No exaggeration, this is the best vegan or vegetarian chili you will ever try. Thanks to a few key techniques, this baby has layers of complex flavors and an incredible velvety texture.
Most vegan chili recipes have you take so many shortcuts that you end up with a bowl of bean soup dressed up with some chili powder. But if you’re willing to follow the steps in this recipe, you’ll be rewarded with an authentic bean chili unlike any other.
In this post:
1. 5 Secrets for the best vegan chili
2. Step-by-step instructions
3. How to make homemade chili powder
4. Tips for making this chili
5. Frequently Asked Questions
6. Video Walkthrough
5 Secrets to Incredible Vegan Chili
1. Start with real chile peppers.
You might be tempted to use store-bought chili powder when making chili, but here’s why that’s a mistake (except in limited circumstances…more on that below!). Whole dried chile peppers, which are used to make homemade chili powder, add so much complexity in taste, the kind you can never achieve with store-bought chili powder.
Many dried chile peppers carry notes of fruit, berries, chocolate, coffee, and/or raisins, adding layers of rich flavors. And when you layer homemade chili powder with fresh jalapeños and canned chipotle peppers, you get layer upon layer of complementary warming flavors: smoky, fruity, grassy, all in one bowl of chili.
If you don’t want to take my word for it, listen to what professional chefs say:
“A bowl of chili starts with chiles.”
Texas-born chef Ben Berryhill for Fine Cooking
“The best thing you can do to up your chili game is to leave those jars of pre-ground chili powder on the shelf. Starting your chili with real, honest-to-goodness whole dried chilies will save you money, while adding layer upon layer of complex flavor that you never thought was possible.”
J. Kenji López-Alt for Serious Eats
“I think a lot of people really aren’t aware of how much natural sugar exists in [dried chile] peppers…it’s almost like having dried fruit in your dishes. So definitely [using dried chile peppers] is a much better way to make this dish than with chili powder ’cause you won’t get that sweetness in a chili powder.”
Rick Martinez for Bon Appetit
Plus, it only takes about 10-15 minutes to make chili powder, and it will stay fresh for 6 months. Which means you can make a killer chili whenever the mood strikes.
Note: Instructions for my homemade chili powder are in the second recipe card at the bottom of this post. While I think it’s worth making your own chili powder, I have tested this particular recipe with store-bought chili powder and it’s still great (because this recipe uses many other “secrets”/techniques to amp up the flavors).
If using pre-made chili powder, I recommend ancho chili powder (made from just ground ancho chile peppers). It’s more flavorful than the standard chili powder, which is a blend of seasonings.
2. Toast the spices
There are two reasons you should always toast your ground spices rather than just plopping them into liquid.
First, many spices are bitter when uncooked (taste a pinch of ground cumin or oregano, and you’ll know what I mean). As a result, your final dish ends up with bitter notes.
Two, when you toast spices first (in a bit of oil, usually after or along with the aromatics), you draw out their essential oils. This heightens the spice’s true flavor, so that you actually taste a hint of cumin or oregano in your final dish.
Takeaway: Always toast your ground spices (e.g., chili powder, cumin, oregano) before adding the liquid (e.g., vegetable broth) to draw out their flavor. The toasting will happen quickly, in about 30 seconds.
3. Boost the umami
Traditional chili has a ton of natural rich savory flavor from the meat. To add savory notes to vegetarian chili, it’s necessary to add in a little extra umami. In this chili, I do that in three ways.
First, cook tomato paste for a few minutes. This caramelizes it and unleashes the natural umami found in tomatoes, especially a concentrated form of tomato.
Second, add soy sauce, which lends a potent form of plant-based umami and saltiness that salt alone can’t bring.
Third, use whole peeled canned tomatoes and crush them by hand (they have more pure tomato flavor and no additives, compared to pre-diced or pre-crushed tomatoes).
Note: If you have vegan Worcestershire sauce on hand, it would be a great sub for the soy sauce.
4. Add some richness and body
Classic chili recipes are very rich, but many of the vegetarian chili recipes I tried online were more loose, like soup. To ensure my chili is very rich, I rely on a few ingredients.
