We don’t often eat meatless meals around here.
Although we always eat (mostly) healthy dinners, they are mainly centered around chicken, and sometimes pork or steak. In other words, meat.
But never fish! Unless I’m making Lloyd a special meal. Neither of us love pasta enough to enjoy it as a main ingredient.
But, we both do love vegetables. I eat a salad every day for lunch, my snacks are usually crudités, and there’s always some sort of vegetable on the dinner table. But, I never think of a meal as a “meal” unless it involves animal protein. When I recently decided it was time to rid the freezer of leftovers and take inventory of the pantry, I found almost-one-year-old butternut squash mac and cheese, enchilada filling, cans upon cans about tomatoes, lots of chicken broth, and the mother load of black beans.
I knew I could supplement a few things I already had to whip up something delicious.
Good-bye meat dinner.
Hello vegetarian chili.
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili
Adapted from Eating Well
Yields 6 cups (about 3 servings)
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 4 tsp ground cumin
- 2 1/2 C water
- 2 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed
- 1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes
- 4 tbsp lime juice
- 1 C chopped fresh cilantro
- salt and pepper, to taste
- Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add garlic, onion and pepper, sautéing until soft.
- Add chili powder and cumin, stirring constantly. sweet potato and stir frequently.
- Add sweet potato and mix well. Add water and bring to a simmer. Cover, and continue to simmer until sweet potato is soft.
- Add beans, tomatoes and lime juice; increase heat to high and return to a simmer, stirring often. Reduce heat and simmer until reduced. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro.
- Before serving, garnish with fresh cilantro.
The only things I needed to purchase for this recipe were the sweet potatoes and a red pepper. Hello, wallet-friendly meal! Healthy and frugal? Love it! I’m always amazed when so few ingredients come together to make such a wonderful dish.
This is so flavorful and hearty that you don’t even notice the lack of meat. (I think a certain vegan would agree!) This pseudo-Mexican medley is perfect for the fall and winter months. Savory and spicy, this chili pairs fork-tender sweet potatoes with earthy black beans in a tomato based “broth” of sorts. The heat level is spot on, rounded out by fresh cilantro and lime juice which help brighten the dish. It’s nutrition stats are stellar, boasting high protein and low fat.
Most impressive, perhaps, is how filling the dish is. Best served with a sprinkling of fresh cilantro and a side of corn bread, one thing’s for sure: this dish won’t leave you wondering, “Where’s the beef?”
I’m always trying to sneak more veggie meals into our routine and this looks like such a great and tasty way to do it!
This looks heavenly. I’m gonna pass this on to my friends–vegetarian and meat-eaters alike!
I love this recipe!! I just made A Cozy Kitchen’s spicy vegan chili this week, and even though I’m not vegetarian, I’m in love with how hearty chilis like this are. Plus, anything with a) sweet potatoes and b) black beans is sure to make me a happy girl. Definitely bookmarking this one!
Black beans and sweet potatoes are one of my fave healthy combos. I just made chili last night – isn’t perfect for this time of year?!
I would LOVE this. Matt, however, doesn’t “like” sweet potatoes. Who says that?!?
easy – check
pretty – check
delicious – I’m sure it’s check!
I would love this!
Wow. Looks like heaven in a bowl. I want to try this with pumpkin!
Mmmm
I’ve made sweet potato black bean chili in the crockpot–now I need to try this version! Meals like this are the only thing getting me through the change in seasons
This looks warm and delicious!
Great chili! Never thought to use sweet potato, but why not?
Looks like a wonderful hearty chili. Love anything that is healthy and leaves you full!
This looks awesome! Love your purple bowls too!
I am actually the complete opposite…I almost never eat meat and if I do, its normally fish haha. So this chili is RIGHT up my alley because it’s all veggies. Not to mention it has black beans and that is like one of my most favorites!
veges are also a big hit in my house and this recipe will be most welcomed, esp with the black bean chilli added inside.
This looks delicious! Your purple bowl and plate = gorgeous!
We sometimes go meatless just to save a little on the budget!
Beautiful! These pics are awesome and this chili looks like something even my meatatarian self could get into.
If I don’t serve meat for dinner my family goes on strike. Full-on picketing out in front of the house strike! They do need to get over it because I keep trying. This chili is inspiring! I don’t use sweet potatoes much because I just don’t know what to do with them. This looks absolutely delicious!
I made sweet potato chili last spring and I loved it! It’s so hearty, you barely miss the meat, right?! Now I gotta make it again soon
I love this chili!! what a great idea to add the sweet potato!
Sweet potatoes in soup! Yum!
Loving all those huge chunks of sweet potato! I would love this.
This sounds fan-fricken tastic!!
@Laurie {Simply Scratch}, Thanks, Laurie!
@Lauren at Keep It Sweet, It sounds odd but it’s just so amazing!
@Sook, It’s so hearty!
@Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love., Totally bulks it up!
@Liz (Little Bitty Bakes), Exactly!
@Dionne Baldwin, Try this, make them think there’s meat in there and then tell them!
@Kita, I think you’d love this, kita!
@Jen at The Three Little Piglets, That was sort of what we were doing, with the pantry/fridge cleanout! How to stretch a dollar! This meal is SO cheap. Make it in bulk and freeze some!
@Becca @ Crumbs and Chaos, Thanks! The plates are from Wal*Mart and every time I use them in posts, I get compliments! So funny!
@Nava Krishnan, Hope you love it!
@RavieNomNoms,I hope you do try it!
@Happy When Not Hungry, Thanks. WalMart! Go figure.
@Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts, Agree!
@Belinda @zomppa, Totally works!
@natalie (the sweets life), Ooooh, I’ll have to use the crock pot next time!
@Lindsay @ Schnoodle Soup, He likes them. He just doesn’t know it!
Looks so delicious! Check out our website sometime soon @ bloomeveryday.wordpress.com.
We would love to share some of our recipes with you.
This recipe is right up my alley! Love the combination of sweet potatoes and black beans!
Mmm .. this sounds really delicious. We have been trying to find more meatless dishes to try since the price of meat has been going up in our area.
This sounds amazing! And it’s so pretty, too!
We don’t go meatless around here very often either….I usually have to talk the hubby into it!
Yummy! I make a similar recipe with butternut squash…same principle. I’m going to try it like this next time.
Wow! This looks so amazing! What a beautiful, healthy, TASTY recipe! I love sweet potatoes and black beans…and together? Wowza!