Healthy Chili Recipe {White Chicken}

White Chicken Chili | Snow Heart

Silvery winds alit with snow are blowing through this week. Or as my mom would say, winter is blowing up our rear. Highs today are supposed to stay below freezing, but our meteorologists said it will feel much colder as north winds gust 25-30 mph. They're calling it the Groundhog Day Winter Storm. NOT what I call a winter wonderland.
Don't let the photos fool you. Our snow accumulation total is 6 inches. That's the number between 5 and 7. The ice/sleet makes for a very miserable weather experience. Here is the link to our snow totals and winter storm warnings: National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office-Tulsa.


Snowy Day | Healthy Chili Recipe -White Chicken

Before I could let Maggie and her 4 legged friends out this morning, I had to grab a shovel and clear the back porch off. It looked like 2 inches of ice underneath the snow. Poor things. I practically had to pitch them out. Even in sweaters, they were pretty chilled when they came back in. They all snuggled together by the fire, refusing to let Fat Molly (#1 cat) join in. They were probably miffed because she didn't have to go out in the wretched weather.

Check out Mag's new sweater. I think it's classy.

Maggie's Winter Coat | Becky Cooks Lightly

So what's a girl to do?

Thermal underwear and white chili. That's how I get through a week like this. And this easy recipe is chicken chili done the white way. Garlic cloves, oregano, coriander, and fresh cilantro bring a distinctive flavor to the mix. Then you have your cumin, which adds just the right peppery spicy taste, while the hot pepper sauce and chopped green chiles up the ante.

The recipe suggests Goya Beans, but you might also try Bush's great Northern beans.

Friends tell me that turkey is a good in white chili. I haven't tried that yet, but sounds good.

For Beginner Cooks~
What is a dutch oven? Wikepedia's definition: A Dutch oven is a thick-walled (usually cast iron but also ceramic and clay) cooking pot with a tight-fitting lid. If you don't have one on hand, Chow has a great discussion on alternatives to Dutch Oven and The Kitchn answers the question: What is the best substitute for a dutch oven?.

  Yield: 8 servings

♥ Calories: 233
♥ Fat: 5.9g
♥ Carb: 11.7g
♥ Fiber: 3.4g
♥ Sodium: 649mg
♥ Calc: 180mg


♥WW Old Points: 4

White Chicken Chili

Ingredients
  • Cooking spray
  • 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 cups finely chopped onion (use white unless you prefer the sweeter taste of purple/red onions)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 2 (4.5-ounce) cans chopped green chiles, undrained
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 (15.5-ounce) cans cannellini beans, rinses and drained (such as Goya)
  • 1 (14-ounce) can fat-free less-sodium chicken broth
  • ½ teaspoon hot pepper sauce
  • 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • ½ cup chopped green onions

Directions
1) Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add chicken to pan; cook; cook 10 minutes or until browned, stirring frequently.

2) Heat a large Dutch oven over medium high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion to pan; sauté 6 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently. Add garlic; sauté 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in cumin, oregano, and coriander; sauté 1 minute. Stir in chiles; reduce heat to low, and cook 10 minutes, partially covered. Add chicken, water, cannellini beans, and broth; bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in hot sauce. 

3) Ladle 1 cup chili into each of 8 bowls, sprinkle each serving with 2 tablespoons cheese, 1 tablespoon cilantro, and 1 tablespoon green onions.

Healthy Chili ~ White Chicken | Becky Cooks Lightly
Courtesy/Shivery Timbers