Slightly Smoky Mixed-Bean Chili

For pre-cooking the beans:

• 5 cups assorted dried beans, such as Anasazi, pinto, black, Aduki, pink and red, sorted and rinsed well, soaked in ample salted water for 3 or 4 hours or overnight
• 1 small whole onion
• 2-3 fresh bay leaves, twisted along their spines to crack them slightly

1. Drain beans of their soaking liquid and place in a large kettle with whole onion, and bay leaf. Fill pot with fresh filtered water to more than cover the beans-- 1 -2 inches above the surface of the beans should do. Season cooking water with salt--enough that you can taste it. Bring the water gently to the boil, stirring occasionally. When water boils, turn heat to medium low and simmer beans until tender, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Older beans will take longer. You will probably have to top off the beans with more water as they cook. You can remove a few beans from the pot and cut through the center with a sharp knife to test for doneness.

For Chili:

• rice as an accompaniment (see my brown-rice pilaf within my recipe for Sephardic Megedarra--if you start it at the same time you saute the aromatics here, it will be done just about when the chili is done)
• 1 large or 3 small Spanish onions, chopped
• 4-5 cloves garlic, minced
• 3-4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon ground chili, or to taste
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, lightly toasted and then pounded in a mortar and pestle
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 large can fire-roasted tomatoes. (I use Muir Glen). Otherwise, you could use whole, diced, or petite-diced, according to your preference
• 1/2 naval orange, skin and pith removed, coarsely chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
• guacamole (see my recipe for Plain and Simple Guacamole and maybe increase by 1 avocado + extra lime juice and garlic)
• plain or goat's milk yogurt
• sliced scallions or minced white onions
• shredded cheddar
• fresh mild goat cheese, crumbled
• lemon or lime wedges
• refrigerated-type salsa (or homemade: chopped tomatoes, fresh jalapeno, seeded & minced, diced onion, minced garlic and a squeeze of lime)
• chopped fresh tomatoes
• shredded iceberg lettuce

1. In a heavy-bottomed pan, saute onions until slightly softened; make an opening in the sauteing onions and add a little more oil and the minced garlic, allowing it to sizzle a bit before stirring into the onions. Saute mixture until onions are translucent. Quickly add the spices and herbs and stir once or twice into the onion mix to bring out the fragrance then remove from heat before they scorch. Add to the pot of beans along with the canned tomatoes (squeeze over the pot to break them up before adding if they are whole), and orange pieces. Simmer mixture for 1/2 hour or so until flavors blend. Taste for salt and seasoning and adjust. May be made a day ahead for best flavor.
2. Serve over rice with choice of garnishes: guacamole, yogurt, scallions, minced onions, shredded cheddar or creamy goat cheese, lemon or lime wedges, chopped tomatoes and lettuce.