Autumn Vegetable Chili Recipes

AUTUMN PUMPKIN CHILI

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute onion and the green and yellow peppers in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Crumble turkey into skillet. Cook over medium heat until meat is no longer pink., Transfer to a 3-qt. slow cooker. Stir in the pumpkin, tomatoes, chili powder, salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 7-9 hours. If desired, serve with toppings.

AUTUMN VEGETABLE CHILI

Steps:

• Heat pot on low heat and prep vegetables
• Wash, pat dry and chop the vegetables in 1/2-1" pieces. If you have a picky eater, consider mincing or running any of these veggies through the food processor to 'hide' its presence. That's what I do with the kale.
• Saute the carrots, brussels sprouts, red cabbage and celery in 1 tablespoon of oil at medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Stir occasionally. Omit this step if you are avoiding adding oil.
• Add the tomatoes, cooked beans, cumin, salt, water/broth and whole chilis. Cover the lid and bring to a boil on high heat. Set the timer for 5 minutes so you can keep an eye on this.
• Once the mixture comes to a boil, lower to medium heat and cook for 15 minutes.
• Add the yellow peppers and cook for another 5 minutes.
• Carefully remove the whole ancho and guajillo peppers (so as to leave them intact). Set them to the side.
• The chili is ready to serve to those who do not want a spicier chili. I usually remove 1 cup of chili for my son at this point. To maximize the flavor of the whole peppers, proceed to the next step.
• Remove 1 cup of chili and add to a blender with the peppers (de-seeded / de-stemmed) Puree. Mix the puree back into the chili.
• The chili now has the color and texture as described in this post. Add lime juice and serve!

VEGETARIAN CHILI WITH WINTER VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Heat the beans on top of the stove in a large soup pot or Dutch oven.
• Heat the oil over medium heat in a heavy nonstick skillet and add the onion, carrot and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender and beginning to color, about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic, stir together until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute, and add the ground chili and cumin. Cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes, until the mixture begins to stick to the pan. Add the tomatoes and oregano, and salt to taste. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down and the mixture is beginning to stick to the pan, about 10 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste dissolved in water and bring back to a simmer. Season with salt to taste and simmer, stirring often, for 10 minutes, until the mixture is thick and fragrant.
• Stir the tomato mixture into the beans. Add the winter squash and bring to a simmer. Simmer, stirring often, for 30 to 45 minutes. It is important to stir often so that the chili doesn't settle and stick to the bottom of the pot. It should be thick; if you desire you can thin out with water. Taste and adjust salt.
• Shortly before serving stir in the cilantro and simmer for 5 minutes. Spoon into bowls. If you wish, top with grated cheddar, Monterey jack, or crumbled queso fresco.

RAINBOW VEGGIE CHILI

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Stir in zucchini, yellow squash, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, jalapeno, garlic, and onion. Cook 5 minutes, just until tender.
• Mix tomatoes with liquid, tomato paste, black beans, corn, and chili beans in spicy sauce into the pot. Season with chili powder, oregano, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

VEGETARIAN CHILI

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, until onion is translucent and garlic is soft, about 4 minutes. Add cumin and chile powder, season with salt and pepper, and cook until spices are fragrant, 1 minute. Add zucchini and tomato paste; cook, stirring frequently, until tomato paste is deep brick red, 3 minutes. Stir in black beans, pinto beans, and both cans diced tomatoes. Add 2 cups water and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce to a medium simmer and cook until zucchini is tender and liquid reduces slightly, 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.