Over the last few years Carl and I have experimented with our vegan chili technique. We started our experimentation by sampling complicated recipes that simmer all day, however the results were always darker and murkier than what we were hoping for.
Then we circled back to the chilis of both of our mothers. When he was growing up, his mother won a chili cook-off with a fresh, barely cooked version with canned ingredients. My mom likewise has always made a killer “frito soup” with canned beans, tomatoes, and black olives to serve garnished with corn chips, like the soupy version of a frito boat. We combined both techniques, added impossible meat, a little fresh green chili and a few other layers of spiciness like white pepper, and finally we landed on what we like.
Feel free to adjust the chilis for your level of heat. Also note that the black olives are optional, but for me they are a treat.
Ingredients
- 2-3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion onion (or half of a large onion), chopped
- 2 serrano or jalapeno chilis, deseeded and minced
- 1/2 tsp MSG (optional)
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried red chili powder (such as Gochugaru or Aleppo pepper)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 12 ounces package of Impossible or Beyond vegan meat
- 3 tbsp taco seasoning
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 16 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
- 16 ounces canned black beans drained
- 16 ounces canned white beans drained
- 16 ounces canned pinto beans NOT drained
- 4-16 ounces black olives, whole or sliced optional
- 1-2 cups water
- salt to taste
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp Tajin (chili lime salt)
Garnish options
- lime wedges
- corn chips
- additional olives
- vegan cheese
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or large soup pot. Add the onion and sauté several minutes. Then add the green chili and cook 1-2 additional minutes.
- Add the MSG, white pepper, dried red chili, garlic, and plant-based meat. Cook, stirring often, until the plant-based meat browns.
- Add the taco seasoning, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, various canned beans, optional black olives, water, salt, sugar and Tajin. Bring to a boil, the lower the heat and simmer 45-60 minutes.
- Taste for seasoning. Garnish with any of the following: lime wedges, corn chips, additional olives, and vegan cheese.
