California Walnut Chili

Vegan and vegetarian chili comes in many different styles, but this will easily become your favorite. The classic flavors and traditional stick-to-your-ribs texture are hard to beat! Often, vegan chili ends up being nothing more than a thin, tomato-y, vegetable stew. But not this one! Seriously, this isn’t your average vegan chili. Give it a try, share it with friends, and don’t be surprised when everyone asks for the recipe!

How to make California Walnut Chili

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon vegetable or olive oil
• 1 cup diced onion
• 2 cups prepared red salsa
• 1 1/2 cups California walnuts, chopped
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 (15-oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15-oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 minced chipotle pepper in adobo sauce plus 1 to 2 teaspoons adobo sauce from can (optional)
• 1 (4-oz.) can diced green chiles (optional)

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 5 minutes or until softened.
2. Add salsa, walnuts, water, beans, tomato sauce, chipotle pepper and adobo sauce and chiles, if desired. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes.

What to Serve With Vegan Chili

Here are a few ideas for toppings and pairings. What’s great about chili is that you can customize it to suit your tastes and dietary needs, such as gluten-free, vegan, low-fat, etc. You can’t go wrong with any of these classic chili toppings, whether you’re simply garnishing your own bowl or planning to set up a chili bar for a party!

• chopped green onion and cilantro
• vegan queso fresco
• pico de gallo
• guacamole or diced avocado
• corn salsa
• vegan bacon bits
• pickled red onions
• shredded cheese: we recommend vegan cheddar shredded Mexican-style cheese
• non-dairy sour cream: store-bought or try this homemade vegan sour cream
• plain yogurt: for a dairy-free option try my tofu yogurt, cashew yogurt, or almond milk yogurt

Can I freeze leftover chili?

Yes, chili freezes very well. Let it cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe storage container and freeze for up to 2 months.

Source: California Walnuts