The long awaited chili post...

You're going to be disappointed by how easy this is. I took pictures of the ingredients because I don't know what is available to everyone. I know you are going to gasp with you see the canned tomato products, but let me tell you, you need canned tomato products for chili. I've tried it with fresh tomatoes. It's not the same. I don't usually use canned beans because I soak and cook my beans and then freeze them. If you freeze them flat in a bag when they are frozen they can easily be broken apart into the portions you need. I just find that frozen beans taste better than canned. If you are going to use canned, please wash/rinse them. You do not want that fermentation goop in your chili. 

Vegetarian Chili

makes a lot

1 medium to large onion

1 hot chili pepper (jalapeño or Serrano)

1-2 sweet peppers (this time I used poblano and green bell peppers but I have made it with probably every pepper out there and it doesn't make a huge difference)

4-5 cloves of garlic

2 dried guajillo chilis 

1 tablespoon ancho chili powder

1/2 tablespoon cumin powder

(I also threw in a little chipotle powder that I had on hand)

1 can chopped tomatoes and peppers (I use Rotel)

1 can of tomato sauce

1 cup cooked black beans

1 cup cooked red kidney beans

1 cup cooked garbonzo beans

approximately half a package of fake meat crumbs (I prefer Quorn brand)

*Not pictured: black beans

Heat a small amount of cooking oil in a large pot. Chop up your onion, peppers, and garlic. Place them in the oil with a little salt to help them sauté faster. Cook thoroughly. Then heat your fake meat crumbles in the same pan with the onions and peppers. Next add the beans, tomato sauce and can of peppers and tomatoes. Add enough water to achieve your desired level of chunkiness. Grind your dried peppers in a coffee/spice grinder. Add your spices. He this all to a boil then simmer and cover. Cook it for as long as your hunger will allow. I make my chili in a slow cooker. 

This recipe is very open to interpretation. I use whatever I have on hand. Sometimes we top it with cheese and tortilla chips or have it with cornbread. Usually we just eat it as is. It also makes pretty good leftovers. Like I said, it makes a lot.