How to Find (or Create) the Perfect Vegetarian Chili Recipe
If you were a chili lover before going vegetarian, you may have thought that you'd have to give up the spicy, hearty, filling treat when you gave up meat. Luckily for you (and every other chili lover in the world), there is a vegetarian chili recipe out there to suit absolutely every taste.
The best part of chili isn't the meat at all - it's the way all of the ingredients come together to form a cohesive and unforgettable taste that's coveted the world over. These may sound like strong words about something as simple as chili, but it really is a dish that is loved around the world! Chili chefs from every corner of the globe try constantly to come up with the perfect chili recipe. Vegetarian chili chefs are no exception, and they are constantly striving to come up with the best vegetarian chili recipe.
Making Your Own Vegetarian Chili
There is no end to the variations you can use when making a vegetarian chili recipe! Some people prefer lots of beans, and others prefer almost none. Vegetables are a source of much debate in the chili community: some chili chefs insist that vegetables have no place in chili, while others swear by all of the carrots, bell peppers, and celery that they can fit into the pot.
No matter how you make your chili, you'll start with a few basic ingredients. If you're making a vegetarian chili recipe, you'll most likely be using beans since it's difficult to make a vegetarian chili without them. Water or vegetable stock will be the base of your chili, as well as some tomato sauce or a can or two of whole, un-drained tomatoes. If you decide to use vegetables, you'll need to chop them up into very small pieces.
Textured vegetable protein (TVP) is a meat substitute that is perfectly suited for use in your favorite vegetarian chili recipe. It comes in small granules that mimic ground beef in a recipe. For spicy chili, hot peppers are a must; if you prefer less spice, packaged chili powder may be hot enough for you.
No matter what else you put into your vegetarian chili recipe, the spices are what make the chili taste like chili. Cumin, chili powder, garlic, and onion all come together to complement each other perfectly and give your chili the classic taste that has won over taste buds all around the world.
