How to Make Star Anise & Cinnamon Black Bean Chili with Molasses & Chipotle
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SERVINGS:
1
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PREP TIME:
10 MINUTES
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COOK TIME:
120 MINUTES
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INGREDIENTS
1 tsp | |
1/4 tsp | |
1/4 c | |
1/4 tsp | |
2 pinch | |
2 pinch | |
1 pinch | |
1 pinch | |
PREPARATION OF THIS HEALTHY RECIPE
Use ground dried chipotle powder and a star anise pod (=1/4 tsp ground). Bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Meanwhile roast the cumin on a dry skillet and grind using a mortar and pestle. Add all of the ingredients and turn down heat to low. Cover and simmer for several hours until the beans are soft.
Beans are difficult to digest. I soak my black beans the night before cooking and rinse several times. Chop them coarsely with the food processor and soak for another few hours, leeching out proteins, helping to make the beans more digestible. I prefer my bean soups watery and thin - usually blending the final result and cooking an extra 10 minutes (remove the star anise first!).
Those who tend toward gas when eating drier foods might want to drizzle some good - quality olive oil, or stir in a hunk of coconut oil, to this dish when its finished. The added fat with boost the richness, and aid the body in digestion.
How Does This Ayurvedic Recipe Improve Wellness?
CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW
Spices & Dry Lungs
Spices are light, drying, and stimulating. They stimulate your heart and dilate your blood vessels, improving circulation and warming up your body. Beans can be boorish without a boost from the exotic aromas of cumin, star anise, and cinnamon - all herbs frequently used in lung formulas. As the late winter and early spring thaw causes fluid buildup in the respiratory tract, spices can help keep you dry, clear, and warm through the turmoil and unpredictable weather of March. Spices are like a colorful shawl or blanket, sheltering you from the winds of spring - and also protecting from the inner winds. Beans can be gas - forming and these lung - supporting spices are also carminatives, relieving or preventing gas formation.
Purifies Spring Blood
Beans are especially useful in early spring, when its best to choose foods that are the exact opposite of, lets say, the creamy and rich choices of the winter holidays. In springtime, your body is executing its natural cleansing actions, sloughing off the wintertime fats in favor for a new lightness and brightness. Beans support the bodys efforts, as they are astringent - the opposite of the dampening, sweet foods that cause you to put on excess pounds. The low glycemic index of beans is especially supportive, helping to keep your blood dry, thin, and free of congestion.
Filling Aid in Weight Loss
Heavy and hearty, beans satisfy a voracious appetite. Enjoy without the guilt - a satisfying portion of black beans (a cup) has only 11 percent of the recommended daily allowance for calories, but has the potential to fill you up 100 percent. Plus, beans contain cholesterol reducing and bowel cleansing fiber.
Beans & Your Bowels
The rich fiber content of beans aids in healthy elimination. 'Bean liquor' refers to the thick broth that forms while cooking beans - evidence of soluble fiber. The soluble fiber dissolves in water and keeps stools soft, acting as a bulk laxative. High in both soluble and insoluble fiber, the insoluble roughage stimulates bowel movements and helps to scrape the bowels. The fiber in beans also reduces cholesterol, all while increasing satisfaction.
Beans get a bad reputation for being the "musical fruit," causing unfortunate expressions after mealtimes, but the gas-forming astringent saponins actually help the legume protect itself against insects. Saponins form the sudsy foam on the surface of a bubbling pot of beans. These saponins also prevent protein digestion, making beans an especially challenging food for some. Vata individuals with insufficient digestive juices in the stomach may experience gas, bloating, and constipation after eating beans. Ayurveda says to avoid foods that make you gassy but also offers these
tips to improve the digestibility of beans.
WHAT IS STAR ANISE & CINNAMON BLACK BEAN CHILI WITH MOLASSES & CHIPOTLE?
Anise, cinnamon, and chipotle chili add a warm, smoky feel, perfuming the beans, while black strap molasses adds a sweet, rich sauciness. We discovered this recipe while cooking over a campfire in northern New Mexico. A bowlful of this warming dish has the power to transport you to the fireside, under the stars, with your mouth watering in anticipation.
AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT
Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances.
With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you.
Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature.
By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health.
See How it Works.