Pair with garlic rice, Southern cornbread, or tortilla chips for the perfect sweet + savory combination.
Tip: Try my easy cornbread recipe — it’s, um, easy. Plus, golden, fluffy, and perfect with chili.
Sweet and Simple Chili Con 'Carne'
Pair with garlic rice, Southern cornbread, or tortilla chips for the perfect sweet + savory combination.
Author: APB: Eats
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Earth Balance (or other vegan butter)
- 1½ cups chopped yellow onion
- 1 cup peeled and chopped carrot
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1½ teaspoons of sea salt
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard
- 2-4 tablespoons of chili powder (depending on heat preference -- add even more if desired)
- 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
- ¾ cup homemade ketchup (get my recipe here, or use your favorite store-bought artisanal ketchup (Heinz or grocery-store brands could be overpowering)
- 2 teaspoons vegan Worcestershire sauce (such as Annie's Naturals)
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon vegan brown sugar
- 1 quart tomato juice
- 2 15.5-ounce cans of dark red kidney beans, rinsed
- 12 ounces of vegan 'beef' crumbles (such Beyond Meat, Gardein, or Smart Ground), browned in a skillet
Optional toppings:
- Scallions, cilantro, diced jalapenos, chopped avocado, non-dairy sour cream, non-dairy cheese... (you get the idea)
Instructions
- In a large, deep skillet, heat the Earth Balance until melted. Add the the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic to the skillet and sauté for 5 minutes. Don't allow garlic to burn.
- Add the vegetable broth, lemon juice, salt, dry mustard, chili powder (I recommend starting with 2 tablespoons and adding more to taste as chili cooks), vinegar, catsup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and tomato juice to the skillet. Combine everything with a wooden spoon. Cover and simmer on low for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add kidney beans and browned vegan beef crumbles. Simmer for another 10-15 minutes. Taste chili, and add more heat, salt, or sweet if desired.
- Top with whatever you love, and serve with rice, Southern cornbread, or tortilla chips.