Chocolate Chili with Peppermint Pesto

I realized while writing this up that I could have called it "Chocolate Chickpea Chili with Peppermint Pepita Pesto" for even more alliteration, but enough is enough.  This was my first time adding chocolate to chili, and I enjoyed the complexity it added, as well as how it deepened the chili's color.  This makes enough to feed a crowd.

Chocolate Chili
The Ingredients:
1 onion
2 T olive oil
6 cloves garlic, crushed
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2-3 jalapeno peppers (seeded or not, depending on how much heat you like)
2 t chili powder
3/4 t salt
1/2 t cayenne
1/4 t cinnamon
1/8 t allspice
3/4 c TVP (textured vegetable protein)
1 28-oz can tomato puree (or tomato sauce, but reduce salt if using salted tomato sauce)
1 29-oz can diced tomatoes
3 15-oz cans garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
2 c vegetable broth
1/2 c strong brewed coffee
1/4 c + 1 t cocoa powder
1/3 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 batch peppermint pesto (recipe below)

The Process:

1. Heat olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat.  Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until onion is softened, about 4-5 minutes.
2. Add bell peppers, jalapenos, chili powder, salt, cayenne, cinnamon, and allspice, and continue to cook, stirring, for 5 more minutes. 
3. Add TVP, tomato puree, diced tomatoes, garbanzos, broth, and coffee, and bring to a simmer.  Sprinkle on cocoa powder and stir to incorporate.  Cover and let simmer gently for 45 minutes to an hour, stirring a few times.
4. Add chocolate chips and stir until incorporated.
5. Serve with peppermint pesto (below).

Peppermint Pesto

Pulse together in a food processor until pulverized:

2 c loosely-packed peppermint leaves

1/2 c pepitas (roasted, salted pumpkin seeds)

1/4 c raw cashews

1/4 c olive oil

2 T lemon juice

1/4 t salt