Description
Hearty Best Vegan Chili delivers robust flavors that dance across palates with Mediterranean-inspired spice blends. Packed with protein-rich beans and vegetables, this comforting dish promises warming satisfaction you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Vegetables:
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 green pepper, chopped
- 1 medium carrot, grated
- 5–6 medium fresh tomatoes or 1 (20 ounces / 567 grams) can of tomatoes
- 1–2 hot red chili peppers
Beans and Liquids:
- 4 cups cooked beans (kidney beans, black beans, pinto beans, or white beans)
- 2 cups (480 milliliters / 16 fluid ounces) water or vegetable broth
- 5 tablespoons tomato paste
Spices and Seasonings:
- 2 teaspoons coconut sugar (or substitute with brown sugar or maple syrup)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt (or less if using vegetable broth)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons oil of choice for frying
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a substantial pot over medium-high temperature, gently sautéing diced onions until they become translucent and fragrant.
- Introduce minced garlic, finely chopped green bell peppers, and shredded carrots into the pot, allowing them to soften and release their aromatic flavors for approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Pour in diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and vegetable broth, creating a rich and vibrant base for the chili.
- Fold in pre-cooked beans, coconut sugar, and a harmonious blend of spices: cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and finely chopped hot red chili peppers.
- Elevate the heat to trigger a rolling boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer, letting the flavors meld and intensify for 25-35 minutes while occasionally stirring to prevent sticking.
- Taste and refine the seasoning profile, ensuring a perfect balance of spices and heat, then ladle the steaming chili into serving bowls, ready to be enjoyed immediately.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by adjusting cayenne and hot pepper quantities for mild or extra spicy preferences.
- Swap canned beans with freshly cooked dried beans for enhanced texture and reduced sodium content.
- Boost protein by adding quinoa, lentils, or crumbled plant-based meat alternatives during the cooking process.
- Make this chili more hearty and filling by incorporating diced sweet potatoes or butternut squash during the vegetable sautéing stage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg