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Apparently, I am all about black beans this week.
Didn’t mean to show you two black beans recipes in a row, they just happened. And you know what? I was even thinking about making black bean brownies this week, but I stopped myself because, I don’t know, is that weird? I feel like it’s a little weird so I am kind of skeptical. I mean, can’t I just make my brownies with loads of butter and all the good things that usually go into brownies?
Any thoughts on black bean brownies? I think I am just a bit too much of brownie purest to try them out, but I could be persuaded.
Ok, but let’s talk about serious things. Now that I am in my own place, I am finding the quiet while I cook kind of weird. Well, honestly I haven’t really been alone while cooking, except for on the weekends and even then, I have had workers coming in and out. BUT on the few days that it has been just me, I have been listening to Pandora to break up the quiet (remember I come from a family of nine, plus the “extras”). The thing is I am so tired of hearing the same stuff.
I need music suggestions. Currently I am listening to a lot of Taylor Swift Radio and umm, it is just so not doing it for me. I mean, I love T-swift, but I like a little variety, and when you are in the kitchen cooking for more than six or even eight hours, even Taylor can get old. And since I really haven’t had time to keep up with all the new music out there, I totally need some help. I thought of asking my brothers, but then swayed away from that in fear of what they might suggest. I mean, it could possibly good, but it could also be really bad. You never know with them.
So what do you guys like? I’m pretty open to everything… just not rap. I really cannot handle rap.
Also, music is like a million and one times better than screaming little girls. Just sayin.
Double also, chili loaded with beans and lentils is totally my new favorite! Who knew a vegetarian chili could pack in so much flavor and texture? Not my meat-eating brothers, that is for sure. And yes, they never even tried this. Losers I tell ya… with the exception of Brendan, because he will eat anything. Gotta love having him around!
Anyway, I made this spicy black bean and lentil chili last week while all of my family was still here because I knew that my cousins would eat a bean filled chili. I am not sure who actually had a chance to try it though since we had so many people and so much food in one house at one time. But people did try it and the reviews were good, and um hello, I clearly thought it was awesome.
I added some super fun toppings to mine, but if you are short on time, the chili is delicious solely on its own.
If you do have the time though, I highly recommend making the fries and most definitely the guacamole. It’s the perfect chili topper. Especially if you use the fries to sort of scoop up the chili and then get a little guac on there too. So flippin delicious and totally cold weather appropriate too!
Ok, so what else? The chili is super easy to make and there is a good chance that you’ll have all the ingredients on hand. It’s mostly just some spices, tomatoes, a little broth, lentils and black beans. I always have these foods in my panty, but I’m not sure if this is standard for most, since I try to keep a pretty well stocked pantry. While, I try, but it seems I am ALWAYS out of whatever I need and either running to the store or sending a family member…which may not be happing all that much anymore since I am now out of the family house.
Oh no.
Seriously though, don’t let anything scare you off from this recipe. If you’re short on time, simply make the chili. If you do have some time though, make the fun toppings too. Either way it’s a beyond delicious, cozy winter meal!
OH and extra healthy too! Yahoo!!
Spicy Black Bean and Lentil Chili with Cotija Guacamole + Chipotle Sweet Potato Fries.
Servings: 8 Bowls
Calories Per Serving: 863 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Chili
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 sweet onion diced
- 2 carrots chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced or grated
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon cayenne or more or less to your taste
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 4-5 cups veggie broth
- 2 cups green lentils
- 3 cups cooked black beans drained and rinsed if using canned
- 1 (28 ounce) jar spicy marinara sauce
- 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
- 1 1/2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce (optional not vegan friendly)
- sharp cheddar cheese for topping
Chipotle Sweet Potato Fries
- 2 large sweet potatoes cut into 1/4 inch wide strips
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 clove garlic grated
- 2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Cotija Guacamole (optional)
- 2 ripe avocados peeled + pitted
- 1 jalapeno seeded + chopped
- the juice of 1 lime
- pinch of cumin
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped
- 1/3 cup crumbled Cotija cheese may sub feta cheese
- salt to taste
Instructions
- In a large heavy pot over medium high heat, add the olive oil, then the onion and carrots. Cook until the onions have softened, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to cook for about another minute. Add the chili powder, paprika, cumin, cayenne and salt. Cook for about two more minutes or until everything is fragrant.
- Add the veggie broth (starting with 4 cups), spicy marinara sauce, tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce. Stir in the lentils. Crank up the heat to high, bringing the broth to a boil. Once it boils, reduce the heat to medium low, cover and simmer for about 20-30 minutes or until the lentils are tender.
- Add the black beans and cook for about 20 more minutes. Add the extra cup of broth, if needed to thin.
- While the chili is cooking, make the fries (if making). Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- Place cut potatoes in a large bowl and drizzle with oil. Add the garlic, chipotle chili powder, salt and pepper. Gently toss with your hands or two spatulas to evenly coat. Spread the fries among two baking sheets in one even layer. Bake for 15-20 minutes, then flip and bake for 15-20 minutes more at 400 degrees F. You want the sweet potatoes to be crispy, but not burnt.
- To make the guacamole, mash the avocados in a medium size bowl (I left mine pretty chunky, but go as chunky or as smooth as you like). Add the cilantro, jalapeño, lime juice, cumin, salt and pepper. Stir to combine and fold in the cotija cheese.
- Serve the soup in bowls topped with guacamole, sweet potato fries and cheddar cheese.
Now pass the spoons please!
