Easy peasy one pot lentil bean chilli

Or curry, or stew, or dahl (?!). I actually never knew how to name this masterpiece. But hey, it’s easy, it’s filling, it’s healthy, it’s cosy and warming – a real comfort food. It’s just perfect now – when we have to leave our summer joys in a memory box and slowly get ourselves ready for rainy days, dark evenings and frozen feet (I do have this).

Recipe is very easy – that’s how I like it (I bet you like it too). You don’t need to buy hundred different items to follow this recipe. At last I always have these ingredients in my kitchen because I am following a plant-based diet, so veggies and legumes are always waiting there to be eaten (that sounds weird). But yes, I believe that you have lots of veg in your fridge (if no – go and buy it!). I promise that you will love it and your family will love it too.

What we need?

1 medium red onion
1 large carrot
1 red pepper
1 can chopped tomatoes
1 can black beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can butter beans (optional)
1/2 can sweetcorn
1 cup red lentils
1/2 cup green lentils (optional)
2 cups water
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 vegetable stock cube

Spices:

1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp chilli flakes (or maybe more)
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
salt and pepper

How are we doing this?

1. In a large pot cook onion until soft. Add shredded carrots and red pepper. Mix and cook everything for 3-4 minutes.
2. Add all the spices with tomato paste and mix everything together. Add that one can of chopped tomatoes and let it boil for 3-4 minutes.
3. Pour 1 and ½ cup of water and lentils to your pot, cover it and let it cook for 10 minutes. Don’t forget to mix a few times and check if you need some more water as lentils might absorb a little bit of it.
4. Ok, after 10 mins it’s time to add all the beans and sweetcorn to our lentil soup. Reduce the heat, cover the pot and let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until lentils are nice and soft. Check the taste – maybe you need more spices?
5. Once it’s done – feel free to serve this amazing chilli with rice or cauliflower rice or potatoes, tortilla chips, jalapenos and avocado. Yummy yum yum!

Enjoy!