Fall is in the air, and this Chorizo Chili with Roasted Tomatoes and Squash incorporates the harvest flavours into a delicious hearty meal.
Did you have a great summer? Unfortunately, we did not. It was the worst summer weather that I can remember. Not many days of “no rain” in a row. We tried to enjoy it when we could. The complete opposite of last summer.
Now that fall is just around the corner (September 22nd to be exact), this week the weather is FANTASTIC! Sunny and warm every day. I am out hiking as much as possible right now. Enjoying the last few days of Indian summer.
The beginning of summer, the farmers really had it tough. With so much rain, getting the crops into the ground was a challenge. I know of some that didn’t even plant this year. We will see how this affects the price of fresh produce in the grocery stores this winter.
Reaping the Harvest
If you have a Farmer’s Market near you, now is the time to scoop up some great produce. Comfort food season is coming! Soups, stews, and chilis will be a staple in our house during the cold months of winter. Grab those fresh bushel baskets of produce while you can.
I am NOT a winter person. I know you would think being Canadian I would love the cold. Nope, not me. My usual winter activity is hibernation. Most times you don’t see me out in the cold, unless of course I have to go shopping (or watch the grandkids). I can’t cook if I don’t shop, so weathering the cold doesn’t stop me from getting supplies, and a few other things since I am out and about. Might be days before you see me again LOL!
This year hubby and I have decided to try to embrace the winter months. We are going to give “snow shoeing” a try. In fact, today we are going to go to the MEC store and check out some gear. Guess you really can teach an old dog new tricks. I’m referring to my hubby of course, but don’t tell him I said that (haha).
Fall Flavours
I may not like the winter weather, but I do LOVE the flavours of fall. Pumpkin everything works for me. Apple season is just about here. Last year I made Incredible 3 Way Apple Soup. What a fun way to enjoy the seasonal flavours. Do you go apple picking?
Comfort food season is one of my favourite times of the year. All the great soups, chilis, and stews are so hearty. You can whip up HUGE batches, making leftovers for other meals during the week, or stocking your freezer for meals down the road. Months of easy cooking with delicious bowls of goodness works for me.
This is where you can experiment. Use your pressure cooker, crockpot, or slow braise on the stovetop or in the oven. However you choose to cook, your family will welcome the end results. Have you ever made blender soup? OMG so easy, and this Easy Roasted Pumpkin Soup will have your family thinking you cooked all day.
Chili is always a favourite in our house. If you are like us, you need to make cornbread too. Most times I will use canned tomatoes, but if you really want some intense flavour, make some Simple Slow Roasted Tomatoes. This is the season to stock your freezer, they can be used in so many ways. Pasta sauce gets raised to a whole new level when you make it with roasted tomatoes. You will be surprised how much a bushel of tomatoes will make.
For this chorizo chili recipe I combined some roasted tomatoes with chorizo and butternut squash. Add a can of white kidney beans, some poblano peppers for a little kick, and dinner is cooking.
Go ahead and use different meat (even no meat). Switch up the beans, choose a different squash (even sub in sweet potatoes). However you mix and match, it’s pretty hard to mess up a chili.
This makes a nice big batch. I did manage to tuck some away in the freezer, although it was so good we wanted to eat all of it! I can say this winter after a cold day snow shoeing, this Chorizo Chili with Roasted Tomatoes and Squash will be a warm welcome….along with a glass of wine.
What is your favourite comfort food?
Chorizo Chili with Roasted Tomatoes and Squash
Ingredients
- 8 cups fresh Roma tomatoes (roughly cut)
- 4 cups butternut squash (cubed)
- 1 1/2 pounds chorizo sausage (fresh not cured)
- 1 poblano pepper (seeded and diced)
- 1 onion (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 19 ounces white kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 1/2 tsp jalapeno flavoured olive oil
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for roasting tomatoes)
- 1 tsp cumin (or to taste)
- 1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder (or to taste)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- lime and cilantro (for garnish)
Instructions
For the Roasted Tomatoes:
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Preheat oven to 400º F. Wash and 1/4 cut tomatoes. Place in a large baking dish. Coat with oil, and season with salt and pepper.
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Roast for approximately 50 minutes, turning every so often. When they are done, let cool slightly and blitz in blender to break them up.
While tomatoes are roasting:
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In a heavy bottomed pot, heat the olive oil. Add the diced onion and garlic. Cook for about 10 minutes. While this is cooking cut up the sausage.
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Add the sausage to the onion/garlic mixture. Cook for 20 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the pot.
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Add the diced squash and jalapeno oil. Cook for 15 minutes.