Can’t wait to try this recipe. In need of healthy, filling, somewhat easy to put together recipes that will be an important part of getting healthier and experiencing more energy and less pain. Please help! 🙂 I, for one, am all for you trying out Black Bean brownies. Worse case scenario, they aren’t very tasty. Best case scenario, they taste awesome and are good for you too!! 🙂 You are not alone in making foods that some others in family won’t even try. It can get frustrating sometimes, but try not to let it get you down. Their loss.
As for music, I am wayyyyyyyyyy older than you, but here goes….Jesse Cook, Adrian von Ziegler, Rob Thomas, Motown Music, Carol KIng and James Taylor, oh and Jason Mraz. His music is very positive and uplifting. Saw him in concert this past year accompanied by Raining Jane and OMG!!! was blown away!
OK. Thinking by everyones comments that I need to try black bean brownies and that I need to come up with some more easy recipes like this. On it! 🙂
Thanks for all the suggestions, cannot wait to listen to them!
Can never have too many black beans. Looks amazing!
Thank you!
Just delish! Love the spiciness!
Thanks Robyn!
Wow – I love the lentils and beans in this – gorgeous, gorgeous photos!
So I am a huge fan of sneaking something healthy into an otherwise nutritionally lacking treat so I say go ahead and make them black bean brownies – I’ve had them before and you won’t even taste the black beans in them! Or, heck, even try putting lentils in them instead of the black beans – I made and fed my daughter some lentil chocolate pancakes once and she had no clue they had lentils in them!
Thank you!
Totally thinking about trying the brownies now! 🙂
This looks soooooo good, I’m totally going to make it this weekend. And I am all for a black bean brownie recipe. I made some last weekend but they were more cake-like than chewy-brownie-like, so if you can make a chewy black bean brownie I would owe you big time.
As for music, I’ve been listening to a lot of Trampled by Turtles. It’s great winter music.
Oh! Maybe I should give them a try! 🙂
Thanks for music suggestions too!
Thanks so much! Hope you love this recipe and thanks for the music suggestion!
I’ve been looking for a great lentil recipe and this one looks like it can do the trick! Lentils are one of those things that I’ve been skeptical to try, but you add a Mexican twist on it, topped with black beans? I’m sold! I absolutely love your photographs by the way. The attention to detail is amazing! So jealous!
Thanks so much, Heather!
I definitely will not try to pursued you into the B.B. Brownies~yuck! Brownies should be made with decadent chocolate, or why make them…I don’t like my indulgances to be disguised as health food.
Music, very eclectic taste, basically what “feels right” @ the moment. I Luv Pandora! Let’s you try new things & if you don’t like it, skip it, awesome.
Ok here goes a few: Black Keys, Citizen Cope, The Head & The Heart, Ziggy Marley, Jack Johnson, Fleetwood Mac, Muddy Waters, Andrea Bocelli, Mozert, Kings of Leon, Sia, C.C.R. Yeah I could go on & on! Ask your Bro’s, & your parents @ that, they all might surprise you. If not, that’s what the skip buttons for!
I so agree, but everyone is telling me they are delish! Thinking I might I have to try them!
Thanks for all these suggestions, cannot wait to try them!
Sweet potato fries!? How can anyone resist? 🙂
About music suggestions: yesterday my family and I watched The Hundred-Foot Journey (which, by the way, is a great movie!) and they had a few Hindi songs. Can I just say some of those songs are soo catchy and fun to listen to? Maybe you won’t like it, but I just had to let you know about it 🙂
Thank you!! I will so look into those songs! 🙂 I am open to anything!
Dang, this is definitely a big skillet of delicious! I love all these fun flavours 🙂
Thanks Katrina!
I made a pot of turkey sausage chili this week, but I love a good hearty vegetarian chili since we eat vegetarian most of the time…this chili looks perfectly cozy for these frigid temperatures we’ve been having here lately…ditto on the fries and guac!
Thanks so much! Your chili sounds delish!
Ok, I think the day has finally come for saying hi to you. Hi Tieghan, I’ve been following your blog for about a year now and am definitely in love. I’ve tried quite a few of your recipes and I’m blown away by your creativity. Everything has been delicious, and this chili looks like it’s exactly what I’ve been craving. It’ll get made on the weekend!
I’m also finally coming out of my cave in which I’ve been lurking and looking at your blog because you asked for music suggestions. I’ve just recently discovered First Aid Kit, a Swedish folk duo that just makes beautiful songs. Perhaps you’d like to give them a try? Or The Mendoza Line.
Anyway, thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes and photos and stories!!
WOW! Thank you so much! I am so excited you are enjoying my recipes, that makes my week!
Thanks for the suggestions, looking them both up now! 🙂
I love lentils and black beans and am pumped about a veggie chili! Plus, it’s perfect for this frigid weather. The toppings all look like a necessity to me. And that glimpse of your stove and counter….can’t wait to see!
THANK you!
Could use some heat in my food –It’s below zero here.
This looks like it will warm you up.
As for music I think I’m a generation gap here–I like the oldies.
It’s below zero here too and we love heat in our food too! And just the word “chipotle” = happiness. Cannot wait to devour those sweet potato fries. Black beans and lentils are cheap, awesome and tasty =)
Wow, stay warm!
Thanks Nancy!! 🙂
I like oldies too actually!
Sounds amazing, I love lentils!
Thanks!
I love love love your new blog design! (I know I’m late to the reveal party). This chili sounds like just the thing I need to warm up – and those fries on top? Swoooon.
THANK YOU!