Eat more veggies - with Veggie & Bean Chili

This vegetarian chili recipe is a great "Meatless Monday" meal that makes enough that it can also be enjoyed for lunch on Tuesday! Chock full of colourful, whole, plant foods, this chili is not only pleasing to the eye, but also contains a multitude of health-supporting nutrients from the rainbow of vegetables (*wink). Even if you can't find every last ingredient listed, you can probably still cobble together a pretty good chili from the items left in your fridge/freezer and cupboard. Plus,  it only takes about 30 minutes from start to finish to make it so dinner can be on the table in a flash! 
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Veggie & Bean Chili
by Tracey Ratelle-Westdorp, CNP
vegetarian
Serves at least 4, with leftovers

Ingredients

• extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 cans diced tomatoes
• 1 can red or white kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste, or canned pumpkin puree
• 1 bell pepper, any colour, diced
• juice from half a lemon
• 1 cup corn, preferably organic (optional)
• sea salt and black pepper to taste

Method

1. Place a large pot over low heat, drizzle in some olive oil. 
2. Add onion, garlic and celery, stir. 
3. Splash in a tablespoon of water, and place lid on pot just slightly ajar. 
4. Allow vegetables to sweat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding a splash of water if it gets dry. Be careful of steam.
5. Add cumin, oregano and chili and stir for about 1 minute. 
6. Add tomatoes and juices to pot, along with paste, beans, pepper and corn, if using. 
7. Simmer for about 20 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until vegetables have softened. 
8. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice, season with salt and pepper to taste. 

 * The vegetables and bean types in this recipe are flexible, use whatever you've got on hand.  
 **This recipe won't turn out very spicy, so if you like more heat, increase the cayenne pepper or add a whole chili pepper to the pot (or your own bowl!)

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