Easy and Quick Low-Fat Vegan Chilli

Whilst I tend to make this when I feel like I need something virtuous but still delicious, you can make this any time and make it more luxurious by topping it with some shredded vegan cheese and diced avocado.

Inspired by my red chilli recipe, I love to serve this with some boiled rice and of course, tortilla chips.

And, because this has been an impecunious week (week? Try year), I am using everything up in the cupboard and spending as little money as possible on groceries. Whilst I plan strategically with grocery shopping, I do buy several items that I refer to as wildcards. What this could be is a bag of spinach or a reduced plant-based meat that I don’t usually use.

These items lay down for me a gauntlet that entails me using them up before they go bad. For this recipe, it was reduced celery and a dented can of beans. Not very exciting!

Anyway, this is a perfect dish for meat-missing vegetarians or, if, like me, you never enjoyed minced beef because of some childhood trauma, the small shiny beans are very meaty in texture and absorb all the flavour of the spices.

And another thing. A good chilli often takes several hours slow cooking to all and for the meat to meld with the other ingredients otherwise it can taste a little wishy-washy and lacking depth of flavour. This meatless chilli is as flavourful as any three day old chilli after just 30 minutes simmering, giving it a place in my Quickest Suppers of All Time Hall of Fame.

• onions, garlic, celery, chilli, peppers
• mushrooms
• tinned beans (I use borlotti)
• tinned tomatoes and puree
• chilli powder

(This is ONLY a list of ingredients for the recipe; please see recipe card below for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

Soften the onion, garlic, celery, pepper and chilli in a teaspoon of olive oil

Add the mushrooms, chili powder and beans

Now add the tomatoes and puree

Simmer until cooked, then add some chopped coriander and taste for seasoning

Hint: whilst this vegan chili will be ready to eat within half an hour, it is much better reheated the next day!

• Beans - substitute with canned beans of your choice or chick peas, or omit altogether
• Veg - you could add diced courgette/zucchini or aubergine/eggplant

• Spicy - add chili pepper flakes while cooking to imbue heat into the dish, or banana peppers
• Deluxe - add guacamole, chopped onion or grated vegan cheese to serve

See my spicy red chilli recipe too!

Store in the fridge, once cool, and it will last a good 3-4 days.

You can freeze this chili for later on. Place the cooled chili into a Ziplock bag or freezer-proof container and freeze for up to 3 months.

Make a double batch of this recipe and freeze half for later on!

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

How to Make Vegan Red Chili

How to make Delicious and Easy Vegan Gumbo

Vegan Shepherd's Pie - The Ultimate Comfort Food Recipe, Easy and Delicious

Easy Vegan Spaghetti Bolognese - a comforting family favourite