Thick, smoky chili with roasted vegetables, fire roasted tomatoes, and three kinds of beans. Cocoa and soy sauce add savory depth without any sweetness.
Enhanced to pair with skillet cornbread, scallion rice, roasted potatoes, or baked sweet potatoes. Roasting vegetables is the key to depth in this version. It prevents watery chili and builds natural sweetness.
Cocoa powder is not for sweetness. It mimics the earthy depth found in long simmered chilis. Soy sauce boosts umami without tasting like soy.
Ingredients
Scale
Measurement units
- 1 whole onion
- 2 whole bell peppers (any color)
- 1 piece zucchini, large dice
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 clove garlic cloves
- 1 whole jalapeno
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 28 oz fire roasted crushed tomatoes
- 15 oz black beans
- 15 oz kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 oz pinto beans
- 1 whole chipotle pepper in adobo
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp cilantro
Ingredients
Scale
Measurement units
- 1 whole onion
- 2 whole bell peppers (any color)
- 1 piece zucchini, large dice
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 clove garlic cloves
- 1 whole jalapeno
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 28 oz fire roasted crushed tomatoes
- 15 oz black beans
- 15 oz kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 oz pinto beans
- 1 whole chipotle pepper in adobo
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp cilantro
Instructions
Roast the vegetables
Heat oven to 425°F. Toss onion, bell peppers, and zucchini with olive oil and salt. Spread on baking sheet and roast 20 minutes until edges brown. Set aside.
Equipment
- baking sheet
Ingredients
- onion (1 whole), large dice
- bell peppers (any color) (2 whole), large dice
- zucchini (1 piece), large dice
- olive oil (2 tbsp)
- salt (½ tsp)
Toast the spices
Warm olive oil in Dutch oven over medium heat. Add minced garlic and jalapeño. Cook 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant.
Equipment
- large Dutch oven
- wooden spoon
Ingredients
- olive oil (2 tbsp)
- garlic cloves (4 clove), minced
- jalapeno (1 whole), minced
Add the spices
Add chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, cocoa powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir 30 seconds. Add tomato paste and cook 1 minute more.
Equipment
- large Dutch oven
- wooden spoon
Ingredients
- chili powder (2 tbsp)
- cumin (1 tbsp)
- smoked paprika (1 tsp)
- dried oregano (1 tsp)
- cocoa powder (½ tsp)
- salt (1 tsp)
- black pepper (½ tsp)
- tomato paste (1 tbsp)
Add the beans and stock
Stir in crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, chipotle pepper, soy sauce, and roasted vegetables.
Equipment
- large Dutch oven
- wooden spoon
Ingredients
- fire roasted crushed tomatoes (28 oz)
- vegetable broth (1 cup)
- chipotle pepper in adobo (1 whole), minced
- soy sauce (1 tsp)
- onion (1 whole), large dice
- bell peppers (any color) (2 whole), large dice
- zucchini (1 piece), large dice
Simmer to develop
Add black beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans. Stir to combine.
Equipment
- large Dutch oven
- wooden spoon
Ingredients
- black beans (15 oz), drained and rinsed
- kidney beans (15 oz), drained and rinsed
- pinto beans (15 oz), drained and rinsed
Adjust the consistency
Bring to simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and deeply flavored.
Equipment
- large Dutch oven
- wooden spoon
Finish and serve
Stir in lime juice, taste, and adjust salt or chipotle as needed.
Equipment
- large Dutch oven
- wooden spoon
Ingredients
- lime juice (1 tbsp)
- cilantro (¼ cup)
Rest the before serving
Serve with sour cream or Greek yogurt, sharp cheddar or pepper jack, diced red onion, fresh cilantro, lime wedges, and tortilla strips.
Before you cook
Cook notes
- • Enhanced to pair with skillet cornbread, scallion rice, roasted potatoes, or baked sweet potatoes.
- • Roasting vegetables is the key to depth in this version. It prevents watery chili and builds natural sweetness.
- • Cocoa powder is not for sweetness. It mimics the earthy depth found in long simmered chilis.
- • Soy sauce boosts umami without tasting like soy.
- • For lighter heat, remove seeds from jalapeno or omit chipotle.
- • For thicker chili, simmer uncovered the final 10 minutes.
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