This Vegan Red Lentil Chili is quite simply amazing. The flavors are perfectly melded and comforting with just the right amount of spice. As with some of my favorite dishes, you can totally modify this recipe for what you have on hand…have an extra carrot? Add it, have an extra vegetable that you’ve been wanting to use? Throw that in there too!
A few weeks ago I was part of a Lent cooking class where I shared (and did a little cooking demonstration) on how to make Spice Rubbed Tilapia Tacos (it’s one of my old recipes, so please excuse the post.)
<– Also, please note how awkward/nervous I look, but it was really fun, and I learned that making Tilapia tacos for 20+ requires quite a lot of pans!
While all the dishes that were served and demonstrated were delicious, I kept coming back to the Lentil Chili…it was so good and I kept thinking ‘it shouldn’t be this good, how is it so good? I need to make this when I get home’
Luckily, a packet with all the recipes was handed out, and so today I’m sharing this delicious recipe with a few small edits, original recipe and demostration shared by Jean P.
Making the chili is super easy, just cook up some vegetables with seasonings, put them in a crock pot with Red Lentils and then come back after a few hours and voila, you’re all done!
For the lentils I used Bob’s Red Mill brand Red Lentils, they can be found in the flour isle in the grocery store – or by the rice (I’m not affiliated with Bob’s Red Mill, I just happen to use and love their products.)
Now on to the recipe, and like I said earlier, feel free to add more veggies (I spoke with my mother in law who also made this vegan chili and she said she added a lot more veggies!)
Ingredients
- 1 Tbs olive oil
- 1 medium red onion chopped
- 2 carrots chopped
- 1 celery stalk chopped
- 1 red bell pepper
- 2 Tbs chili powder
- 1 Tbs paprika
- 2 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 2 14.5oz each cans diced tomatoes (I used zesty mild green chile tomatoes)
- 1 Tbs salt
- [16 oz dried red lentils]
- 6 cups vegetable broth
Instructions
- Start by chopping all the veggies. Cook onions, carrots, celery, and red bell pepper in a frying pan in the olive oil over high heat. Add all the seasonings and cook the veggies for about 5 minutes.
- In a crock pot empty the two cans of diced tomatoes, the red lentils, vegetable stock, and the sauted vegetables. Cook for 4 hrs on high or 6-8 hrs on low. Turn heat off, stir, and let sit for half an hour, then serve and enjoy!
Andy says
I’m confused about red pepper. It’s not in the ingredients but it’s mentioned in the instructions. Is that the chili powder? Or maybe a red bell pepper?
Sweetphi says
So sorry, my mistake! It is red bell pepper (it’s still good without it though!) I updated the recipe card. Again, apologizes and thank you for pointing that out!
ANDY says
Ok, sounds good.
I’m eating it now without the celery in case my wife wants some. I put in a 15 ounce can of black beans right at the end to just warm them up. I like a few beans.
It’s very good. I’ll be making this one regularly! Thanks!
Sweetphi says
I’m so happy to hear that, thank you for the feedback!!
Ashley says
This chili sounds wonderful! I’ve been on such a lentil kick lately … and this is just fueling the fire! lol The cooking class sounds like fun! I would have been nervous too doing a demonstration!
Sweetphi says
Thanks for commenting Ashley! I was definitely nervous…it was my first cooking demo! But it all went good (I think? haha). I know what you mean about getting on a lentil kick, once you have them and taste the deliciousness (and know how good for you they are) you just want to make more things…I’m thinking lentil burgers are going to make an appearance soon!
cheri says
Hi Sweetphi, oh I love red lentils, will give this recipe a try. You don’t look nervous to me, quite the opposite. Lookout Giada!
Sweetphi says
Awe, Cheri!!! You totally made my day, thank you for that super sweet comment (I was nervous though, and it totally gave me a whole new level of respect for TV presenters…don’t know how they do it!) Hope you do give this recipe a try 🙂
lsproull23 says
I’ve never tried lentils before…..but I’m willing to give it a whirl!
Sweetphi says
Thanks for the comment! If you haven’t had lentils before, I’d say this recipe is absolutely perfect for you to try them with, all the other flavors really come together and compliment each other in this chili, so you won’t have an overpowering lentil experience 🙂