Ho Chi Minh Chili

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. pork loin or chicken breast, cooked and shredded or cubed
• 1 cup diced red onion
• 1 cup diced celery
• 1 cup diced green bell pepper
• 1 cup diced red bell pepper
• 2 (15 oz.) cans diced tomatoes
• 1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
• 4 tbsp. minced garlic
• 2 tbsp. minced ginger
• 4 tbsp. chili powder
• 3 tbsp. gochujang pepper paste
• 1-1/2 cup dry black, pinto, or kidney beans
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1 cup finely chopped cilantro
• 1 cup finely chopped Thai basil
• 3 tbsp. soy sauce
• 2 tbsp. brown sugar, or more to taste

Directions:

1. Pour the dry beans, 5 cups of water, and baking soda into a slow cooker. Add the onion, celery, bell peppers, garlic, ginger, and chili powder. Cook on low for 7 hours. 
2. Then add the diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, gochujang, broth, soy sauce, cilantro, basil, and brown sugar. Mix in the shredded or chopped meat and cook on low for one more hour. Enjoy with rice or crusty bread!