintering John 8)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Peachy, it's going to be really cold here this weekend, so we'll need to make another batch! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Ashley, you're signed up! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Denise, this really is comfort food at its finest! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Merryn, we enjoy writing those conversations (and yes, we both contribute to them). I haven't tried this with red kidney beans, but they "sound" pretty good to me. Thanks for the comment.

Cheri Savory Spoon said...

Hi John, what a unique and interesting chili, I can tell just by the way it looks it is delicious. Love the banter between you and Mrs. K. Happy 2017.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Cheri, we always enjoy that banter, too. :-) Thanks for the comment and Happy New Year!

Anne@ASaladForAllSeasons said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE this chili, John because I love cabbage in any way, shape or form. And the black eyed peas are a nice change from the typical red or kidney beans. I bet this would surely take the chill off of any winter day! Thanks for sharing your recipe. :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Anne, cabbage is so versatile, isn't it? And works SO WELL in chili. Don't know why we didn't make this sooner. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Abbe@This is How I Cook said...

Cabbage is one thing I have never thought to use in chili! I do love cabbage...best get this started! Thanks John!

Jeff the Chef said...

I would never have thought to put these particular ingredients together, but now I have to wonder why. I love cabbage and I love chili. I can easily imagine that they'd be good together. What a great idea.

Amira said...

It has been ages since I've had black-eyed peas, usually we make a beef stew with it and it is delicious. Love the addition of cabbage filling and might help shed off those pounds gained in the holiday season :). Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe.

Unknown said...

A great way to sneak in some veggies! With all of the beans and sausage, my crew at home might not ever know... take care

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Abbe, cabbage sounds weird in chili but tastes wonderful. So, winner. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Jeff, bet you'll love this! And there are so many different combos of beans and sausage that you can try. Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Amira, blacked-eyed peas go with so many things, don't they? We love them! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Bobbi, your boys will love this! And it is a way to "sneak" veggies. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Cecilia said...

Oh, you could invite me to this delicious meal. Or better, I will make it myself! Great recipe, thanks.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Cecilia, you'd be welcome! :-) Thanks for the comment.

mjskit said...

A black-eyed pea chili! Love it! So very creative and another fabulous way to use black-eyes. They are so underrated and I love them. Thanks for sharing John!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi MJ, we love black-eyed peas! And they go SO well with cabbage. Or any green, really. Thanks for the comment.

Natalia said...

Yum,I love it,in Poland we have a lot of recipes for cabbage stews,perfect for Winter☺

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Natalia, you can do so much with cabbage, can't you? We don't use it enough in this country -- and I'll bet at least half of what we use goes into coleslaw -- but it's really a wonderful ingredient. Thanks for the comment.

Mary Frances said...

This is a wonderful chili recipe. I am going through a soup phase and it must be the weather! thanks for sharing this. I want to try it out ASAP

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Mary, it's really soup/chili weather here today -- we're having an ice storm! Not. Going. Out. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Laura Dembowski said...

I love a lightened up dish and this is so creative making cabbage the star. Thank you for the explanation of chili versus chile powder. I did not know the difference.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Laura, cabbage is amazing in chili! Works really well -- loads of flavor. Thanks for the comment.

Ala said...

It has been far too chilly over here--guess we need some chili! This looks perfect, warm and toasty. Thanks, John!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Ala, chili is just the prescription for chilly weather. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Maureen said...

I was sweating before I got here and after looking at your chili, it's gotten a few degrees warmer. :) Maybe I could make some and eat it while I sit in the pool?? It looks really inviting.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Maureen, you know they say spicy food in a hot climate cools you off. So maybe make this extra spicy? :-) Thanks for the comment.

Frank said...

This is just the kind of warming dish we crave when the weather turns cold...

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Frank, we've got freezing rain today and I have some cabbage in the refrigerator. Think I should make another batch? :-) Thanks for the comment.

Debra Eliotseats said...

You had me with the cabbage/calorie comment! :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Debra, the sausage and black-eyed peas of course add calories, but the whole dish has much less than regular chili! Thanks for the comment.

Amy (Savory Moments) said...

