Vegetarian chili recipe: Celebrate National Chili Day

Celebrate National Chili Day

Celebrate National Chili Day with this award winning vegetarian chili. I had no idea there was a day set aside just for chili, but if we have to have an excuse for another holiday, it may as well be for this hearty, main dish vegetarian chili!

International Chili Society
Do not for one moment think that all chili is created equal. Each and every chili takes on the personality of the chili chef that creates it. The International Chili Society is a not-for-profit organization that takes sanctioned chili cookoffs very seriously. According to the ICS, "These events are worldwide and benefit charities or nonprofit organizations. All winners of ICS sanctioned cookoffs qualify to compete for cash prizes and awards at the World's Championship Chili Cookoff. The ICS is the largest food contest, festival organization in the world."

With colorful names like Dog Breath Chili, Shotgun Willie Chili, Doc's Secret Remedy, Boomas Revenge, Capitol Punishment, Tarantula Jacks and Thundering Herd Buffalo Tail Chili, you're sure to find a racy recipe in this list that will light a fire not only on your tongue, but under your....ahem, too!

What the Heck is TVP?
This vegetarian chili recipe is made with TVP, or textured vegetable protein.  Aside from looking like dog food, this miraculous dehydrated ingredient tastes just like meat when reconstituted with liquid. I like to use a mixture of hot water and spicy BBQ sauce to give it that smoky cowboy flavor. Creativity is the name of the chili game here, so try experimenting with a combination of hot sauces, honey and even maple syrup.

Here's a great article that explains exactly what TVP is and how to use it. All about textured vegetable protein is chock full of cooking, substitutions and reconstitution advice, as well as a number of tasty recipes to make using TVP.

Everyone thinks their chili recipe is the best. My Vegetarian Chili won a first place blue ribbon in the Vegetarian Chili Cookoff Contest in Addison County, Vermont in 2003. So yeah, I guess I am a little biased!

Vegetarian Chili Recipe

• 2 cups chunky TVP
• 2 cups boiling water or a mixture of 1 cup water and 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large pepper, chopped
• 1 small chili pepper, minced
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 Tbsp chili powder
• 1 Tbsp cumin
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp ground pepper
• 2 quarts stewed tomatoes
• 4 cups kidney or black beans, cooked and drained
• 2 cups whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 teaspoon hickory smoke flavor, optional
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped for garnish

 Directions:

1. Reconstitute the TVP with boiling water or a mix of water and BBQ sauce, or any other liquid you desire as long as you have at least 1 cup of water. Let sit for 15 minutes until all liquid is soaked up by the TVP.
2. Meanwhile, in a large sauce pan, saute onion, pepper and garlic in olive oil until they are tender but not overdone. Add chili powder, cumin, sea salt and ground pepper.
3. Add stewed tomatoes and TVP and simmer for 15-20 minutes until hot
4. Finally, add beans and corn and hickory smoke if desired. Heat through until just ready to boil. Turn off heat
5. Serves 10 or more

Serving suggestions:

• Serve in bowls over jasmine or basmati rice and top with shredded cheese and fresh cilantro.
• A wedge of jalapeno corn bread will finish off this meal perfectly.
• This recipe is quickly made, and the leftovers freeze well, making it a great Freezer Meal.

 
Meat Lovers Chili?

• The Famous Chili Recipes website has more than enough animal flesh to satisfy all you carnivorous chowhounds!  
• The TVP can be substituted in this chili recipe with hamburger, ground turkey or chicken.

Celebrity Chefs Share Their Chili Recipes

• Emeril Lagasse's Vegetarian Microwave Black Bean Chili 
• Nigella Lawson's Vegetarian Chili with Corn Bread Topping 
• Rachel Ray's Veg-Head Three-Bean Chili 
• Martha Stewart's False Alarm Vegetable Chili 
• Spicy Vegetarian Chili 
• Chunky Vegetarian Chili 

And finally, for the movie buff in all of us, here's the classic campfire scene from Blazing Saddles, as commentated so eloquently by Entertainment Weekly. Make sure you're sitting down, because you will just about laugh your....ahem off!

The copyright of the article Vegetarian chili recipe, and photographs are owned by Donna Diegel. Permission to republish Vegetarian chili recipe in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Got any good chili recipes of your own? Send in your chili links and comments!