First, red wine, which intensifies all the aromatics, spices, and chili peppers in a way that vegetable broth alone cannot. Also, it adds to the rich body of the chili (you’ll notice as the wine deglazes, the mixture becomes SO jammy). While beer is more traditional in chili, every time I’ve made chili with beer, it ends up too bitter for my taste.
Second, cocoa powder. It sounds funky, but lots of chili recipes actually add a small amount of dark chocolate or cocoa powder. Chocolate not only adds depth of flavor but also accentuates the fruitiness of the dried chili peppers.
Third, instead of using only pinto beans, I add in one can of navy beans. Since they’re so small, they partially disintegrate during simmering, which naturally thickens the chili.
Finally, masa harina, AKA Mexican corn flour. When stirred in at the end, it thickens the chili even more, gives it a velvety texture, and a nice subtle corn flavor. This chili recipe is already quite thick, so I’d say this ingredient is optional.
Takeaway: Chili should be rich both in taste and texture. Red wine, cocoa powder, and masa harina all contribute to that.
5. Slow simmering is key for texture and flavor
Many chili recipes (including a few of my old recipes!) tell you to simmer for just 30 minutes. You can get a good chili this way (if the other tips are followed), but chili is designed to be a slow-simmered dish.
This is because the flavors of chili always improve with a long, slow simmer. Slow simmering also contributes to a thicker, more unctuous consistency, so that every bite has the same flavor and texture (check out that velvety texture in the photo below!).
Takeaway: Gently simmer this chili for 1 1/2 hours (or up to 2 hours) for maximal flavor and the most luxurious texture.
Step-by-step instructions
Gather your ingredients!
Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions with a pinch of salt. Cook until nicely golden brown, about 10 minutes.
Add the garlic, jalapeños, and tomato paste. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the tomato paste darkens.
Add the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and Mexican oregano and stir vigorously for 30 seconds (for homemade chili powder, see the next section)
Deglaze the pot with the red wine, scraping up the browned bits.
Add the vegetable broth, and scrape up any additional browned bits. Add the pinto beans, navy beans, chipotle peppers in adobo, bay leaves, salt & pepper, cocoa powder, maple syrup, and soy sauce. Crush the tomatoes and add in.
Bring the chili to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours, stirring every 10 minutes, until thick and velvety.
Stir in the masa harina, if using, and simmer for 3 minutes, until further thickened.
Add the cilantro, lime juice, and vinegar. Taste, adding more maple syrup or lime juice as needed. Season with salt and pepper.
How to make homemade chili powder
I highly recommend making your own chili powder. It might seem daunting, but I promise it’s actually quite simple. If you’re unable to do this, substitute with store-bought ancho powder and check out the notes in the recipe card.
Where can I buy dried chili peppers?
You can find a variety of dried chile peppers at Mexican grocery stores, some standard grocery stores such as ALDI, as well as online. If buying online, I recommend the chili peppers from the brand Ole Rico. They are super fresh and have a much softer texture (an indicator of freshness) than other dried peppers I’ve tried. They also sell a three-pack of the exact variety of chili peppers I use in my chili powder! (affiliate link).
How to select dried chile peppers for chili powder
For complex yet balanced flavors, I use three different chile peppers. Check out the graphic below for the flavor profile, heat level, and substitutes for each chile pepper.
Tip: You can tailor the spiciness with the amount of chile de arbols you add. Omit entirely for a mild chili powder (same heat level as a store-bought chili powder). Add 2 peppers for a moderate heat, or up to 5 peppers for a spicy, spicy(!) heat.
Tips for working with chile peppers
First, open up the peppers to remove the seeds and membranes (they’re bitter). I find it’s easiest to gently tear open the peppers with my hands, but some people use kitchen shears. Be sure to wash your hands afterwards (or wear food-safe gloves if you have sensitive skin).
Second, toast the peppers. It releases their natural oils and reinvigorates them, giving the chili powder (and final chili) more complex flavors. We tested this recipe with untoasted chile peppers and it was good, but lacked some of the warm depth of flavor and tasted overall lighter and less complex.
