m. c. de marco: The New Kitchen Cookbook

Vegetarian Chili

This chili is based on Emeril’s recipe, with some toning down because it was intended as the Good Kirk alternative to an Evil Kirk Texas chili. The main modifications involved using some real chiles instead of dried chili powder, since I had them on hand for the evil version, plus sizing lots of things to the can rather than to cups.

Ingredients

  • 2 T. olive oil
  • 1 ½ c. onion, chopped
  • 2 T. chopped garlic (5–6 cloves)
  • 1 c. red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 scotch bonnet or several serranos, chopped
  • chili puree, to taste
  • 1 ½ lbs. portabellas, cubed
  • 1 zucchini, diced
  • 1 can corn
  • 2 cans black beans
  • 1 ½ cans canned tomatoes with their sauce (about 22 oz.)
  • 1–2 tomatoes, chopped (optional)
  • 1 c. vegetable stock or water
  • 1 T. cumin
  • 1 ¼ tsp. salt
  • ¼ c. chopped cilantro

Garnishes

  • essence of Emeril (see my Spicy Asian Chicken recipe for details)
  • chopped scallion
  • avocado
  • sour cream or yogurt

Directions

  1. Heat all onion, garlic, and peppers in oil for 3 minutes.
  2. Add zucchini, corn, and mushrooms, and cook for 6 minutes.
  3. Add spices and cook for 30 seconds.
  4. Add tomatoes, beans and stock, and bring to a boil.
  5. Simmer 20 minutes.
  6. Remove from heat and add cilantro.
  7. Serve with garnishes.

Variants

The original recipe called for a can of tomato sauce and 4 fresh tomatoes.