Cold weather is chili time. Actually, all weather is chili time, but chili is especially delicious during the colder months. This recipe is completely vegan. For a meaty texture we use bulgur, and for some extra oomph, we use dehydrated mushrooms and crushed walnuts.
I can’t stress enough how intensely good this is. The recipe looks long, but it’s rather easy. Give it a try and enjoy.
This recipe requires three steps.
- Soak beans
- Prepare tomato sauce
- Make chili
Step two is broken up into two parts, A and B. Part A can be eliminated in the interest of time and substituted for a jar of store bought tomato sauce. Part B, however, is critical. If eliminating part A, make sure you heat the tomato sauce before continuing to Part B.
All Ingredients
- Salt
- 1 bag of red kidney beans (16 oz)
- ½ ounce dried shiitake mushrooms
- 4 teaspoons oregano
- ½ cup crushed walnuts
- 4 tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 6 garlic cloves
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- ⅔ cup bulgur
- 2 onions
- 1 red pepper
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 7 cups water
Step 1 – Soak beans (duration, at least 5 hours)
Ingredients
- 1 bag of beans
- 1 teaspoon salt
Preparation
Soak beans in water and 1 teaspoon salt for at least 5 hours
Step 2 – Make tomato sauce (duration, 45 min – 1hour; this can be made in advance)
Part A.
Ingredients
- Salt
- 4 tomatoes
- Tomato paste
- 1 onion
- 1 red pepper
- ¼ cup red wine
- 6 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
Preparation
- Prepare the vegetables: cut the onion, red pepper, and tomatoes (keep onion aside)
- Heat olive oil
- Put onion in pan, stir in salt and cook about 4 minutes until translucent
- Stir in red pepper, tomatoes, and wine. Cover and cook on low for 30 minutes. Stir in garlic, and cover for another 10-15 minutes.
If preparing in advance, cover and refrigerate when complete, if not, continue to Part B.
Part B.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup walnut
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- ½ ounce dried shiitake mushroom
- 3 tablespoon tomato paste
Preparation
- Stir walnuts, soy sauce, and tomato paste into sauce, blend
- Crush shiitake mushroom with hand and place in sauce
- Set aside
Step 3 – Chili (duration, 3 hours)
Ingredients
- Salt
- 1 onion
- 1 bag kidney beans, soaked
- 7 cups water
- ¾ cup bulgur
- 28 oz of tomato sauce (used prepared tomato from step 2)
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 2 tablespoons oil
Preparation
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 300 degrees.
- On stove top, heat oil in large pot or dutch oven
- Stir in onions 1 teaspoon salt and cook until translucent. Stir in chili powder, ground cumin, coriander, and oregano until fragrant. Stir in beans, mix well, then water, and bring to boil.
- Put pot in oven for 45 minutes
- Stir in tomato sauce and bulgur. Cook in the oven covered for 2 hours
And for those that would like to have a little fun while cooking, below is a curated play list ideal for chili preparation.
Enjoy.