When toasting the peppers, watch them closely and cook very briefly, maybe 1 minute per side. If they blacken or scorch, they get bitter. Small peppers, like chile de arbol, don’t need much time–maybe 20-30 seconds per side.
Allow the chilies to cool before grinding them. You’ll need a spice grinder (affiliate link), a high-powered blender like a Vitamix, or a food processor. Grind the peppers with the toasted whole spices until pulverized. Add in your pre-ground spices, blend again, and that’s it!
Tips for making this recipe
Balance the flavors:
A great chili should have “a rich, complex chile flavor that combines sweet, bitter, hot, fresh, and fruity elements in balance.”
J. Kenji López-Alt, Serious Eats
The reason I add maple syrup to my chili is that it sweetness balances both the spiciness and bitterness inherent in chile peppers. I finish the chili with lime juice and vinegar because sour flavors also mellow bitter tastes; they also enhance the umami found in soy sauce and tomatoes.
It’s critical to taste the chili after it’s simmered to see what flavors it needs more or less of. If you use a store-bought ancho chili powder, for instance, your chili might be slightly less bitter. So you won’t need as much less lime juice or maple syrup to balance it out.
Chili always tastes better the next day.
When chili rests overnight, the chili powder and spices have a chance to meld with the other flavors so you end up with a chili that has more harmonious flavors.
Adjust the heat to your tolerance.
As y’all probably know, I like my food very spicy. Here’s what I add to my chili, but this will be too spicy for most folks: 2 jalapeños (with membranes); 2 chipotle peppers in adobo + 1 tablespoon adobo sauce; and for the homemade chili powder, I add ~ 3 chile de arbol peppers.
If you don’t love spicy food as much as I do, here are different ways to scale back on the heat.
Jalapeños: use one pepper and remove the the membranes (I wouldn’t omit the jalapeños entirely).
Chipotle peppers in adobo: use just 1 chipotle pepper and 1 teaspoon adobo sauce.
Homemade chili powder: omit the spicy chile de arbol peppers (or use just 1 to 2 of them).
Frequently Asked Questions
Sure! I prefer a bean-based chili without any faux meat, but adding vegan ground meat is a great option if you want to add a more traditional meaty texture or taste. We tested this recipe with Impossible Meat’s plant-based ground burger.
Option 1: Cook the onions until lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Add in your vegan ground meat and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until it’s starting to brown, 8 to 10 minutes, adding a splash of water as needed to deglaze. Proceed with the rest of the recipe.
Option 2: Brown the vegan ground meat in a separate pan, then add it to the chili when you add the beans.
The alcohol does cook off, but if you don’t drink any alcohol, you can try replacing the red wine with 1/2 cup (120 mL) of red grape juice (no added sugar variety).
Or just deglaze with more vegetable broth. I’d suggest the best vegetable broth you can find. Imagine Organic is my favorite for store-bought veggie broth (rich and flavorful). For more deeply savory notes, you can try these “vegan chicken” or “vegan beef” broth powders (they are quite salty, so use less than the jar calls for) (affiliate links).
Your chili will have less complexity and body without the red wine, but it will still be good if you omit it!
With your favorite toppings, obviously! The toppings you choose help bring more balance to the final dish. For instance, vegan sour cream (I like Kite Hill or Tofutti brands) and avocado are great for cooling down the heat. Extra lime wedges and pickled onions bring a nice tanginess (find my recipe in the recipe card below). Cilantro and scallions offer a fresh contrast. Tortilla chips, obviously, add a nice crunch!
If you like adding a vegan cheese to your chili but don’t love store-bought shredded vegan cheese, a spoon of this Vegan Queso stirred in would be really good!
To stretch this chili further, serve it alongside warm corn tortillas (char the tortillas by placing them directly over a gas burner for ~20 seconds per side). Or, scoop over a bed of rice.
It’s also INCREDIBLE with my homemade cornbread, which adds the perfect slight sweetness to this chili.
In a glass jar in a dark place, like your pantry. When stored this way, it’ll stay good for 6 months!
Simply store in an airtight container in the fridge for 5 to 6 days. You can reheat on the stove (my preference) or microwave.
And yes, chili freezes great for 3-4 months. I prefer to freeze it individual-sized portions (it defrosts much more quickly). These Souper Cubes in 1-cup or 2-cup portions are great for that (affiliate link)!