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Add the roasted/blitzed tomatoes and beans. Season with salt and pepper.
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Reduce heat to medium/low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
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Ladle into bowls. Garnish with a squeeze of lime and cilantro.
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ENJOY!
Recipe Notes
This makes a nice BIG batch, so don't be scared to tuck some away in the freezer for another great meal down the road.
If you like things spicer, adding more chili powder will increase the heat level too.
Talk about the ultimate fall comfort food!
Yes is does have the flavours of the season in this tasty dish.
Love the fall recipes!
Me too….comfort food season is so delicious.
Oh man this looks amazing. I would totally love this for football sunday and to eat with paleo tortillas. I bet it gets better each day you warm it up again.
Yes it gets better the next day or two for sure.
So tasty. Perfect for the up coming cooler months.
Yes it is a comfort food winner for sure.
I love all the flavors of this dish!! It looks awesome!!
Yes, we love this one for sure.
I love a good Mexican fresh chorizo and the flavor it brings to a dish! I also hate winter but I love all the winter foods that are too hot to eat in the summer. I guess that is the trade off. Thanks for the great recipe!
Yes the comfort food is GREAT…the weather….not so great!!
I’ve always want to go snow shoeing! I’ll have to check back and see how it went. 🙂 Everything about this recipes sounds delicious. I have a hard time finding chorizo but as soon as I do, I’m going to go crazy cooking it and I will try this one first. I think my hubby will love it too.
Well I am interested to see how the snow shoeing goes too…it will be an adventure. Hope you give this recipe a try….I would be happy to come home to this.
Love your combo of chorizo and butternut squash! Such a great balance of flavor!
Yes they pair well together for sure.ENJOY!!
I absolutely love this. I am a big fan of chorizo, and this combination is unique. Can’t wait to give this a try.
The flavours work so well together. This is a keeper for sure.
I’ll take a big ole bowl of this goodness! Sounds so comforting. I would sit in front of my fireplace on cold evening and relax.
This is the perfect cold weather food. I could eat it all season long.
Oh what a delightful recipe!! I see my self making this a lot when the weather cools down out here in Virginia. Loved the addition of butternut squash.saving the recipe for later 🙂
This is a great recipe, and fun to adjust the heat level too.
This looks fantastic! Chorizo adds so much flavor to pretty much anything you put it in!
Yes, chorizo is delicious for sure.
Chorizo is one of my favorite things in the world, so this recipe is right up my alley. And what a great way to use butternut squash!
The flavours really work well together in this recipe.
I so wish I had a good Farmer’s Market nearby. I’m in Phoenix – so tomatoes, jalapenos and onions (plus some zucchini) are about the sum of what’s available.
I love new ways to use fresh produce – this looks absolutely delicious!!
Yes great fresh produce can be hard to get…especially in the winter months.
This sounds like it would have an interesting flavor. Hubby loves both chorizo and squash so my guess is he’d gobble this right u.
HAHA…my guess is that he would too.
Yum the perfect Autumn dish..The colours look amazing.
Definitely pinning this to try. it looks super easy
Hope you give it a try….we love it.
It’s been so hot here in my part of California, so it’s been one of those unusual summers. I am looking forward to fall and the cool weather so I can make comforting Chili like this.
Well we have had a crappy summer…but the weather this past week as been fantastic.
I am already so excited for the real fall season to make all my favorite comfort food dishes! I like that you incorporated butternut squash and definitely will try your recipe!
This is a winner in our house for sure.
Adding spicy chorizo to chili is great idea. Along with sweet butternut squash makes it extra special. I like to have this kind of chili when temperature comes down. Especially during fall nights.
Yes I can see this happening a lot this winter.
I love this Gloria. I love comfort food like this. When it gets cooler i”m making this for sure. Love the color and the flavors.
Thanks Veena….hope you like it as much as we do.
YUM! This is so perfect for fall and the upcoming cooler weather. Can’t wait to try it out!
Thanks so much. Hope you give it a try.
Your photos are Ah-mazing! I have to say my favourite time is winter. I grew up in the tropics, and now I live in South Africa, where there is a cold season (not as cold as the Nothern Hemisphere) but cold nonetheless, and this kind of food is what I like to do for those winter days!
Thanks so much, hope you give this recipe a try.
I love comfort food and your chorizo chilli looks delicious, perfect for this time of year. I like how you use fresh chorizo, I bet it adds a lovely spicy kick!
Yes it really works well in this recipe.
I love all the flavors goin’ on in here! and the use of butternut squash… perfect combo! 😉
This is a keeper, we like it A LOT!!
