Chili gone-vegan
The Bestest Chili in the Land
Afraid you have to give up meat and dairy when you go plant-based. You’ll never miss out with this chili!
This recipe is the easiest transition into going meatless.
Estimated time: 45 minutes
Effort/Skill: Medium
Feeds 6 of your family and friends
Ingredients & Directions
2 x 796 ml cans of crushed tomatoes (non-BPA cans)
2 x 398 ml cans of beans (kidney, black, pinto, or white kidney)
1 x 340 g package of veggie ground/crumble - optional
1 tbsp avocado oil
2 cups veggie broth
3 carrots, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
1 cup corn
1 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 tbsp dried basil
½ tsp cayenne
1 tbsp turmeric
1 tbsp black pepper
½ tsp salt (if veggie broth is unsalted)
1 tbsp maple syrup
In a skillet, over medium heat, heat oil and lightly fry onion and garlic. Once these are transparent, set aside.
Add the veggie ground/crumble to the skillet and fry until lightly brown and cooked thoroughly. Set aside.
In a large pot, add the tomatoes, veggie broth, carrots, celery, corn and beans.
Cook over medium-low heat until the carrots have softened. Add in the cooked garlic, onion and spices. Stir.
Add in the cooked veggie crumble and stir well.
Continue to cook over medium-low heat and reduce to a simmer when it starts to boil.
Add in the herbs and spices
Simmer for 20 minutes and add in the maple syrup.
Serve hot with nutritional yeast, turmeric and black pepper sprinkled on top.
NOURISHED FACT
Three easy ways to go meatless
If you’re new to my blog / account, you may be wondering why go vegan? Or plant-based?
First off, what is the difference between vegan and plant-based?
Vegan
Going vegan means eliminating all animal products from your diet. There’s also the removal of animal products from your lifestyle. Not always, but quite often, vegans choose this way of life for ethical and environmental reasons and the health benefits are a side-effect. However, some choose all three and focus their diet on healthy whole food plant-based products (like me!).
Plant-based diets
Going plant-based diets focus on eating plants. Some will say that they primarily eat plants and include some animal products. Their reasons are usually health-based, but not always.Their diet is focused on whole foods, mostly plants. They may adhere to strict vegan principles, but not always.
BEFORE YOU START ANY NEW DIET OR REGIME, BE SURE TO VISIT YOUR DOCTOR OR NATURAL HOLISTIC PRACTITIONER.
Now, what exactly are those three easy ways to go meatless? Swap-shop-and-one-day-at-a-time
1. Take it one day at a time
You’re taking one step, then another. Start with planning out one plant-based whole food meal this week. Then shoot to add another the next week. Before you know it, you’ll have substituted in 7 meals, then 14, then 20 in your week! Building momentum and finding your favourites is key.
Also - invest in ONE really good blender. With that commitment, you’ll thank me later. These are two great options (Ninja, Vitamix)
2. Swap two ingredients out for healthy plant-based options
This might seem hard at first, but you’ll soon find ways to swap chia seeds for eggs in baking, tofu for chicken in dinner recipes, and cashews for cheesy sauces. Take a regular omnivore recipe and swap out 2 ingredients with plants. Milk is the simplest way - there are so many great plant milks out there: oat, coconut, almond, soy, rice, cashew, macadamia!
3. Shop for three days of groceries and start stocking your pantry
Yep, the pantry will start to change. With more trips for fresh fruits and veggies, opt for a 3-day cycle. Prepare what you can and put it in the freezer. And start adding these ingredients to your pantry:
Cashew butter
Raw cashews
Nutritional yeast
Smoked paprika
Tamari
Tofu
Tempeh
Dates
Brown rice
Lentils
Kidney beans
Black beans
Chickpeas
Quinoa
Nuts - walnuts, almonds, pine nuts
Vegetable stock
Miso paste
Tahini
Avocado oil
Coconut oil
Flax seeds
Chia seeds
Maple syrup
For more great reasons on making the switch to eating more plants and ditch dairy, be sure to have a read of my blog post & the Best Vegan Caesar Salad recipe.
