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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!
Hi Tieghan! Guac is like one of my original favorite foods ever and sweet potato fries I used to live on those in school but somehow never got sick of them! Supremely yummy post my friend 🙂
About muuuusic. Here is a trick that I’ve used to create about 30 Pandora stations (i now have enough now for every shade of cooking mood). All you need is one Pandora station to start. Lets say your Taylor Swift station. Next time a song comes on that you REALLY like, go to the options and select “start a new station from this song”. Eureka!! Now your station has androgynously reproduced! Keep doing this for songs you like from all stations you create. You might think you’ll get a bunch of duplicate stations this way but you’ll be surprised – they will each have a slightly different quality. Hope this helps! Rock on 🙂
So much yumminess!
I’m going to say it: we do not eat enough chilli in Australia. I think we are seriously missing out. I wish I had seen this recipe before I started cooking dinner today! Saved for tomorrow.
well as usual the food looks ah-mazing. I’m all for black bean chili.
Thank you so much!! Hope you had a good week!
This looks stupid delicious! I cannot wait to try it. Lentils = <3
Thanks Alexa!
You had me at sweet potato fries (those look incredible!!) and I love a good black bean chili!
Thanks Laura! And sweet potato fries get me every time too!
This looks waaaaay better than the lentil soup I made the other day. Pinned!
LOL! Thank you so much, Dorothy!
Yumm this looks so good!! Anything with black beans is definitely worth making twice in a week.
As for music
chill: James Blake, James Vincent McMorrow, William Fitzsimmons, Chet Faker
chill / edm-ish: Kygo, Flume, Rhye, Disclosure
Fun-ish: Haim, Chromeo
and Sam Smith because just yes.
Thanks so much and for all the music suggestions, I will so be checking those out!
I LOVE listening to Pandora radio while cooking! My fav is Coldplay radio. Classy stuff right there. And Tieghan, how do you keep outdoing yourself? Seriously! I love seeing how creative and daring you are in the kitchen! Keep it up, girl!
Wow, thank you so much! Your comments are always so encouraging!
This looks *beyond* amazing!! This combines pretty much all my favorite things – lentils, black beans, sweet potatoes, cotija, guac… I cannot WAIT to try it! This meal will pretty much make my week, I’m sure 🙂
THANK YOU! Hope you love it!
I have a seasonal vegetarian in the home – can’t wait to try this one!
Hope you all love it, Thanks!
This looks so good! Skinnytaste just posted a black bean brownie recipe that looks quite good. I have been thinking about trying them too. 🙂
Thanks Megan! So many of you keep saying the brownies look good, maybe I will try them! 🙂
Chipotles, chilli and sweet potato fries… YUM!
Black Bean brownies are awesome, avocado are even better- they’re so fudgy! Made them one time for my boyfriend and a few of our guy friends, said they wdre the best they’ve ever had. The added kahlua, roast hazelnuts and ton of chocolate probably helped!
As for music;
Tallest Man on Earth, Goldfish and Caravan Palace [both dancy but good], a bit of jazz and old stuff like Fred Astaire, I like podcasts too, The Thrilling Adventure Hour is fantastic if you like old time radio stuff [it’s not actually old time, just the style and is also a little odd but great!]
Really? Maybe I will try them than!
Thanks for the music suggestions, cannot wait to look them up! 🙂
The looks deelish! Give Jake Bugg a try (plus Sam Smith) they’re my spirit animals!
Thanks you so much and I will try them out! 🙂
As usual, looks totally yummy!
As for music, I wouldn’t be much help. Hard to find time for the music scene with 4 kids around. I mostly just listen to the Avett Brothers and Lucy Wainwright Roche a lot these days. However, have you tried any podcasts? Joy the Baker has a fun podcast. I LOVED the first season of Serial. The Unmistakable Creative interviews creative types and it’s really fun. Also, The JV Club is about people opening up about their awkward teen years. I find that listening to podcasts while I work makes the time fly by.
Thank you!!
And yes I can so get the whole hard to find time for music. I had way too many people (kids included) in my house before I went off on my own! Now it is way too quiet. ha!!
I will try podcast though, that sounds fun!