Easy Corn & Black Bean Chili | Vegetarian Chili Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to amazing chili? ›

Elevate your chili recipe by adding an extra layer of flavor. Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight.

Additional Depth of Flavor

Ingredients like tomato paste, cinnamon, coffee and liquid smoke can all add flavor hints that will make your chili cook-off entry unique. Roast your vegetables and use broth or beer instead of water for even more flavor in your pot.

When your bean mixture and spices are cooking down and thickening up, add the corn cobs. This low-and-slow heat will pull the flavors out of the cob and imbue your chili with a floral sweetness. Remember to remove them before you add the fresh corn kernels (cobs don't make a great garnish).

The best beans for chili are pinto, kidney, and black beans, like in this easy and tasty recipe. This 3-bean chili freezes great for meals later in the week. If you prefer thinner chili, add an extra can of tomato sauce. The green chiles are not hot and add a wonderful flavor, so don't be afraid to use them.

Add a Little Chocolate

A couple tablespoons of cocoa powder or baker's chocolate will add further depth and richness to your chili recipe. If you like Oaxacan-style mole, you will love the flavor cocoa adds to a pot of chili. Start with a tablespoon of cocoa powder for every gallon or so of chili.

Spices– chili powder, ground cumin, sweet paprika, and ground coriander. Brown Sugar– this is a must when making chili! It adds a sweetness that really balances the flavor.

Raw meat and pot of chili are two things that just don't belong together. If the recipe includes any type of ground meat, bacon, chorizo, or cubes of beef, it should always be browned first. Try this: The first order of business before adding anything else to the pot is to brown any meat in your recipe.

The chili tastes completely different without the brown sugar so if you like a subtle sweetness in your chili then you've just got to go for it! Trust me, it will not make your chili taste like candy. It's all about balance between spicy, smoky, and sweet.

What cheese is best for chili? ›

What kind of cheese goes well with chili? Any kind of shredded cheese would be good on chili but my favorite is definitely shredded sharp cheddar cheese. White cheddar, mozzarella, smoked gouda, and pepper jack cheese are other great toppings for chili.

Diced Tomatoes: I prefer to use “petite diced tomatoes” because the chunks are smaller and I find that they incorporate into the final dish much better than the much larger chunks that you find in regular diced tomatoes.

Sugar is used to cut the acidity of the tomatoes used in my homemade chili recipe. Using a small amount of sugar balances the flavors which in turn creates a smoother and richer taste overall.

Stirred into the pot right before serving, a spoonful of vinegar brightens up the finished product, and gives it that full, rounded taste that was missing. Even if the chili recipe you're using doesn't call for vinegar, go ahead and add it anyway.

Spice it up a little

Or go a little spicier by using sliced fresh jalapenos or serrano peppers. Finally, you can add ground cayenne pepper or canned chipotles in adobo to create a really spicy kick.