anthony's quick and easy vegan chili

     I am so lucky to have a boyfriend that enjoys good food as much as I do. We are both talented in the kitchen and we both have our specialties that only that person makes because it comes out best that way. Whenever we want something like seared salmon, for example, I am the go-to cook that night. But chili on the other hand...that's Anthony's turf.

     His version originated from - you guessed it - cleaning out the pantry one day. And to be honest, each time he makes it the vegetables involved are a little bit different, but in my opinion this is his best combo. He loves that it is easy to make and I love that it cooks up quick...that means less time from stovetop to belly!

     And what else do I love about it? It's vegan and full of beans and veggies, so I don't feel guilty about eating it. Served with a piece of seedy whole grain bread is fantastic, but you could even top nachos with it on days you want to indulge a bit without overdoing it!

     Anthony enjoys cooking for other people just as much as I do, and I am so happy to share his wonderful chili recipe with you.

Anthony's Quick and Easy Vegan Chili
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: about 30 minutes
Servings: 2 people


You Will Need:

• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 6-8 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1 TBS olive oil
• 8oz white mushrooms, diced
• 15oz can chili beans (mixture of pinto, dark red kidney, and black), drained and rinsed
• 1 medium zucchini, diced
• 28oz can diced tomatoes
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 tsp sriracha
• 1/4 tsp salt, plus more to taste
• 1/4 tsp black pepper, plus more to taste

1. Add onion and garlic to a medium-large pot with olive oil on low heat. Sauté until softened and slightly browned, about 5-7 minutes.
2. Add the mushrooms, stir, and let cook for another 2 minutes.
3. Add the beans and zucchini and let cook for 8-10 minutes stirring occasionally, until zucchini starts to soften.
4. Add tomatoes and all spices (rest of ingredients) and stir. Let simmer for about 15-20 minutes, to let flavors combine. Add more salt and pepper to taste, if desired.

What veggies do you like to have in chili?