Camellia Slow Cooker White Bean And Chicken Chili

Delicious chili made from Camellia brand white beans, hatch chilies, chicken and more.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, thighs, or a combination
• 7 large smoked Hatch chilies, peeled, diced (Can substitute 3 Poblano chilies, roasted, peeled, and diced. See note at bottom on roasting.)
• 1 (7-ounce) can fire-roasted, peeled, diced green chilies, undrained
• 4 large cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound Camellia Brand Great Northern Beans rinsed and sorted (or can substitute 1 pound Camellia Brand Cannellini Beans)
• 3 1/2-4 cups chicken broth
• 1 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
• 1 cup heavy cream or whole milk
• 2 tablespoons masa (corn flour) or cornmeal
• Salt and white pepper to taste
• Assorted toppings: Shredded cheese, sour cream, sliced avocado, and chopped fresh cilantro
• Warm corn tortillas for serving (optional)
  

Directions:

1. Add onion, chicken, Hatch chilies (or Poblano chilies), green chilies, garlic, beans, 3 1/2 cups broth, and spices to a large slow cooker.
   Cover and cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours, or until the beans are tender but not falling apart. Add additional broth as necessary.
2. In a mixing bowl, mix the heavy cream (or milk) with the masa (or cornmeal). Use an immersion blender or whisk to combine thoroughly, and pour the mixture into the slow cooker. Stir well.
3. Cook for an additional 20 minutes to thicken the chili, and heat thoroughly. Adjust seasoning with salt and white pepper as desired.
4. Serve with toppings and warm tortillas on the side, if desired.

Notes:

One a scale of 1-5, the spice level of this chili is a 2.

To roast Poblano chilies, preheat oven to 500°F degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup. Arrange the whole peppers in a single layer on baking sheet. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until skins are completely wrinkled and charred, turning occasionally to promote even roasting.

Remove pan from oven, transfer peppers to a bowl, and cover bowl tightly with foil or plastic wrap. Keep covered until peppers are cool enough to handle, about 30 minutes. Remove the skin from each pepper by rubbing lightly beneath your fingers. If you are very sensitive, you may wish to wear gloves. Remove and discard the stems and seeds. Cut peppers into quarters lengthwise and chop.