Vegetarian Chili Recipe | Gastronomy (2024)

Recipe

05Nov 2010

America’s Test Kitchen Vegetarian Chili

Filed Under:

  • Recipe
  • Soups + Stew
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian

17 Comments

Vegetarian Chili Recipe | Gastronomy (1)

Given my great love of restaurants and their hardly healthful fare, it’s really important that my meals at home provide nutrients that otherwise go missing from my diet. Whenever I’m not painting the town red, I prepare recipes that make tasty use of whole grains, legumes, and vegetables. My subscription to Cooking Light magazine has been a great source of inspiration, and of course, the internet is chock full of solid ideas on how to balance the excess in my life.

The majority of the healthy dishes that I prepare serve their nutritional purpose and taste mostly decent, but they’re usually not outstanding enough to be featured on the site. This vegetarian three bean chili is a rare exception. In addition to being a fiberfull powerhouse, this meatless stew is also immensely satisfying. The heat from the chipotles combined with the smoky chili powder makes for an exciting and spicy flavor profile. The trio of beans provide just enough heft to fill one up nicely. Paired with some old fashioned cornbread, it’s impossible to feel deprived when one is eating this well.

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 onions, chopped fine
  • 1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped
  • 1/4 cup chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, minced
  • Salt
  • 4 (15.5 ounce) cans of kidney, pinto, or black beans, rinsed
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Vegetarian Chili Recipe | Gastronomy (2)

Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onions, bell pepper, chili powder, and cumin. Cook until the vegetables have softened, about 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 15 seconds.

Vegetarian Chili Recipe | Gastronomy (3)

Stir in the tomatoes with their juice, water, chilies, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 30 minutes.

Vegetarian Chili Recipe | Gastronomy (4)

Add the beans and continue to simmer, uncovered, until the chili is slightly thickened, about 30 minutes.

Vegetarian Chili Recipe | Gastronomy (5)

Stir in the cilantro and season with salt and pepper to taste before serving. Serve chili topped with sour cream, cheddar cheese, or slices of avocado.

Vegetarian Chili Recipe | Gastronomy (6)

Serves 6 to 8.

Recipe from The America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook [For Printable Recipe Click Here]

Related

  1. Ooh, I can always us a vegetarian recipe full of proteins!

  2. the cast iron skillet looks good! 🙂

  3. Looks very yummy!!

  4. i’m only just now appreciating the benefits of beans and fiber in my diet, now that i’m older. and chili around this time of year? necessary.

  5. I’ll be making this. ATK recipes are always top-notch. Thanks!

  6. I’ll be trying this soon.

  7. “beans, beans, the magical fruit, the more you, eat the more you toot!” a hot bowl of this would be nice even with the tooting 🙂

  8. This looks simple enough! Must try!

  9. Hearty AND healthy? I need this to supplement the nutrients I lose due to my love of ice cream. Sigh.

  10. What a delicious and hearty looking chili.

    I’d love for you to submit one of your beautiful photos, and a link to your post, to my new vegetarian photo gallery showcasing the best vegetarian dishes and recipes on the web.

  11. I always marvel at your kobayashi-esque ability to eat such epically baroque meals and yet stay so tiny, thanks for the recipe, I love Chris Kimball and crew!

  12. Good stuffin! I haven’t made chili in DAYS but I’m sure I’ll be longing for it once the rain hits and ahem, I stop painting the town red as well 😉

  13. Looks great, thanks for this!…..Vegi Chilli sounds delicious!

  14. Yum, this chili looks delicious!! It’s one of the best things to look forward to during the winter! You should really consider submitting this to Recipe4Living’s Champion Chili Contest It looks delicious!

  15. I just made this recipe and it’s really good. I did, however, accidentally vary it. I grabbed a bottle off the shelf that said “chile powder,” but I didn’t notice the fine print – it was actually a bottle of pure powdered ancho chile, instead of “chile powder,” which is usually a mixture of chiles and other spices. I think that is why when I made this recipe, it came out REALLY HOT. I added an extra can of beans to bring the heat down to a tolerable level, and the result is a pretty hot chile that is really tasty and flavorful. By the way, I found a dutch oven was not necessary if you have a high quality stock pot to cook it in.

  16. Nice pictures, but they are kinda misleading, as the recipe calls for onions that are chopped FINE, and thos ein the pics are lovely but sliced. Anywhoos I have tried this Delicious recipe from ATK and lost it, so thanks!

