The Best Vegetarian Chili: No Meat Required, Full of Flavor | America's Test Kitchen

kidney beans

🥗Healthier: canned lentils

💰Cheaper: pinto beans

Lentils are lower in calories and higher in protein.

bell peppers

🥗Healthier: zucchini

💰Cheaper: carrots

Zucchini is lower in calories and adds moisture.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Avocado oil has a higher smoke point.

Stem and seed the ancho and guajillo chilies, tearing them into one-inch pieces.

Toast the chilies in a Dutch oven over medium heat until fragrant, without browning them.

Remove the toasted chilies and place them in a bowl; cover with hot water and let sit for five minutes to rehydrate.

Strain the chilies to remove excess liquid and transfer them to a blender.

Add the can of whole peeled tomatoes (with juice), cup of water, three tablespoons of soy sauce, one to three chipotle chilies in adobo, and one and a half teaspoons of salt to the blender.

Blend the mixture for one to two minutes until smooth.

In the same Dutch oven, heat a quarter cup of extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat.

Add one chopped onion, one chopped poblano, and three quarters of a teaspoon of salt; cook until softened and the onion starts to brown (three to five minutes).

Add three tablespoons of tomato paste, six minced garlic cloves, two tablespoons of ground cumin, and one tablespoon of dried oregano; cook for one to two minutes until the tomato paste starts to brown.

Pour in two and a half cups of water to deglaze the pot, scraping up any fond from the bottom.

Add the blended chili mixture back into the pot.

Add three rinsed and drained 15-ounce cans of beans (black beans, red kidney beans, and pinto beans).

Add three quarters of a cup of pearl barley and half an ounce of finely chopped dried porcini mushrooms.

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for 35 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

After cooking, let the chili rest off the heat for about 10 minutes to meld the flavors together.

Before serving, stir in half a cup of chopped cilantro.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary