Fall Harvest Vegetarian Chili with Kale

Fall Harvest Vegetarian Chili with butternut squash, sweet potato, and black beans. A delicious meal for celebrating fall!

It’s been chilly lately!…

Somewhere in the Unites States…

Not here. Not yet.

Seriously, I’ve been trail running in a tank top over the last week, and I’ve got a tan to show for it. A TAN, people!

BUT in spite of our unseasonably warm weather here in the western part of the U.S., it’s still harvest season. And it’s still chili season. Because every season’s chili season as far as I’m concerned.

So…I harvested some chili for you!

Okay, that was a lie.

I didn’t harvest anything. There’s no such thing as a Bowl of Chili plant that’s just free for the harvesting (or else I’d harvest that thing to.the.ground, because chili’s what dreams are made of).

Don’t let the Bowl of Chili plant thing be a day wrecker.

In other good news, I bombarded a stockpot with harvested-by-others fall produce items, and created a belly-warmer pot o’ golden deliciousness.

And the ingredients?

Not exactly your run-of-the-mill chili ingredients. You’re just gonna have to take a flying leap of faith and trust me for this carpet ride, Jasmine, because this flavor combo will make you sing A Whole New World (and/or some sort of Sarah Brightman song). In vibrato, my friends. In.vibrato.

You guys, I’ve made a discovery that I deem to be very pertinent and crucial to your life. Ready for it?

Apples in your chili. For real. Add a legit apple to your chili foods…it will make your taste buds swoon slash sing. In vibrato.

Also pertinent and crucial to your life: butternut squash, sweet potatoes, kale, and black beans. 

For the love of Jiminy Cricket, this freshly harvested vegetarian chili will dishevel your gizzard like a flock of wild wombats.

While this recipe is vegetarian, you can absolutely add your choice of animal protein to it.

I’ve tried this exact recipe using chicken broth (instead of vegetable broth) and ground bison, and it turned out marvelously. You can also use ground turkey or beef, shredded chicken, or tofu.

Additionally, you can add a can of diced tomatoes if that’s your jam!

Fall harvest vegetarian chili…it’s the apple of your eye.

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Fall Harvest Vegetarian Chili with Kale

Yield: 4 Servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

A simple yet delicious vegetarian chili recipe with butternut squash, sweet potato, black beans, and more!

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Ingredients

Fall Harvest Vegan Chili:

• 2 tablespoons grapeseed or olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• ½ small butternut squash, (3 cups), peeled and chopped
• ½ medium sweet potato, chopped (11/2 cups)
• 1 honeycrisp apple, peeled, cored, and chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth*
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 4 cups dino kale leaves, tightly packed
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

For Serving:

• Sour cream/plain yogurt
• Fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions

1. Add the first 6 ingredients to a large stock pot and heat to medium.
2. Sauté, stirring frequently, until mixture is very fragrant and veggies begin to soften, about 10 minutes.
3. Add the next 5 ingredients (spices + salt), and continue sautéing for 2 minutes.
4. Add the last four ingredients and stir well. Cover pot and bring to a boil.
5. Lower the heat to a simmer and continue to cook at a gentle boil for 20 to 30 minutes, or until vegetables have softened.
6. Serve with a dollop of plain yogurt or sour cream and fresh cilantro.

Notes

*You can also use low-sodium chicken broth.

Nutrition Information

Yield 4 Serving Size 1 Serving
Amount Per Serving Calories 320Total Fat 8gUnsaturated Fat 0gCarbohydrates 57gFiber 15gSugar 20gProtein 9g