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Vegetarian Black Bean Chili


  • Author: Tania Van Pelt
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
Make this vegetarian black bean chili on a Sunday and enjoy it for lunch or dinner all week.

Description

A quick-fix dinner that’s nourishing and totally satisfying. It’s got complex, layered flavors from the orange zest, fresh chiles, and spices, but a cinch to make.


Scale

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons safflower oil
  • 1 medium onion (diced)
  • 1 medium red bell pepper (diced)
  • 1 jalapeño (seeded, diced)
  • 1 pasilla or poblano chile (seeded, diced)
  • 4 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon ground chipotle (chile) powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)
  • One 15-ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • Three 15-ounce cans black beans (rinsed and drained)
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
  • ½ fresh lime (juiced)
  • ½ fresh lemon (juiced)
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro (leaves and stems, chopped, plus more for garnish)

Instructions

  1. In a large saucepan, heat the oil. Add the onion, bell pepper, jalapeño, and papilla pepper, and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6-8 minutes.
  2. Stir in the garlic, tomato paste, chile powder, cumin, oregano and cayenne and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
  3. Add the crushed tomatoes, black beans, teaspoon of the orange zest, fresh lime juice, and 2 cups of water and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until all the flavors meld and the liquid is slightly reduced, about 15-20 minutes.
  4. Stir in the lemon juice, 1/2 cup cilantro, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
  5. Divide the chili into bowls, and garnish with cilantro leaves. Serve with a big green salad. Chips and guacamole.

Notes

For leftovers, reheat over low to medium heat, for 5-10 minutes, and add a little water to thin the chili if it’s too thick.