Vegetables usually conjure up images of boring, tasteless dishes. What most people don't know is that being a vegetarian doesn't mean sacrificing taste for health benefits. One way to prove that the stereotype is wrong is through a vegetarian chili recipe. A vegetarian chili recipe is simply packed with both taste and health benefits.
Chili Pepper
The specific country of origin of the chilli pepper is unknown to this day. It is clear though that from the time of the Spanish and Portuguese explorers to this day, chili peppers have become one of the most sought after spices.
Chili peppers come from several pepper species with varying intensities of hotness and flavor. A chili pepper's hottness can range from the slightly sweet bell pepper or from the completely mild to the extremely hot habanero. Other chili pepper types include poblano, chipotle, ancho, cayenne, tabasco and pimiento. Chili peppers get their distinct taste from the chemical capsaicin which is naturally resistant to both freezing and heat. Today, people can get their chili kick from related products like chili powder, chili oil and dried chili. Some vegetarians however would understandably still prefer fresh chili peppers for a good vegetarian chili recipe.
Health Benefits
Chili pepper aficionados would be pleased to know that chili peppers have great health benefits. One of the major benefits of a vegetarian chili recipe stems from the antioxidant content of chili peppers.
Chilies are known to have carotene and vitamin C which are potent natural antioxidants that help fight free radicals. Free radicals are rouge unpaired molecules that may build up due to oxidation and cause cell damage by stealing healthy molecules to pair with. These free radicals may be the cause of various illnesses including cancer. The vitamins in a vegetarian chili recipe neutralize free radicals by pairing with them.
A very popular health benefit enjoyed by vegetarian chili recipe lover would be the capsaicin, a natural pain reliever. A vegetarian chili recipe with enough capsaicin can diminish substance P which is responsible for sending pain signals. Capsaicin in a pure vegetarian chili recipe can decrease the sensation of pain without making a person loose complete sensitivity.
Studies to discover more health benefits of the chili pepper are being currently undertaken. Among those health benefits tapped by experts are that chili can improve digestion and metabolism, improve appetite, decrease levels of bad cholesterol and improve blood circulation. It is also quite clear that chilies have an indirect way of managing our bodies' sodium levels. A flavorful chili dish simply cuts our need and craving for more sodium.
Vegetarian Chili Recipe
You may have possibly heard how vegetarian cooking can be nutritionally unbalanced for its lack of protein. Now, that no longer holds true. You can always get enough protein by combining tofu and beans in a flavor filled chili recipe. Chili however is almost always best tasting in a recipe pot that is generously filled with garlic, onions and tomatoes. You can also try a little variety by experimenting with a little red wine or natural fruit juice in a chili recipe pot.
Best Vegetarian Chili Recipe
Of the two recipes, one is for the average palate, and the other is for those who like something spicier.
* Simple Vegetarian Chili
This chili recipe is simple and easy to prepare. You will need the following ingredients:
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 can of diced tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 can of pinto or black beans, drained
- 1 can of kidney beans, drained
1. Get a large soup pot, and add the olive, onion, garlic and bell pepper to the pot. Saute for about 4 or 5 minutes.
2. Add the tomatoes, vegetable broth and chili powder to the pot. Stir the mixture together.
3. Add the black beans and kidney beans to the mixture. Set heat to medium-low when doing so.
4. Now, cook the chili for a minimum of 20 minutes, and stir the mixture from time to time. If you have enough time, you can reduce the heat and let the chili simmer for a while. Usually, the chili flavor is more enhanced with longer cooking.
* The Spicier Vegetarian Chili
If you are addicted to hot and spicy chili, I also have one recipe for you.
For this recipe, you will need:
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes
- 4 tablespoons of chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon each of cumin, red pepper flakes, and salt
- 1 1/2 cups of hot salsa
- 1 cup of water
- 3 cans of kidney beans
1. Put the the olive oil, onions and garlic into a large soup pot, and saute for about 4 minutes.
2. Add to the pot the tomatoes, cayenne, chili powder, cumin, red pepper, salt, hot salsa and water. Stir the mixture, and then set heat to medium-low and let it simmer for about 30 minutes. Stirring occasionally during the simmering.
3. Now, add the bean to the pot, and let the chili simmer for another 30 minutes. After that, your spicy vegetarian chili is ready!
Now, if you are still skeptical about whether you will have to give up your favorite palate to switch to the vegetarian diet, you can simply give these two vegetarian chili recipes a try. I hope you will be happy with your new finding.
Both Diana Pells & Kelly Limpert are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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All The Fairy Tales Heffernan, Virginia 2007, Nov 18th Sweeping the Clouds Away.
