Chilli Mushroom Con Carne (Printer-friendly)

Savory mushroom and kidney bean chilli with smoked paprika, cumin, and Tex-Mex spices for a protein-rich vegetarian meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1.1 pounds button or cremini mushrooms, cleaned and diced
02 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 green chili, finely chopped

→ Canned & Beans

06 - 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
07 - 1 can (14.5 ounces) chopped tomatoes
08 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste

→ Spices & Seasonings

09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
10 - 2 teaspoons ground cumin
11 - 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
12 - 1 teaspoon ground coriander
13 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
14 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
16 - 1 teaspoon salt

→ Liquids

17 - 1 cup vegetable stock

→ Garnishes

18 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
19 - Sour cream or Greek yogurt
20 - Lime wedges

# How to Prepare:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions and cook for 3-4 minutes until translucent.
02 - Stir in garlic, bell pepper, and green chili. Cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
03 - Add diced mushrooms and sauté for 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until moisture releases and mushrooms begin to brown.
04 - Mix in cumin, smoked paprika, coriander, chili powder, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Add tomato paste and cook for another minute, stirring constantly.
06 - Pour in chopped tomatoes and vegetable stock. Bring mixture to a simmer.
07 - Stir in kidney beans. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and flavors meld.
08 - Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or chili powder as needed.
09 - Serve hot, garnished with chopped cilantro, dollop of sour cream or yogurt, and lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The mushrooms become incredibly savory and satisfying when they brown properly
  • It freezes beautifully and actually tastes better the next day
02 -
  • Don't skip the mushroom browning step, this is where all the savory depth develops
  • The chili needs that 20 minute simmer to properly thicken and meld flavors
03 -
  • Use a mix of mushroom varieties for deeper flavor complexity
  • Let the chili rest 10 minutes before serving for the best texture

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