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The Best Vegetarian Chili


Going into the new year I've made a conscience effort to eat less meat and more veggies. With that being said, I began my mission to find the best veggie-filled recipes. I'm not one to substitute flavor for health benefits. I've always felt a meal can be both healthy and delicious. And that is exactly what has been accomplished with this vegetarian chili.

The smoky, complex flavor of this simple chili comes from basic pantry ingredients, vegetables and spices! It makes great leftovers, too. This chili recipe is gluten free as written (just be sure your garnishes are also gluten free), and vegan (unless you top it with dairy products like sour cream or cheese). Recipe yields 4 large or 6 moderate servings of chili.

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 medium red onion, chopped

  • 1 large red bell pepper, chopped

  • 2 medium carrots, chopped

  • 2 ribs celery, chopped

  • ½ teaspoon salt, divided

  • 4 cloves garlic, pressed or minced

  • 2 tablespoons chili powder

  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin

  • 1½ teaspoons smoked paprika

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1 large can (28 ounces) or 2 small cans (15 ounces each) diced tomatoes*, with their juices

  • 2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, rinsed and drained

  • 1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, rinsed and drained

  • 2 cups vegetable broth or water

  • 1 bay leaf

  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnishing

  • 1 to 2 teaspoons sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar or lime juice, to taste

  • Garnishes: chopped cilantro, sliced avocado, tortilla chips, sour cream or crème fraîche, grated cheddar cheese, etc.

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. In a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, warm the olive oil until shimmering. Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, carrot, celery and ¼ teaspoon salt. Stir to combine and then cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the onion is translucent, about 7 to 10 minutes.

  2. Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika (go easy on the paprika if you're sensitive to spice) and oregano. Cook until fragrant while stirring constantly, about 1 minute.

  3. Add the diced tomatoes and their juices, the drained black beans and pinto beans, vegetable broth and bay leaf. Stir to combine and let the mixture come to a simmer. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally and reducing heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer, for 30 minutes. Remove the chili from heat.

  4. For the best texture and flavor, transfer 1½ cups of the chili to a blender and blend until smooth, then pour the blended mixture back into the pot. (Or, you can blend the chili briefly with an immersion blender, or mash the chili with a potato masher until it reaches a thicker, more chili-like consistency.)

  5. Add the chopped cilantro, stir to blend, and then mix in the vinegar, to taste. Add salt to taste, too—I added ¼ teaspoon more at this point. Divide the mixture into individual bowls and serve with garnishes of your choice. This chili will keep well in the refrigerator for about 4 days (I haven't tried, but I bet it would freeze well, too).

NOTES

Recipes consulted during the making of this recipe: vegetarian chili with winter vegetables (The New York Times), vegetarian chili (Saveur) and winter vegetable chili (Food and Wine). IF YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE: You'll also love my butternut squash chipotle chili and sweet potato chili. You might also enjoy my hearty lentil soup and black bean soup. *CANNED TOMATOES NOTE: I recommend Muir Glen brand—they have the best flavor and their cans are BPA-free!

Recipe courtesy of Cookie and Kate Read More About This Recipe


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