There is really very little to no fat in this recipe besides the oil. I actually tried this recipe with half the amount of oil and it was less rich and harmonious in flavors. That’s because fat is an excellent carrier of flavor! The oil also enables the onions to get nicely golden brown and allows the full depth of flavor to be released from the spices.
I understand that some of my readers are oil-free, so if you must skip it, please stir some vegan sour cream or cashew cream in before serving!
Watch! How to make vegan chili
How to make the best vegetarian chili of your life
That’s all you need to know about making this incredible vegan chili! If you love this recipe, please rate and review it below!
The Best Vegan Chili
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 6 garlic cloves, chopped finely
- 2 jalapenos, diced (remove membranes for less heat)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 4 tablespoons homemade chili powder (recipe below), or store-bought ancho chili powder*
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon Mexican oregano (or 2 teaspoons regular oregano or marjoram)**
- 3/4 cup (180 mL) dry red wine, such as Malbec, Syrah or Pinot Noir
- 2 cups (480 mL) vegetable broth
- 2 (15-ounce/425g) cans of pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15-ounce/425g) can of navy beans (or other small white beans), drained and rinsed
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder (I prefer Dutch process cocoa powder)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 ½ tablespoons tamari or soy sauce if you have vegan Worcestershire sauce, you can use that
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo, chop the peppers + measure out 1 tablespoon adobo sauce**
- 1 (28-ounce/800g) can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand (include juices)
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt plus more as needed
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup, plus more to finish as needed***
- 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 3 tablespoons masa harina (Mexican corn flour) (optional)
- 1 cup (12g) cilantro leaves and tender stems, chopped
Toppings of choice
- Vegan sour cream or diced avocado
- Sliced scallions or chopped cilantro
- Shredded vegan cheese or Vegan Queso
- Quick Pickled Red Onions****
Instructions
- Read all the instructions and notes before getting started, especially about moderating the spiciness level.
- Heat a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, and once it’s shimmering, add the onions and season with a few pinches of salt. Stir frequently and cook the onions until nicely golden brown, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. If they start to burn around the edges, stir more frequently and/or add a splash of water.
- Add the garlic, jalapeños, and tomato paste, and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring very frequently, until tomato paste is darker in color. If it starts to dry out, add a splash of water and scrape up any browned bits.
- Stir in the chili powder, cumin, paprika, and oregano and stir vigorously for 30 seconds.
- Pour in the red wine to deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits. Simmer rapidly for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the smell of alcohol has cooked off and it's jammy.
- Pour in the vegetable broth, pinto beans, navy beans, cocoa powder, bay leaves, soy sauce, chopped chipotle peppers + adobo sauce, hand-crushed tomatoes + their juices, salt, black pepper to taste, and 1 tablespoon maple syrup. Stir well.
- Bring the chili to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a gentle simmer (this is lowest heat on my small burner). Take care to not boil or too rapidly simmer the chili, as it will break down the beans too much. Cook, stirring every 10 minutes, until thick and velvety and the flavors have melded together, about 1 1/2 hours (or up to 2 hours). Discard the bay leaf.
- Stir in the masa harina, if using. Simmer for 3 minutes, until the texture has further thickened.
- Stir in 1 tablespoon lime juice, the vinegar, and cilantro. Taste and add more lime juice as needed for tanginess and add up to 1 more tablespoon maple syrup for sweetness to balance any bitterness. Season with salt and pepper, as needed.
- Serve with toppings of choice, such as pickled onions, chopped cilantro, sliced scallions, vegan sour cream, avocado, tortilla chips, etc.
Notes
- Very thinly slice 1 medium red onion. Add to a large mason jar.
- Mix together freshly boiled water (3/4 cup or 180 mL) with 1/2 cup (120 mL) apple cider vinegar or distilled white vinegar. Add in 1 tablespoon organic cane sugar or maple syrup, stir until dissolved.
- Pour the hot liquid over the onions. Cool to room temperature, at least 30 minutes.