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Vegetarian Chili Recipe | Gastronomy (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to making good chili? ›

Rumi Spice's top tips for making chili:
  1. Brown the Meat.
  2. Don't Forget Vegetables.
  3. Elevate with Extra Flavor.
  4. Only Add Flavorful Liquids.
  5. Opt for Dried Beans.
  6. Season Early and Often.
  7. Add Some Acidity at the End.
  8. Top It Off.

How do you make chili more flavorful? ›

If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.

Is vegetarian chili good for you? ›

Health benefits

As a Dietitian, I love a one bowl meal that has complex carbs, protein, plenty of veggies, and healthy fat all in one. This chili is packed with plant protein and filling fiber from beans and veggies, making it crazy hearty. Regular consumption of beans can help lower cardiovascular risk.

How many days is vegetarian chili good for? ›

How to store and reheat vegetarian chili. In the refrigerator: this plant-based chili will stay good in your fridge for about 1 week. Once your chili is completely cooled, just place it in an airtight container (or multiple, if you'd like to meal prep it) without the additional toppings and place it in the fridge.

What not to put in chili? ›

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

Why doesn't my chili have enough flavor? ›

Add garlic, cumin, and probably more salt. Chipotle chili powder is really nice in chili. Just add a little at a time until it tastes the way you want it too.

How do you thicken vegetarian chili? ›

The good news is there are lots of easy ways to thicken up your chili with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry— flour, cornmeal, pureed beans, cornstarch, or even crushed tortilla chips will help do the job, along with some good old extra simmering time.

What does tomato paste do for chili? ›

The tomato paste adds color and rich flavor to our chili. Now we have our flavorful base, you are going to finish the chili with pureed tomatoes, beef broth (or chicken broth), and beans. Beans make this chili hearty — I like pinto beans or kidney beans.

What is vegetarian chili made of? ›

Vegetarian Chili that's “meaty” and satisfying – without all the meat! A hearty mixture of walnuts, mushrooms, and carrots as your base, with big flavors of onion, garlic, green chiles and spices.

What are the best beans for chili? ›

The best beans for chili are pinto, kidney, and black beans, like in this easy and tasty recipe. This 3-bean chili freezes great for meals later in the week. If you prefer thinner chili, add an extra can of tomato sauce. The green chiles are not hot and add a wonderful flavor, so don't be afraid to use them.

What can be added to chili? ›

You can add chili beans, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, green pepper, jalapenos, habaneros, serranos, potatoes, hominy, corn, chili powder, cumin, tomato sauce, cayenne peppers, cheese, sour cream, banana pepper rings, soy sauce, Hesheys cocoa powder, peanut butter, and so so much more!

What to serve with veggie chilli? ›

Delicious served with yoghurt or soured cream, guacamole and rice, or tortilla chips.

Does celery go into chili? ›

To make the chili:

Stir in the onions, garlic and celery cover and cook for about 5 minutes, until soft and translucent. Sprinkle in the spice mix, stir and cook for an additional two minutes.

Can you let chili simmer all day? ›

If you have time to make it the day before or early in the day and can let it simmer all day, your chili will go from good to AMAZING. Simmering all day allows the meat, beans, and onions to soften and the flavors to meld together. There's just no substitution for chili that is cooked low and slow all day!

Does sugar make chili taste better? ›

Now for the piece de resistance: 1-2 heaping Tablespoons brown sugar. The chili tastes completely different without the brown sugar so if you like a subtle sweetness in your chili then you've just got to go for it! Trust me, it will not make your chili taste like candy.

Why add vinegar to chilli? ›

With only about 1 tablespoon per pot added toward the end of the cooking process, the vinegar will make the flavors more vibrant without overwhelming the dish with its biting tang. Through just a splash, everything becomes a little brighter, and the chili's flavors are more balanced.

Should you simmer chili with lid on or off? ›

For quicker-cooking chili like this recipe, don't cover the pot. We want the liquid in the chili to reduce, and leaving the lid off is crucial. If you're simmering the chili for a longer time, partially cover the pot to prevent the liquid from evaporating too quickly.

What does coffee do for chili? ›

This is why adding coffee—or even beer—to your chili will produce a result that works. Using coffee in the mix adds all the subtle flavor notes you love—like the subtle hints of chocolate and cherry from Death Wish Coffee. Beer, meanwhile, incorporates a light, malty sweetness.

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