Description
Meatless lentil chili with simple ingredients and flavorful spices. It’s wholesome, filling, and makes one easy weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 large red bell pepper, chopped
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tsp. chili powder
- 1 (16 oz.) bag dry brown lentils
- 2 (14.5 oz.) cans diced tomatoes
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 (32 oz.) cartons vegetable stock
- 1/3 cup fresh chopped cilantro
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
To Serve
- Red onions, minced
- Jalapeño, thinly sliced
- Cilantro, chopped
- Limes
Instructions
- In a large heavy-duty dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and red bell pepper. Cook for about 8-10 minutes or until soft and lightly browned, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in garlic and chili powder and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add lentils, tomatoes, bay leaf, and stock. Season generously with salt and ground black pepper. Simmer partially covered over medium-low heat for 30 minutes or until lentils are tender. Remove from the heat and discard the bay leaf.
- Transfer 3-4 cups of chili into a food processor and process until smooth. Add the puréed chili back into the pot and stir to combine. Taste for salt and pepper.
- Stir in cilantro and serve with toppings of choice.
Notes
- Add-Ins: This lentil chili is very adaptable. See post for a full list of add-in ideas.
- Leftovers: Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days or for up to 3 months in the freezer. Chili will thicken the longer it sits. If desired, thin out with a little stock when reheating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 231
- Sugar: 5.6 g
- Sodium: 588.1 mg
- Fat: 3.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 39.2 g
- Protein: 12.9 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
