Nightshade Chili
Author: Anita
Prep time: 20 mins
Cook time: 4 hours
Total time: 4 hours 20 mins
Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2½ lbs pork stew meat
  • 2 cups chopped onion
  • 1 large eggplant, chopped into 1" cubes
  • 1 lb tomatillos, washed & chopped coarsely
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 1 orange bell pepper
  • 1 green bell pepper
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
  • 2 15 oz cans diced tomatoes
  • 3 cups water, rinsed in can
  • 3 cups diced green chiles
  • ½ tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • ¼ tsp ground coriander
  • 2 tsp chicken bouillon
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • optional: 3 potatoes, diced, to turn into into Nightshade Chili Stew
Instructions
  1. In a large stewing pot (at least 5 quarts) or stovetop slow cooker (see notes), heat oil and brown pork lightly.
  2. Add onion, eggplant, tomatillos, bell pepper, and garlic and cook 15 minutes over medium heat or until soft.
  3. Add remaining ingredients and transfer to slow cooker and cook on low for 3 hours. Add salt & pepper to taste.
  4. Serve & enjoy!
Notes
I have 2 slow cookers with nonstick aluminum inner pots that can go directly on the stove for searing or browning - then you place them inside the slow cooker outside contraption that heats up. They are great for recipes like this - no need to brown and then transfer to slow cooker.

Commentary:
I like to cook a lot with eggplant and tomatillos - green chiles just work really well with them. So it hit me out of the blue that the nightshades all go very well together. So why not make a green chili with all the nightshades? What are nightshades? Nightshade is a botanical family that includes peppers, tomatillos, eggplant, tomatoes, and potatoes (but not sweet potatoes). So I started with a classic green chili recipe and turned it into a Nightshade Chili. Yup, it was very good.

I left potato out to keep it low carb and more of a classic chili, but you can just add 2-3 large potatoes, diced, to turn into Nightshade Chili Stew. The vegetables cook together, so you can't even tell that it has eggplant and tomatillos in it. The bell peppers help add color and interest here.

I'll be making this again and experimenting with variations. Hope you like it!
Recipe by Denver Green Chili at https://denvergreenchili.com/recipes/soups-and-chilis/pork-green-chili/nightshade-chili/