- You can serve now, but I prefer to refrigerate them for a more developed flavor
Homemade Chili Powder
Ingredients
- 4 ancho peppers*
- 4 guajillo peppers*
- 2 to 5 chiles de arbol**
- 2 tablespoons cumin seeds
- 1/2 tablespoon coriander seeds optional
- 1 tablespoon Mexican oregano (or 2 teaspoons regular oregano or marjoram)
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder or granulated garlic
- 2 teaspoons onion powder or granulated onion
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Using your fingers, remove the stem from each chili pepper and gently tear the peppers apart. You can use kitchen shears, but using your hands is easier. Be sure to wash your hands after handling the peppers, or wear food safe gloves if your skin is sensitive.
- Once the peppers are open, loosen all of the seeds and any membranes, or scrape them out. This is necessary to minimize bitterness.
- Heat a cast iron skillet or other heavy, dark pan over medium heat, but don't heat for too long. Add the larger chilies (anchos and guajillos) in a single layer without overlap. Toast just until fragrant, about 1 minute, maybe 1 1/2 minutes, then flip and toast for 30-60 seconds. Smaller peppers like chile de arbol need 30 to 45 seconds, so I toast those separately.***Take care not to scorch them or they will taste bitter. Remove and allow to cool completely. Take off the heat and allow to cool.
- Add the cumin and coriander seeds to the hot pan. Toast until very fragrant, about 45 to 60 seconds, shaking the pan or stirring frequently to prevent burning, until toasty and aromatic. Remove and allow to cool.
- Once cool, add the chile peppers and toasted whole spices to a spice grinder or high powered blender. If using a small spice grinder, tear up the chilies with your hands into smaller pieces and do this in two batches. Blend until the peppers and spices are pulverized.
- Add the ground spices (oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cinnamon). Blend until a fine powder has formed. Allow the powder to settle before removing the lid.
- Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months. Makes 12 tablespoons, enough for 3 batches of this chili recipe.
Notes
What can I use instead of maple syrup? Sugar? Date syrup? I don’t want to buy it just for this recipe :(
Hi Roth, any liquid sweetener such as agave, maple syrup or date syrup. If you use sugar you may want to dilute it in a bit of hot water first.
This recipe won my office chili cook-off competition against 8 other non-vegan chilis! Thanks for the recipe. I added a habanero to up the spice and used the store-bought ancho chili powder rather than making my own. I also used kidney beans, black beans, and pinto beans – I can of each. Thanks again!
Ahh, that is so cool! Thanks for sharing that with us, Sarah!
This came out amazing!! I had to use up produce in the fridge (carrots, celery, bell pepper) so I chopped em all up and used them with this recipe and oh my, the flavors are THERE. You can taste all of the layers of flavors and the vinegar and sweet maple, it’s SO GOOD. I also made your vegan queso recipe and mixed it in and it made it slightly creamy. Love your work girl.
Woohoo! We’re thrilled to hear you’re such a huge fan of the recipe, Katelynne! Thanks for sharing :)
I made it for my daughter, and she love it. I add the Beyond ground beef. It was delicious. She added cheese and she eat it with gluten free yehuda matzos
Aw, we’re delighted to learn you made the chili for your daughter and that you enjoyed it! Thank you for the comment! :)
Hi,
Love your recipe. Made it on three separate occasions now and its always a big hit. I’d really like to know the nutritional info for the homemade chili powder but for some reason it doesn’t seem to work!
Thanks again
Tim
Hi Tim, we’re delighted to hear you enjoy the chili! Are you just looking for the sodium content? Otherwise it will have 0g of the main macronutrients.
Absolutely delicious! I’m vegan, my husband is not, and we both thought this was one of the best chili recipes we’d ever had. I did use a few of the modifications mentioned in the recipe, I used only one jalapeno and one chipotle pepper. I used store bought ancho chili powder (I do want to try making my own in the future!), and as my husband wanted a more meaty chili, I followed one of the FAQ and browned a pound of Impossible ground meat and added it when I added the beans. It was so tasty, will definitely make this again!
Woohoo! So wonderful you and your husband are both big fans of the Chili :) Thanks for sharing that with us, Kimberly!
