This fall, try a new pumpkin chili recipe. The tomatillo salsa gives this meal its bright, fresh flavor.
Ingredients
- For the tomatillo salsa:
- 1 1/2 pounds tomatillos (6 to 8 medium)
- 5 serrano or 10 jalapeno peppers, stemmed (plus seeds, if you can take the heat)
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 large white onion, peeled and sliced 1/2 inch thick
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Freshly ground black pepper
- For the chili:
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, roughly chopped
- 1 pound sausage meat (mild or hot)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano (preferably Mexican), crumbled
- 3 cloves garlic, very finely chopped
- 1 15-ounce can hominy
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for topping
- 2 cups chopped peeled sugar pumpkin or butternut squash (about 8 ounces)
- Kosher salt
- Thinly sliced serrano or jalapeno peppers, for topping
Directions
- Preheat the broiler. Remove the husks from the tomatillos, then rinse the tomatillos under warm water to remove any stickiness. Dry with a paper towel. Put the tomatillos, chiles, garlic, and sliced onion on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle on 2 teaspoons or so of salt. Broil a few inches from the heat, turning everything once, until the tomatillos are softened and slightly charred, about 7 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
- Puree the broiled vegetables in a blender with the cilantro until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until just translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the sausage and cook, stirring and breaking it up, until browned, about 10 minutes.
- Remove and discard the excess fat, leaving 1–2 tablespoons in the pot. Stir in the oregano and garlic and cook, stirring, for about 3 more minutes.
- Stir in the tomatillo salsa, hominy (including the liquid), cilantro, and pumpkin. Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium-low heat and cook, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the pumpkin is tender. Taste and season with salt, if necessary. Garnish with cilantro and chiles.