At the stove, devouring spoonful after spoonful of black bean chilli straight from the pot. I believe this is the finest chilli I’ve ever had. Green chiles, fire-roasted tomatoes, and a generous chilli powder provide depth to this thick, creamy, acidic, complex soup. If you have the time, I highly recommend making my homemade chilli powder for this recipe, as it elevates this black bean chilli to new heights.
The flavour is more nuanced with savoury overtones from the fennel and garlic, earthiness from the cumin, coriander, allspice, and subtle, smoky heat from the toasted chiles. However, this black bean chilli recipe will still be delicious if you want to use store-bought chilli powder. Fill it with your favourite toppings and serve it with cornbread or tortilla chips for a warm, comforting supper on a chilly fall evening.
How to Make Black Bean Chili?
Of course, black beans and 1 cup of their cooking liquid are required. Make your own on the stove or in the instant pot, or use 2 (14-ounce) cans of beans and liquid. For richness, use extra-virgin olive oil. For delicious depth of flavour, add onion and garlic. A chilli must-have is the red bell pepper.
Its crisp-tender texture complements the velvety black beans well. I highly recommend producing your chilli powder, and I always prefer you diced fire-roasted tomatoes to plain diced tomatoes. They have a smokier flavour, which gives this vegan black bean chilli a lot of depth.
Green chillies can add a tangy flavour to the chilli. A little maple syrup goes a long way in this recipe, and it helps to temper the heat of the chilli by balancing the sourness of the green chillies and lime. Lime juice – It adds a great vibrant touch to the chilli.
Optional: cayenne pepper for heat. Before adding the chile, make sure you taste it. Because chilli powders differ in their amount of heat, I only recommend applying cayenne if you have a mild chilli powder and desire a fiery chilli. And a pinch of salt and pepper to bring out the flavours!
To begin, cook the onion and red pepper in a skillet. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes, or until they soften, over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and chilli powder after that. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly, or until the spices are fragrant.
After that, let it simmer! Combine the black beans, liquid, tomatoes, green chiles, and maple syrup in a large mixing bowl. To blend, stir everything together. Then, cover and cook for another 20 minutes or until the chilli thickens. Finally, season with salt and pepper to taste.
Add the lime juice and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add extra chilli powder and cayenne to produce a flavour combination you enjoy. Serving Suggestions for Black Bean Chili This black bean chilli is great, but it’s much better when topped with additional ingredients.
Here are a few of my personal favourites: Guacamole or diced avocado, Sour cream, yogurt, vegan sour cream Cilantro Serranos, jalapeos, or pickled jalapeos, sliced cheese that has been shredded red onions, and pickled Not to mention lime wedges for squeezing!
An extra squeeze of lime elevates this chilli to new heights. Tortilla chips, handmade cornbread, or jalapeo cornbread complete the meal. Try my sweet potato salad, broccoli salad, or homemade coleslaw if you want something extra on the side. Also good are roasted sweet potatoes, butternut squash, broccoli, or baked potato.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- One medium chopped white onion
- One chopped red bell pepper
- a total of 112 teaspoons of salt
- Three minced garlic cloves
- Three tblsp chilli powder (optional)
- 1 cup black bean liquid plus 3 cups cooked black beans (amount in 2 cans of beans)
- One can of chopped fire-roasted tomatoes (14 oz.)
- 1 (4-ounce) green chile can (do not drain)
- One teaspoon of maple nectar
- black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 tbsp lime juice, plus lime wedges for serving
- 14 teaspoon cayenne pepper, if desired
Topping Options
- Greek yogurt or sour cream
- Avocado
- Serranos or jalapeos, sliced
- Cilantro
- Onions pickled
- Chips made with tortillas
Instructions
- In a big pot over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the onion, bell pepper, and salt and simmer, stirring periodically, for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the onion is transparent. Cook for 30 seconds, constantly stirring, until the garlic and chilli powder are aromatic.
- Combine the beans, bean liquid, tomatoes, green chiles, maple syrup, and a few grinds of pepper in a large mixing bowl. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring periodically, for 20 minutes, or until the chilli has thickened.
- Season with extra salt, pepper, chilli powder, and cayenne, if preferred, after adding the lime juice. Serve with lime wedges and additional toppings as desired.
Can I Make a Chili with Black Beans?
