Easy Vegetarian Chili

by Jugglebug in Cooking > Vegetarian & Vegan

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Easy Vegetarian Chili

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Chili is a classic winter recipe, it is very filling and warms you up on the coldest of days. However, preparing dishes with meat often creates mess, and if you are squeamish its not the easiest food to work with. Usually, chili contains ground beef, and this can cause a problem if you have vegetarian guests, don't like cooking with meat, etc. So, for vegetarians and squeamish meat-eaters alike, I present this quick, neat and easy winter recipe.

Ingredients

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To serve 2-3 people, the following ingredients are required:

2 cans of kidney beans
1 red or green capsicum (chopped)
1 large onion (chopped)
2 tomatoes (finely chopped)
1 1/2 cups tomato paste
3 cups water
1 tbsp butter
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp basil
1 tsp crushed garlic
1/2 teaspoon hot chili powder
Cornflower (variable amount)
Salt and pepper to taste

You will also need:
Gas stove
One medium-large pot
One wooden spoon (or any stirring implement)
One soup ladle (for serving)

Method

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1: Cook the chopped onion in the medium-large pot with the butter until it begins to look golden brown.

2: Drain the beans of their cooking liquid and stir in the beans, chopped tomato and capsicum, and water.

3: Stir in the tomato paste, and then adjust the consistency of the chili by adding cornflower to make it thicker, or water to make it thinner. Before adding any cornflower, mix it with a bit of water in a small bowl or cup to prevent it from forming lumps in the chili.

4: Add the seasoning (1 tsp basil, 1 tsp crushed garlic, 1 tsp cumin and 1/2 tsp hot chili powder) and stir.

5: Cook for about 20 minutes on medium heat, stirring frequently to prevent all the beans, vegetables etc. from sinking to the bottom and burning while the liquid evaporates on the top. Cook the chili until the color in the chopped capsicum becomes dull. The capsicum and onion generally cooks the slowest, but you cooked the onion beforehand so if the capsicum is cooked the chili is ready to serve.

Serving

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Serve the chili in a bowl with some cornbread or toast by the side, and some cheddar or parmesan cheese sprinkled on top. This chili is a very nutritious meal, and doesn't necessarily require any other side dishes.