Characteristics

This is a very simple version of the popular “chili” meal that is perfectly suited for vegans, vegetarians, anyone with a heart disease or those wishing to avoid processed or canned high sodium versions. It provides an excellent combination of complex carbohydrates and proteins. It is naturally low in sodium, virtually fat free, and high in fiber. It makes a delicious and filling meal that can be suited to satisfy all tastebuds.

TYPE: Lunch, Dinner
PREP TIME: < 30-45mins depending if rice and beans need to be cooked fresh
SERVINGS: Makes about 4 - 6

  • Vegan
  • Gluten-free
  • Wheat-free
  • Soy-free
  • Corn-free
  • Peanut-free
  • Nut-free
  • Refined Sugar-free

Goodies Needed*

INGREDIENTS:

TOOLS:

Preparation Steps

  1. Begin cooking your rice and beans according to package instructions, unless they are already pre-cooked, then jump to step 2. Dry beans should always be soaked overnight.
  2. Pour the tomato sauce into a large pot, cover and begin heating on low-medium.
  3. Peel the garlic and onion, chop up finely and stir into the sauce pot.
  4. Rinse and dice the mushrooms, and stir into the sauce pot.
  5. Rinse and dice the bell pepper, and stir into the sauce pot.
  6. Rinse and cut the tomatoes into quarters, and stir into the sauce pot.
  7. Add in 1 tablespoonful of the chili powder to the sauce pot, along with a few sprinkles of the cayenne pepper and salt. Start off easy and add more later if you feel it needs it. Meals get spicier with age, so leftovers may be too spicy if too much is added initially.
  8. Stir all of the ingredients thoroughly, cover and simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  9. At about the 15 minute mark, stir in the cooked rice and beans.
  10. Taste the mixture and add in more chili powder, cayenne or salt to adjust to your tastebuds.
  11. If mixture is too thick, add in more tomato puree or some water to thin it out.
  12. Simmer another few minutes if the rice and beans were cold, otherwise if they were freshly cooked, stir together and remove from the heat. There is no need to overcook the vegetables and lose their nutrient value.
  13. Transfer a desired amount of the chili into individual bowls and enjoy.

Meal Nutritional Benefits

Kidney Beans

  • provide healthy carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and are naturally low in fat
  • provide phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
  • provide vitamins, especially vitamin A and most B vitamins, including folate
  • provide minerals, especially potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, manganese, and selenium
  • support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • support healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
  • support proper digestive health and bone health
  • protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, and other diseases

Brown Rice

  • provides healthy carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and is naturally low in fat
  • provides phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
  • provides vitamins, especially most B vitamins, including choline and folate
  • provides minerals, especially phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, manganese, zinc, iron, and selenium
  • supports optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • supports healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
  • protects against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, and other diseases

Tomatoes

  • provide some carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and are virtually fat-free
  • provide lots of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
  • provide vitamins, especially vitamin A, C, K, and some B vitamins, including folate
  • provide minerals, especially potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, chromium, and zinc
  • support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • support healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
  • support healthy eye health, immune health, and digestive health
  • protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, and other diseases

Bell Peppers

  • provide some carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and are virtually fat-free
  • provide lots of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
  • provide vitamins, especially vitamin A, C, E, K, and most B vitamins, including folate
  • provide minerals, especially potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, and iron
  • support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • support healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
  • protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, infections, and other diseases

Crimini Mushrooms

  • provide healthy carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and are naturally low in fat
  • provide antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial benefits
  • provide vitamins, especially B vitamins, including vitamin B12 and folate
  • provide minerals, especially selenium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc
  • support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • support immune function and protect against infections
  • protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, and other diseases

Onions

  • provide anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties
  • provide lots of phytonutrients and antioxidants
  • provide vitamins, especially vitamin C and some B vitamins, including biotin and folate
  • provide minerals, especially copper, manganese, and phosphorus
  • support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • support immune health and iron metabolism
  • protect against cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes
  • support healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels

Garlic

  • provides anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties
  • provides lots of phytonutrients and antioxidants
  • provides vitamins, especially vitamin C and some B vitamins
  • provides minerals, especially manganese, selenium, calcium, phosphorus, and copper
  • supports optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • supports the immune system and iron metabolism
  • protects against cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes type 2
  • supports healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels

Cayenne Chili Pepper

  • not a significant source of calories or macronutrients
  • provide lots of phytonutrients, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and analgesic properties
  • provides vitamins, especially rich in vitamin A, C, K, and some B vitamins, including folate
  • provides minerals, especially potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium
  • supports optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • supports healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
  • protects against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, infections, and other diseases

Black Pepper

  • not a significant source of calories or macronutrients (carbs, fats, protein)
  • provides phytonutrients and antioxidants
  • provides anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties
  • provides vitamins, including vitamin A, C, and K
  • provides minerals, including potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron
  • supports optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • supports digestive health; helps prevent bloating and gas
  • supports healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
  • protects against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, and other diseases

Unrefined Salt

  • unrefined sea salt unrefined Himalayan salt
  • naturally alkalizing
  • a source of over 80 essential and trace minerals
  • supports optimal blood pressure, heart and nervous system health
  • supports optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • Health Tip: avoid all forms of refined, white salt and processed foods made with it

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