This chili looks fantastic! I really enjoy cabbage and like to find new ways to use it in dishes.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Amy, cabbage is great, isn't it? We love using it in new dishes, too! Thanks for the comment.

Raymund said...

Sound like a perfect comfort dish for a cold night. Love the flavours on this.
BTW Happy New Year to you and your family!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Raymund, it's been cold here lately,so we've been enjoying this! Thanks for the comment, and Happy New Year!

Nami | Just One Cookbook said...

Happy New Year! Ohhh you have a great recipe to start off 2017! This looks delicious, and as a cabbage lover, I'd thoroughly enjoy this chili. :)

Food Gal said...

Kudos for making such a powerfully flavored dish from humble cabbage.I think cabbage and celery often get overlooked. Yet they have such great crunch and flavor. Here's to more cabbage dishes in 2017! ;)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Nami, isn't this fun? And really good! Thanks for the comment, and Happy New Year!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Carolyn, cabbage really isn't used enough, is it? For most people, mainly in coleslaw. Which is good, but you can do so much more with it! Like make chili. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Shashi at SavorySpin said...

This is my first time ever hearing of a Cabbage chili and I'm not only fascinated but drooling too! Yay for a lower calorie chili and so loving the flavor from the Mexican Chorizo in this! Perfect for starting off the new year on a healthier note!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Shashi, this is fun chili! The cabbage is GOOD. And it's fun experimenting with different sausages (although chorizo is probably the best, every type we tried worked really well). Thanks for the comment.

Pam said...

Hearty, filling, comforting. Looks great to me!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pam, it IS great. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen said...

Love the sound of this Cabbage Chili with Spicy Sausage. Delicious, healthy and so comfy. Perfect for this cold weather. Thanks for sharing this with us, John. :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Anu, we had an ice storm this past weekend, so were happy to have some of this to warm us up! Thanks for the comment.

Claudia said...

This is perfect for January. Made more perfect that I have chorizo sitting in the freezer begging to be used. Just need some cabbage and good to go. Happily, I know where they sell cabbage (and black-eyed peas). I feel a thaw coming on...

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Claudia, this will definitely definitely warm you up enough that it feels like a thaw, even if the weather doesn't cooperate. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Juliana said...

I have never heard of cabbage chili...and I am loving it...somehow I do not cook cabbage very often, and this would be a great way to use...especially in cold weather like now...I love adding spicy sausages in soup...yum!
Have a great week John :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Juliana, it occurred to us a few years ago that we used very little cabbage, so we've been making an effort to use more of it. It's such a great veggie -- super flavor, and very healthy. Thanks for the comment.

FLAVZCORNER said...

Never tried cabbage in Chili. Sounds and looks perfect for the cold weather!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Shibi, I know cabbage in chili sounds odd, but it really works! You'd like it, I think. :-) Thanks for the comment.

ChgoJohn said...

I am ridiculously behind visiting everyone, John, but somehow in the quagmire known as my inbox, this post caught my eye. Earlier today, I walked into a grocery and they were running a sale on cabbage. I remembered this recipe, pulled it up on my smartphone, and went shopping. I've not made it yet but will over the next day or so. I'm looking forward to it, cabbage soup lover that I am. Thanks for sharing another great one, John.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi John, this actually started out as cabbage soup until I decided to go in a chili direction. It's really good -- I think you'll really enjoy this. :-) Thanks for the comment.

ChgoJohn said...

Prepared this for dinner tonight, John, and loved every spoonful. I left the seeds and ribs in the jalapeño, so, it had a bit of a kick but that's fine. I'll be sure to make this chili again. Thanks! I've posted a picture of my rendition on the kitchens' Facebook page with a link back to here. :)
If the world will beat a path for a mousetrap, imagine what they'll do when they get a load of your chili! :D

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi John, delighted you got to try this! And obviously delighted you enjoyed it. I thought you would. :-) Thanks for the Facebook link love!

Yi @ YiReservation said...

Yes I am so going to try this. I actually added some cabbage to my chili last time I made it but I chopped it too fine so it sorted melted away. The spicy sausage sounds delicious as well. Thanks John!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Yi, cabbage in chili works really well, doesn't it? It might be fun to try this with Chinese sausage -- I think that'd work. :-) Thanks for the comment.