This post may contain affiliate links for products that I endorse and use. If you buy from one of the links, I earn a commission at no cost to you.
I’ve eaten a lot of vegetarian chili in my life, and while most of it is good, this is the best one I’ve ever had.
Unlike most that rely on meat substitutes or too many beans, this one is made of veggies, with a couple of secret ingredients.
There are several steps to this that you don’t want to skip — mostly charring the corn before adding it to the chili. It gives it a smoky, slightly sweet flavor that can’t be beaten. Eggplant — yes, eggplant — gets cooked until tender and silky, and you don’t want to speed it up.
Served with your favorite toppings, this filling, nutritious meal is perfect for a cold winter night.
The BEST Vegetarian Chili
The best vegetarian chili recipe is loaded with veggies instead of fake meat, and is perfect for a cold winter night.
Ingredients
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 1-2 jalapeños minced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium eggplant diced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 14- oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes drained
- 1 14- ounce can black beans drained
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
- Juice of 1 lime
- Toppings: shredded cheese diced green onions, sour cream, tortilla chips, avocado
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the corn kernels and cook, stirring every few minutes, until blackened. Remove from pan and set aside.
- In a Dutch oven or deep pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions, and peppers, and cook until softened.
- Add the garlic and eggplant and cook until eggplant is very soft and tender, about 10 minutes.
- Add the spices, stir and cook for a minute.
- Add the tomatoes, beans, and 1 cup water. Bring to a simmer.
- Simmer for 20-30 minutes, until thickened. Add the cinnamon and cocoa powder. Stir and add the lime juice.
- Simmer for 4-5 more minutes.
- Serve topped with toppings of your choice.
Nutrition
Calories: 196kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 7gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 456mgPotassium: 656mgFiber: 10gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 695IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 84mgIron: 4mg
Nutrition information is only an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. View full nutrition disclousre.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