I absolutely love this recipe. I usually come back each time I want to make chilli, however I think something changed on the website and I am unable to follow the recipe on my phone, I am reading down the ingredients and instructions and keep getting sent back to the title, I think every time an ad reloads. This happened when I was trying to follow other recipes on your website as well. I had no choice but to take photos of the recipes and follow from there instead, any idea what might be going wrong? Anyone else experienced this?
This doesn’t affect my 5 stars rating this recipe is amazing.
Oooh interesting to learn, Mireille. Thanks for bringing that to our attention! Have you used the “print recipe” function? This brings the recipe, ad-free, into another tab which you can then look at there or just take screenshots. We also always suggest printing a physical copy of the recipe for ease of use! Cheers!
I hadn’t tried the print recipe button, I will, thank you. I can save the recipe but it would be a shame to loose website traffic, yours is my favorite recipe website right now and I want you to get all the ad revenues :)
Thank you so much for bringing that to our attention, Mirelle! We’ll definitely be looking into it. :)
That was happening to me today too in fact! Making it as we speak!
This unfortunately happens to me on quite a lot of the recipes too. I thought it had to do with ad pop ups…
You were not exaggerating even a little when you said this is the best vegan chili ever. My husband was totally blown away too! This will be a staple for life
Aw, yay! We’re thrilled to hear it, Tasia! Thanks for trying the recipe :)
This chili is so delicious! I was hesitant about some of the ingredients (red wine, cocoa…) but made it per the recipe and it is perfect! I made the “milder” version and it still had just enough of a kick to it. I didn’t get past Step 7, as I loved it so much at that point! Thank you for sharing the recipe. I froze some so my vegetarian brother can have some over a baked potato for his Thanksgiving entrée. Yum!!
Wonderful! Thanks for trying the recipe, Rochelle! And so nice of you to save some for your vegetarian brother on Thanksgiving. :)
This has become one of my family’s favorite recipes. My husband is a meat-and-potatoes guy and even he adores this chili (along with a few other’s from Rainbow Plant Life). This stuff is miles better than the other recipes I’ve tried, which I guess is not surprising since you need to toast and grind your own chilisThe end result is oh so worth it.
We are delighted to hear this recipe’s a family favorite, Erica! And that the all the work that goes into this chili makes it worth it :)
Why can I only give this 5 stars??? That’s not fair!
Making homemade chili powder was a game changer! The whole process yielded a delicious, deep, rich chili that was the most flavorful I’ve ever made…and I’ve been making chili since I was a kid! :D
Aw, so sweet of you Travis! We’re honored the chili was one of your favorites! :)
I made this recipe for the first time about a month ago. Since then, I have made it three more time. It is incredible!
Thanks for sharing, Danielle! We’re honored you’re such a fan of the chili!
Shoot, I’m so disappointed with my final product. Hoping it mellows out overnight.
I used the ancho chile powder recommended in place of the homemade chile powder, and I suspect that so much straight ancho without the other elements in the homemade blend might have been the problem. It actually turned out quite spicy (I had wanted to make it mild, so I completely omitted the jalepenos and adobos/sauce), and yes… bitter. I do love the addition of masa harina, chocolate and tamari so I think I may try this again with a good quality chile powder rather than ancho. I think it would be helpful to note somehwere how easy it is to burn the spices to turn them bitter, and how catastrophic that can be to the dish. I wonder if that was part of my problem although I never suspected I had burned any spices while I was cooking. Thanks for the recipe, I’ll keep trying!
Hi Christie, we’re so sorry to hear this happened to you. Did you stir the chile powder vigorously? Maybe next time turn down the heat and toast the spices for less time? We hope you have better luck next time!
My attempt also turned out quite butter and acidic. Not sure where I went wrong.
After leaving the chilli overnight and adding a tablespoon of brown sugar and a teaspoon of baking soda, the acidity/bitterness was corrected. With that issue resolved, I’m adjusting my review. This chilli is delicious!
Good to hear you were able to correct for the bitterness, KS!
Definitely did something wrong :(- I love your recipes, but tonight I made this chili and the cornbread. The chili came out very bitter, despite me cutting the spice, and I managed to burn the cornbread despite having made it beautifully several times before!
