Meyer Lomeli Vegetarian Chili

Complex, but very much worth it!

Ingredients

Group 1

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cups chopped yellow onion
  • 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • ½ cup diced peeled carrot
  • 8 ounces chopped cremini (or similar) mushrooms
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced

Group 2

  • 2 cans unsalted tomato paste
  • 1 ½ tbsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • ¼ tsp ground red pepper

Group 3

  • 2 14.5 oz cans stewed tomatoes
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup low sodium vegetable juice (V8 or veg drink)

Group 4

  • ½ cup uncooked wheat berries
  • 1 cup water

Group 5

  • 1 cup lager beer and/or 1 cup red wine
  • 2 tbsp liquid aminos (such as Bragg)
  • 1 14.5 oz can unsalted kidney beans, drained

Toppers

  • Sharp cheddar cheese
  • Diced red onion
  • Reduced fat sour cream

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in large pot and add Group 1. Sauté 10 minutes or until vegetables begin to brown.
  2. Add Group 2 ingredients. Cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
  3. Add Group 3 ingredients and bring to boil, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.
  4. Use a smaller pot to bring Group 4 ingredients to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
  5. Add Group 4 ingredients and Group 5 ingredients to main pot and cook 20 minutes.
  6. Serve with Toppings.

Serves at least six.