DINNER HAPPENED: CHICKPEA AND WHITE BEAN CHILI + WEEKLY MEAL PLAN

One of my family’s favorite meals in the cold winter months is chili. I make a whole bunch of different variations to swap up the flavors and keep the kids from growing tired of the same old chili every week. With homemade veggie stock, chickpeas and two types of white beans this vegetarian chili is loaded with protein.

 This version is packed with peppers and onions and layered with tons of spices like cumin and oregano. It’s the kind of chili that sticks to your bones and makes you want to curl up in a blanket and take a nap afterward.

There is a secret ingredient in this chili. One I don’t normally use in chili recipes, but it’s perfection in this one. Cloves!

Yes, you read that right, I spiced up my chili with a baking spice. But it’s not one of those, “Oh man, this tastes like cloves!” kind of thing. It’s more of a “Whoa, what’s in this chili?” kind of thing.

 The flavor of the cloves is very subtle. It just kind of hangs out in the background and doesn’t overwhelm. This chili is great with cheese and heavy cream added in at the end, but it’s also a pretty stellar vegan chili without them.

Do you have a secret ingredient that you use in your favorite chili recipe?

CHICKPEA AND WHITE BEAN CHILI

Author: Beard and Bonnet

INGREDIENTS

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup chopped red bell pepper or 1 medium sized pepper
• ½ cup chopped poblano pepper or 1 small pepper
• 1 jalapeno, seeds removed and chopped
• 1 large red onion, chopped, or 2 – 2½ cups
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ tablespoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce
• 3½ cups homemade vegetable broth
• 1½ tablespoons tapioca flour or cornstarch
• 1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 15-ounce can cannelini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 15-ounce can great northern beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese, omit if vegan
• ¼ cup heavy cream, omit of vegan
• kosher salt to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a large soup pot heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the red bell pepper, poblano, jalapeno, and onion; cook until the onions are translucent stirring frequently. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the cumin, oregano, red pepper flakes, cloves, and hot sauce stirring to incorporate. Cook for 4-5 minutes until the onions and peppers are beginning to brown.
2. In a mixing bowl combine the broth with the tapioca flour or cornstarch and mix with a whisk until completely combined; set aside.
3. Add all of the beans to the veggies and pour the broth into the pan as well, stir to combine. Raise the heat to high and bring to a boil, cover partially with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Simmer the chili for 45 minutes.
4. If using the cheese and cream add them now and stir until the cheese is completely melted.

5 DAY MEAL PLAN

MONDAY

Chickpea and White Bean Chili (recipe above)

TUESDAY

Poblano Chilaquiles Casserole by Beard and Bonnet

I love to make versions of this casserole with leftover chili. Simply drain the broth from the beans and veggies and use them in place of the beans in this recipe. Nachos have never tasted so good!

WEDNESDAY

Cauliflower and Chickpea Coconut Curry by Oh My Veggies

We LOVE curry in our house and cannot seem to get enough of it lately. It’s a nice swap up to the Tex-Mex type of food we eat pretty regularly, and even our 2-year-old really enjoys a big heaping bowl of curry.

THURSDAY

Vegan Paella by Beard and Bonnet

My gluten free, vegetarian household eats rice and beans all the time! This paella is my kids favorite rice dish. It’s loaded with fire roasted tomatoes, artichoke hearts and peppers. It just doesn’t get much better than that. The bonus to this dish is that it makes such a large amount of paella we can all take it for lunch the next day.

FRIDAY

Veggie Burrito Bowl by Amuse Your Bouche

I know, I know…rice and beans! I am telling you, we love it and there are so many combinations that we never really grow tired of it. This recipe is a great start for inspiration, but feel free to get adventurous and use other ingredients from your fridge and pantry to build your perfect rice bowl.

Author: MEG VAN DER KRUIK