I may have burned the spices in the chili? I also discovered my cilantro had gone bad halfway through making it, so I didn’t have any to put in the chili, but it doesn’t seem like it’d impact it this much!
Hi T, yes burning spices unfortunately makes them quite bitter so that’s likely what happened. We hope you get the chance to try it again with the new knowledge/experience you’ve acquired! Glad you’ve enjoyed the recipes otherwise :)
Ummmm, can I hug you? This is the best chili I’ve ever had. I’m totally obsessed. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to make my own chili powder!🤯
So grateful for you, Nisha. You give us home chefs courage to be ambitious and it totally pays off. You took a risk and it paid off. You’re totally doing what you were meant to do. Thank you so much.
P.S. I’ll never buy store bought hummus again. 🥰
I said totally twice. 😒 I’ve had too much wine. 🤣
Aw, thank you for the kind words Camille! We’ve passed this message onto Nisha. We’re thrilled you’re such a fan of the recipes. Thanks for trying them!
I am not keen on chilli but too be honest didn’t have anything much to cook up, so I made it and all I can say is wow, I ate 2 dishes and my partner loved it,
Thank you I have been vegan for 30+ yrs but this beats everything I have tasted.
Janine wales U.K.
Awesome, Janine. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review!
I’m going to make this for a Halloween party…there will be 40 people. If I change the quantity here in the recipe, the quantities of the ingredients look so crazy. What’s the best way for me to tackle this? Thanks!
In a big pot.
Hi Jennifer, .33 is just 1/3 and .67 is 2/3 for measurements sake. Hope that helped!
It snowed a dust here in Lake Tahoe, Ca, that silent beauty prompting stews, dreams of taste buds satiated, warm dishes etc; so I sure felt good making this wonderful dish as falling flakes were turning the yard white. Almost a nod of approval to my head start on your chili; began the day before.
I have never toasted peppers to make chili powder, and so I thought it quite funny when I looked down at the hound that I was pet sitting and her droopy sad eyes were brimming with tears just as I felt a sting in my nose and chest. The histamines were rapidly loosening the tears, nose slowly moving from sniff to drip, and my throat cinched as I moved to the window for air. I relocated Daisy, the pup. I knew that I was alright because I am a tough old woman and I learn new things all the time. Paused for gratitude even. I am staying with an ex and all of a sudden; he comes running from the back bedroom with a towel fanning the cloud of an unseen invader, choking cough, lungs struggling to breathe, exaggerated fling of the front door, whirl of the fan, and asked me, “what the hell are you doing in here? ” I apologize profusely and explain my ignorance ( for I certainly did not know; as I had no experience roasting peppers) and offering to burn some vinegar, cross ventilation to back door, anxiously offering various other tricks of life’s hilarious happenings. Cause god does have a sense of humor. Satisfied for a moment my ex retired. I turned the burner off, ceased all preparations, and had peppers in a tight container within five minutes. Not quick enough though! Just as I breath a heavy stiff gulp of tested fume; out he pops again; arms flailing, “You just got to stop, that has to end right now, I don’t know what you are doing but go back to your trailer”. Don’t you just love that song by Kacey Musgrave of the same name. The very next evening, I put on that country music, I glided across the hardwood kitchen floor, moved my hips playfully, imitated the horse’s proud stance that begot the tango, and I hummed along with the Trailer song; ‘remember we are not friends, we’re just neighbors’, because if we were friends we would both be laughing and the event would forever trigger a giggle. Two things that I love came together; I danced, lingering only long enough to imprint a memory; and I fine- tuned my chili; bowing to the lesson, On second thought I will laugh; we’ve already shed tears.
Tammy, wow! Thank you for sharing your day surrounding chili, what a great writer you are! Please feel free to leave short stories anytime you make more recipes here! Thanks again.
Oh my goodness. This was delicious! I wasn’t sure about it, but I love so many recipes here, I decided to give it a try. I only used one chipotle pepper, and I used store bought ancho chili powder. The depth of flavor is wonderful! It’s really hearty, and perfect for the cool fall weather moving in. Thank you for pushing me out of my comfort zone, once again. :)
This is a game changer – This is the best chili EVER – Thanks!