Description
Ina Garten’s vegetarian chili delivers robust flavors through hearty ingredients like beans, peppers, and spices. Delightful comfort in a bowl promises warmth and satisfaction for home cooks seeking a satisfying meatless meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 15-oz (425 g) cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 28-oz (794 g) can whole plum tomatoes, crushed by hand
- ½ head cauliflower
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 large bell peppers (1 green, 1 red), chopped
- 3 medium carrots, finely chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tbsps extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsps chili powder
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 2 tsps ground coriander
- 2 tsps dried oregano
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- ½ to 1 chipotle chile pepper in adobo sauce, chopped
- ½ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 corn tortillas, torn into pieces
- ½ cup brewed coffee
- 2 tbsps unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
- Preparation: Finely dice onions, bell peppers, carrots, and mince garlic. Organize spices and components within easy reach.
- Sautéing Base: Heat a large pot over medium-high flame. Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil and introduce chopped onions, bell peppers, and carrots. Stir continuously until vegetables become tender and translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
- Spice Infusion: Add minced garlic and sprinkle chili powder, ground cumin, ground coriander, and dried oregano. Mix thoroughly to distribute spices evenly. Incorporate chopped chipotle chile pepper and tomato paste, creating a robust aromatic foundation.
- Liquid and Texture Enhancement: Tear corn tortillas into small fragments. Pour brewed coffee to deepen flavor profile. Add crushed whole plum tomatoes with their juices.
- Simmering and Developing Flavors: Reduce heat and allow chili to simmer gently. Stir in unsweetened cocoa powder and drained pinto beans. Dice cauliflower and fold into the mixture.
- Final Touches: Continue cooking until vegetables reach perfect tenderness, approximately 15-20 minutes. Finish by garnishing with freshly chopped cilantro, creating a vibrant and complex vegetarian chili.
Notes
- Prep Like a Pro: Chop all vegetables uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the chili.
- Spice Strategy: Toast spices briefly in oil before adding other ingredients to unlock deeper, more complex flavor profiles.
- Liquid Magic: Coffee and cocoa powder create unexpected depth, transforming this vegetarian chili from ordinary to extraordinary.
- Texture Trick: Torn corn tortillas act as a secret thickening agent, adding richness without extra calories.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 12g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 0mg