Vegetarian Chili - Great for large groups!

Even though we’re not vegetarians, we frequently include vegetarian meals in our weekly menu. This recipe is delicious and hearty- it will leave you full and satisfied. It’s also an extremely convienient one pot dinner, and great for large groups. For this batch we diced carrots, bell peppers, cabbage and onions as our main veggies, but anything goes! Other vegetable recommendations are mushrooms and celery.

We started by sautéing the veggies with olive oil and minced garlic until they became soft, seasoning with salt and pepper. For a large batch, we recommend at least two bell peppers, 5 large carrots and one large onion. Next, we added cans of black beans, red kidney beans and crushed tomatoes. If you want a bigger batch, add more tomato, as this is the base liquid of the chili. Next we seasoned with our favorite chili spices: smoked cayenne, chili powder, crushed red pepper, and cumin. Depending on how spicy you like your chili, add or omit the chili and cayenne.

We stirred the ingredients and let simmer for about 40 minutes. The longer, the better, as flavor will develop over time. Stirring and tasting periodically is key, so you can add salt and pepper as needed.

Delicious toppings totally make the chili experience, right?! We loaded our bowls with avocado and shredded cheddar cheese for creaminess. Other garnishes that enhance a yummy chili are fresh cilantro, sour cream, diced red onion, black olives, tortilla chips, or shredded lettuce.

This is perfect party food- guests can serve their own topping and make it their own. Its filling, even for the biggest appetites, and most importantly, there’s only one pot to clean!