Photo by Kate Lewis, Copyrighted by Fair Winds Press
Cincinnati chili is similar to a regular meaty chili except it has unusual spices that you see more in pumpkin pie than an all-American stew. Traditionally it’s a meat chili that has kidney beans as an optional topping as well as shredded cheese and onions. Then oddly enough it’s served over pasta.
This one uses vegan ground and the lentils for the meaty texture. But don’t worry there’s a gluten-free and a soy-free option! The unusual spices blend in more than you expect, but there are Cincinnati chili lovers and haters. Because of the extra spices the ingredient list may look intimidating, but most things on the list are a quick measure and you’re done!
It’s only a few days before my new book, Vegan Slow Cooking for Two or Just You, comes out. I’ve been getting good feedback about the recipes I’ve posted here on the blog so far. Which dish are you looking forward to making the most?
Here are some of the other stew recipes:
Green Beans in Black Bean Sauce with Tofu
Potato, Greens, and Soy Curl (or Chickpea) Curry
Pear Chickpea Fall Stew:
Three Sisters Stew
Mother Stallard Bean and Barley Stew
Tomatillo and White Bean Chili
Heirloom Bean Chili Powered Up with Ancient Grains
Potato Cauliflower Curry (Aloo Gobi)
Creamy Veggie Curry (Navratan Korma)
Yellow Lentil Stew (Dal)
Wacky Cincinnati Chili
oil-free option*, soy-free option**, gluten-free option***
**This recipe uses a smaller slow cooker 1 1/2 to 2 quarts – you can double the recipe and use a 3 1/2 to 4 quart slow cooker
morning ingredients:
3/4 cup (144 g) dry black beluga lentils (You can sub in other lentils; the chili just won’t be as dark.)
1 1/2 cups (355 ml) water
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup (55 g) ground vegan crumbles, either store-bought or Make-Your-Own Gluten Crumbles (page 18) or use 1/2 cup (87 g) cooked quinoa for soy-free** and gluten-free***
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground hot pepper, such as chipotle
⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
Pinch ground allspice
Ground hot pepper of choice, to taste, optional
evening ingredients:
1 1/2 cups (270 g) diced tomatoes
Dash freshly ground nutmeg
Salt, to taste
2 to 3 cups (270 to 405 g) cooked pasta, for serving (***use gluten-free)
Traditional toppings, all optional: shredded vegan cheese (*omit for oil free), chopped onions, and cooked kidney beans
In the morning: Add all the morning ingredients to the slow cooker. Cook for 7 to 9 hours on low.
Thirty minutes before serving: Add tomatoes and nutmeg, taste, add salt, and adjust other seasonings as needed. Turn to high and cook 30 minutes more to incorporate the tomatoes into the chili.
Remove bay leaf before serving. Serve over cooked pasta and top with your choice of toppings.
YIELD: about 3 cups (580 g)
per 1-cup (193 G) serving (without pasta or extras): 181 calories; 1.9 g total fat; 0 g saturated fat; 7.4 g protein; 31.5 g carbohydrate; 4.6 g dietary fiber; 0 mg cholesterol
prep time: 10 minutes
cooking time: 7½ to 9½ hours