To make an amazing vegetarian chilli, delicately toasted spices, chipotle paste, tomatoes, and black beans are cooked together. This is a crowd-pleasing chilli to enjoy with guests and homemade guacamole. Try adding dark chocolate to your recipe for additional richness, like this vegetarian chilli. Kidney beans are the traditional chilli bean, but I don’t like how mealy they are, so I use black beans instead. In my white chicken chilli, I use Northern White or Cannellini Beans. Another option to consider is pinto beans. A mixture of beans can also be used.
They’re also a good substitute for kidney beans because of their high fibre and protein content. Black beans will give your food a Latin flair and a sweet and meaty flavour. Kidney beans can be used in casseroles, soups, and stews because of their creamy texture. This preparation of chilli con Carne is made easier with canned black beans. If you can’t find these, soak dry beans overnight and add them to the saucepan with the steak. They’ll take a little longer to cook. You may make a vegetarian version by omitting the beef.
What is the Best Way to Soak Black Beans for Chilli?
The simplest method is to soak the beans overnight or for about eight hours in room-temperature water. Ensure the beans are completely submerged in water (at least three to four inches). For the quick-soak approach, boil the dried beans for a few minutes in a pot of water (again, three to four inches of water on top of the beans) and then set them aside to soak for two hours. Char the outsides of the veggies before adding them to the vegetarian chilli for a smoky flavour. Soak for at least 24 hours. NOTE: Presoaking
black beans before cooking aren’t required, but I do it for three reasons: it shortens the cooking time, helps the beans cook more uniformly, and makes them easier to digest. Rinse and sort the dry black beans first. Remove any debris, such as stones, from the area. If soaking, cover black beans with about 4 inches of water and soak for 8 to 24 hours. They’re going to soak up a lot of fluids. After that, place the beans in a cooking dish and cover them with water. Last but not least, cook the beans according to the directions.
Is it Necessary to Boil Dried Beans Before Adding Them to Chili?
If you’re going to use canned beans, rinse and drain them before adding them to the rest of the ingredients. Is it necessary to boil dried beans before using them in chilli? It’s better to start with the beans. Tomatoes and other acidic foods hinder dry beans from cooking properly. If you add dry beans to chilli, they will never be fully cooked, leaving you with inedible crunchy bean fragments, and undercooked beans cause additional flatulence. Instead, soak the beans overnight in plain water before rinsing and adding to the chilli.
For the quick-soak approach, boil the dried beans for a few minutes in a pot of water (again, three to four inches of water on top of the beans) and then set them aside to soak for two hours. Char the outsides of the veggies before adding them to the vegetarian chilli for a smoky flavour. Drain the beans and place them in a big pot. Bring to a boil, covered by 2 inches of cold water; skim off and discard any foam on the surface. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, gently stirring occasionally. Drain and set aside the beans.
What is the Purpose of Adding Baking Soda to Chili?
It works by raising the pH of the meat, which affects the protein strands. The heat from the cooking process tightens these strands, but the increased alkalinity helps them relax, resulting in more soft meat. It’s easy to tenderize ground beef for chilli with baking soda. You might add a pinch of baking soda to your recipe to reduce the gassiness. Baking soda aids in the breakdown of some of the natural gas-producing carbohydrates in the beans. I put this to the test when preparing one of my favourite slow cooker dishes:
Sausage and red beans Baking soda provides sodium ions to the cooking water, weakening the pectin; more crucially, an alkaline environment causes pectin molecules to break down into smaller molecules, drastically weakening the pectin causing the beans to soften much more quickly. Cinnamon, strong coffee and dark chocolate contribute to an excellent chilli’s beefy flavour. Choose one of the following options: 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, one teaspoon ground cinnamon, one entire cinnamon stick, a shot of espresso, a small cup of strong coffee, or a few squares of good-quality dark chocolate.
Conclusion
Cooking this meal in the Instant Pot is also a breeze. (However, if you prefer, I’ve also included stovetop and slow cooker instructions.) It’s also freezer-friendly and ideal for meal prep if you’re searching for quick weekday lunches. Second, it’s gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan by nature. As a result, it’s the perfect soup to have to simmer, whether you have a group of friends over for the big game or a relaxing dinner night. Or, hey, it’s also great for a regular weeknight or a quick business lunch. Third, it’s made with healthy ingredients that you can be proud of. There are a lot of protein-packed black beans, a lot of vegetables, and a lot of fiery Mexican spices in this dish. Unless you want to add some meat, that is. Ground beef or turkey would be ideal in this scenario.