Savory squash dishes always intrigue me … I grew up with squash coated in brown sugar and butter! This chili will be perfect for a cool fall day. I love how the seasons drive our tastes.
Yes…I don’t like the cold weather, but love the food it brings along with it.
Nice dish to welcome fall season but still with a touch of summer in it! (lime) I’m in total stew mode also, plus the contrast of the sweet butternut squash and spiced up stew and sausage is fantastic! Yum!
Yup there are lots of great flavours in this dish.
I have never added chorizo to a chili but looks like a nice idea this reminds me of a Spanish traditional potaje that has beans and chorizo
It works really well in this dish. Hope you give it a try.
We have lived in NY for 15 years and now we have moved to a much warmer place. I never thought I would say this, but we really miss the snow. The winter has its own beauty and sometimes hibernating is fun too 🙂 Love the recipe with all the seasonal produces. I have tons of tomatoes and squash in the backyard.
Well, living in Canada all my life…and I have yet to enjoy a winter season. Perhaps this will be the one I will fall in love with.
I recently tasted chorizo sausage and I fell in love with it. I am sure this chilli is amazing with chorizo in it.
Yes is great in this recipe. Provides great flavour and texture too.
Living in Florida, I LOVE winter! It’s probably the fact that we don’t get a real winter. A few years ago we went to visit family in Indiana in November, the highs were in the 20’s while we were there, and I loved every minute of it. This looks like a great meal to have as the weather changes, love the addition of the fall flavors.
This is a favourite of ours……and you already ready know I don’t like winter….but comfort food season is delicious.
It’s absolutely hysterical. Every recipe I see surprises me. This one was an, “Oh boy” gotta try this. There’s a chili freak in the house that would love this!
Well I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
This looks like a hearty meal for fall evenings. I love chili either meatless or meat in it. Great recipe.
Yup you can never go wrong with chili as far as I’m concerned.
Now this is comfort food! I love the combination. Some of the most amazing flavors in this recipes. The squash, tomatoes.. with all that chorizo – yum!
Yup this is a keeper for sure.
I love the different ingredients in your chili. The squash I bet gives it a delicious sweetness and the chorizo a great spicy taste. This will be perfect for when you come in from snow shoeing with Hubby!! I’m in your camp — I hate winter!! I’m afraid if I were in your “shoes” I’d be back to the house in record time enjoying something hot. Fall is my favorite season — all the fruit and veggies are great. Can’t wait for the comfort food!!
HAHAH….well trying to enjoy the winter at some point in my life is a challenge for sure….better late than never. However….staying in the house will always win for sure.
Squash and chorizo are the perfect combo, I absolutely love the sound of this!
We LOVE this chili version….so nice and spicy.
I love your flavor combination of sweet and spicy in your chili. It’s been so hot here, I can’t wait for it to cool down so I can start making all the delicious comfort foods, like your chili!
I wish I could say the same for the weather. This week has been better than ANY week in the summer.
This dish looks packed full of flavour. Love it! But it has a nice heat
You can make this a spicy as you like. Hope you give it a try.
This does look like a hearty meal, I would add a little more heat. Summer over here in San Diego has been unusually hot and humid. Hope you have great fall weather in the Northeast.
That is the beauty of these kinds of dishes….alter them to your heart’s content!!
I am in love with all the flavors in your chorizo chili. unfortunately we don’t get the spanish or portugues chorizo here (not sure what you get in the US). There is a local chorizo here in Goa but I am not sure if it would suit the flavors, it’s quite spicy.
Well if you like spicy….and the chorizo you can get…I think it would work just fine!!
Our summer here in Tennessee has been equally wet and mild. And I am ALSO not a fan of winter. I grew up in Fl so I just don’t get all that grey cold ick. BUT! I am a huge fan of fall, and this recipe is part of why I love it! I am going to try it with some veggie chorizo. It looks so yummy and we are all about comfort food 🙂
Yes….I don’t like the cold weather, but I sure LOVE the food that goes along with it.
Cold and rainy summer is not cool no matter where you live but at least you can now enjoy some beautiful sunny days! Chili is such a great comfort food! Love this one with chorizo (my favorite) and roasted tomatoes!
The roasted tomatoes really make this dish great.
What a festively fall recipe! I love this twist to on classic comfort food
So much fun to experiment in the kitchen, and with comfort food you can never have a bad dish.
I LOVE chorizo! Would eat it at every meal if I could – now why have I not paired it with squash before?! Great idea!
Well…I hope you give this a try soon.
Ooh I can’t wait to make my first batch of chili this season! Love how you included butternut squash. Yum!
Yup…this is a winner in our house for sure.