Bean Mole with Roasted Winter Squash
This recipes is adapted from 101cookbooks.com. My family enjoyed this the other week for supper, and we thought many of you would too. Serves 4.
3 cups cooked meaty white beans, such as marfax or Jacob's cattle
1 1/2 cups (7 ounces) peeled and chopped winter squash
olive oil
1 bunch kale
2 TB butter
1 medium onion, chopped
2 - 4 red jalapeno chiles, halved, seeded, and chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 pound green tomatoes, chopped
1 cup vegetable broth or water
2 teaspoons paprika
1 ounce of almonds, dark roasted and finely ground
2 ounces dark 70% dark chocolate, broken into pieces
salt
1-2 TB maple syrup, optional
Preheat oven to 350F. Place cubed squash in a roasting pan and toss with olive oil. Roast them in the oven for about 20 minutes until caramelized on the outside but still firm. Reduce the oven temperature to 250F. (note: alternately, you can brown the squash in a skillet.)
Without removing the central stem, cut the kale across the leaf into 3/4-inch slices. Melt the butter into an oven-proof casserole dish (pot) and fry the onion and chilies gently over a low to medium heat for 20-30 minutes, until caramelized. Add the garlic and fry for three minutes more. Add the tomatoes, liquid and paprika, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer gently for 15 minutes. Add the ground almonds, chocolate, squash, beans, kale, and a teaspoon of salt. Stir until the chocolate has melted. Taste the mole. Add syrup, if you wish, to your taste. Cover the casserole and put it in the oven to cook gently for 2 hours.