I’ve been getting burned out on the traditional chili recipe.  Even after adding sweet potatoes, chick peas, etc it has still been coming out rather bland…  Here is a really easy chili recipe, made with lentils.  You can add additional veggies or beans to suit your taste.  It has a great chili flavor (heat it up by adding green chilies or jalepenos!), but it is also super nutritious due to all the lentils.

Ingredients:

• 6 and 1/2 cups water
• 2 and 1/2 cups dry lentils (green, red, any variety)
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 3T Braggs
• 2T chili powder
• 1 and 1/2 T cumin
• 2tsp basil
• 1 28oz (large can) of diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• ground pepper to taste
• OPT: add TVP or fake meat crumbles (one package) if desired

Steps:

1. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot.  Add the lentils and onion.  Return to a boil, then cover and simmer over low heat for about 35 minutes.  Stir occasionally
2. Add the spices and diced tomato, stir well.  Simmer for another 20 minutes.
3. If you want, you can add some fake meat or chili peppers here, but it tastes great without!  You can add the frozen crumblers, and let it warm up for another 5 minutes.
4. If you want a more tomato based chili- you can add a small can of tomato paste to thicken things up.

-It tastes even better the next day!  If it gets too thick, you can add some extra water- the lentils will absorb a lot as they cook.

Top with some Daiya cheddar cheese and some toasted crusty bread.  Enjoy!

-JD