For those of you following along, you know I like bulgar. This vegetarian chili is a perfect use of it as a filler and textural component. The bulgar provides fiber and has similar mouth feel to ground meat.
I often find vegetarian recipes are light and bright, which I enjoy, but a hot and spicy chili demands a low note, a bass line to follow so to speak, that normally comes from animal fat. With that in mind I’ve included unsweetened baking cocoa. It does it’s job and is definately a background note that you may not be able to place unless told.
I was also happy to use some of the tomato products I put up last summer. It’s a satisfying feeling.
As always, this recipe is very flexible, feel free to add shredded carrots, mushrooms, corn, lentils, whatever you like.
Ingredients:
1 cup bulgar
2 onions chopped
2 green bell peppers chopped
1 jalapeno seeded – small dice
3 cloves of garlic minced
2 15 oz cans kidney beans drained and rinsed
16 oz tomato sauce
16 oz whole peeled tomatoes with their juice
1 15 oz can of “chili ready” tomatoes (if you don’t have this product you’ll want to use more cumin)
1 chipotle pepper plus 2 tbs of adobo sauce
1 tbs oil
1 tsp hot chili powder
1 tbs cocoa (unsweetened)
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp salt
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Put bulgar in a bowl, add hot water to cover, cover bowl and set aside for at least 15 minutes
Add 1 tbs oil to large pot over medium heat.
Add onions, peppers, garlic and salt to the oil.
Cook stirring often until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. What’s the yellow? Good catch! It’s a bit of yellow pepper I had left over in the crisper. Use it up!
Add all three canned tomatoes, diced, sauce, and whole.
Add the chipotle and adobo sauce.
Stir and simmer for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium low.
Stir, add cocoa, and chili powder.
Stir, reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.
Taste a sample. Adjust seasonings to your liking.
Simmer 5 more minutes.
Serve with corn bread, top with your favorite topping(s).
Hard to believe that it’s meat free!
Until next time, Eat Well & Keep Digging.
March 1, 2011
That looks great. I do a veggie chilli, but it is very different and I have never served it with bulgar wheat. I am definitely going to give this recipe a try. Thanks x
March 1, 2011
Thanks Fran, the bulgar is a nice addition. Enjoy!
March 3, 2011
hey buddy… stop by my place if you have a second.. and bring some of that chili, will ya?
😉
March 3, 2011
Thx Ofg! Hope the kids are doing well!