Black Bean & Quinoa Chili

Here’s another great recipe from Melomeals: Vegan For $3.33 A Day, this is one of our favorite meals! This chili is even better the second day and even better than that thawed from the freezer! I usually double this recipe and freeze half in 2 cup portions for my hubby to take to work. This is really good topped with Chipotle Sauce.

Black Bean & Quinoa Chili

 

Ingredients:

2 T olive oil
1 large onion or 1.5 cups diced
5 cloves garlic, or 1.5 T minced
1 t cumin seeds (ground is OK)
1 t coriander
2 T chili powder
1/4 t oregano or marjoram
2 serrano chiles, seeded if less spice is desired, chopped – I omit these sometimes so my toddler will eat it
1 small green pepper or 3/4 c chopped
1 small red pepper or 3/4 c chopped
pinch salt/pepper
3 c black beans (28 oz can or 1 c dried. but if they’re dried they need to be cooked first)
4 c vegetable stock or water
2 bouillon cubes if not using stock – I use 1 cube 
1/2 c quinoa, rinsed
15 oz can corn or 1.5 c frozen corn – I use frozen corn
14 oz can diced tomatoes, or better yet, Rotel
more stock/water if necessary
Juice of 1 large lime – I add the zest in as well
2 c cilantro, chopped
salt/pepper to taste

Method:
1. In a heavy bottomed soup pot over medium heat, place the first 11
ingredients in the pan and saute for at least 10 minutes.

2. Add the beans and stock and quinoa and bring to a boil. Cover, turn heat down
to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes

3. Then add the corn and tomatoes.

4. You may need to add more water to reach your desired thickness.

5. Turn heat to low and cover for 20 more minutes.

6. Stir in the lime juice and cilantro and season with salt/pepper to
taste.

7. Top with vegan sour cream, avocado and Chipotle Sauce

Veggies

Saute

Add beans and stock

Add corn and tomatoes

Yummy!

Homemade Taco Seasoning

I haven’t bought or used packet taco seasoning for a few years now and I never will again! This is the most flavorful taco seasoning recipe, it’s easy to make and has much less sodium than the regular packet kind.

This recipe is from Food.com, it’s the #2 highest rated out of 3,286 taco seasoning recipes. I tried the top rated 5 and this one is the best, in my opinion. I use this to make my taco/burrito/tostada TVP “meat” (with hidden greens) and anything else that calls for taco seasoning!

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons mild chili powder (for the best flavor do not reduce this amount)
  • 1/2-1 teaspoon garlic powder (I use 1 tsp)
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 -3 teaspoons cumin (I use 3 tsps)
  • 1 teaspoon seasoning salt (or use 1/2 teaspoon white salt) – I use 1 tsp Santa Maria Style BBQ Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional or to taste) – I use a big pinch

Directions:

  1. Combine all ingredients (double or triple if desired) .
  2. Store tightly sealed in a small glass jar until ready to use OR freeze in individual wrapped foil packets

TVP Tacos with this seasoning… YUMMY!!