Chili Two Ways: Con + Sin Carne

Creating a combined meat and vegetarian chili for the same meal is a great way to accommodate different dietary preferences. Here’s a simple recipe for a versatile chili that can be enjoyed by both meat lovers and vegetarians:

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 zucchini, diced
• 1 carrot, diced
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 1 lb ground meat (beef, turkey, or chicken) – for meat option
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste

Optional Toppings:

• Shredded cheese
• Sour cream or Greek yogurt
• Chopped green onions
• Chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Base:
   • In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion and garlic, sauté until softened.
2. Meat Option:
   • If preparing a meat option, add the ground meat to the pot. Cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon. Drain excess fat if necessary.
3. Vegetarian Base:
   • If preparing a vegetarian option, skip the meat and proceed to add the diced bell pepper, zucchini, carrot, black beans, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, corn, and vegetable broth to the pot.
4. Seasoning:
   • Add chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine. Adjust the seasoning according to taste.
5. Simmer:
   • Bring the chili to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for at least 20-30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. If it gets too thick, you can add more vegetable broth.
6. Serve:
   • Ladle the chili into bowls. For a mixed meat and vegetarian option, you can serve the meat chili in one half of the bowl and the vegetarian chili in the other half.
7. Toppings:
   • Allow everyone to customize their chili with toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream or Greek yogurt, chopped green onions, and fresh cilantro.

By preparing a versatile base and adding meat separately, you can easily create a dinner that suits both meat and vegetarian preferences in one delicious bowl of chili. —Vita Daily