This easy vegan lentil chili is perfect for any day of the week, especially since it’s a slow cooker recipe. It also pairs perfectly with one of my favorite albums, Oceans of Slumber.
It may be getting slightly warmer outside, but here in the NorthEast, things are still pretty chili. See what I did there? 😉 But seriously, when it’s cold outside all I want is something warm and comforting. That’s where this delicious and super easy vegan lentil chili comes into play. It’s been in our regular meal rotation over the last few months and that’s because this is a dump and go kind of recipe. As a matter of fact, the most work you’ll have to do is opening some cans and chopping some veggies.
Things can be really hectic on the days I’m creating content, regardless of what day of the week it is. It’s no secret that eating healthy can be time consuming. There can also be a lot of work involved, especially if you’re trying to stay away from processed foods. I try to keep already prepped, fresh veggies in the fridge as a time saver for those very busy days. But even then, I don’t always want to stand over the stove cooking for an extended period of time when I’m already exhausted. This is exactly why I love slow cooker recipes because I can still eat healthy while spending way less time actually cooking.
The Basics of This Recipe
Fresh veggies are the base for this delicious and easy vegan chili. I use yellow bell pepper in this recipe to add some fun color and brightness to the dish, as well as green onions for garnish. It’s a great recipe for any night of the week since the slow cooker will be doing most of the work. Here I’m using green lentils, but you can also use brown lentils as well.
How To Store This Vegan Chili
Leftovers from this vegan chili can be stored in an airtight glass storage container in the fridge for 4 days.
Is This Vegan Chili Spicy?
While it’s not super spicy, this vegan chili does have a slight kick due to the jalapenos in the recipe. If you can’t tolerate any spice, it’s perfectly fine to leave them out. You could also experiment with other less spicy peppers like Anaheim peppers.
Jalapeños are usually available in most grocery stores. If you can’t find them, serrano peppers would make a good substitute. Serrano peppers are spicier than jalapenos though, so I would adjust the number of peppers used according to your tastes.
Why This Easy Vegan Lentil Chili Goes So Well With Oceans of Slumber
This vegan lentil chili is a meal that will truly warm your soul. Serve it with some delicious bread, and it’s the ultimate vegan comfort food. The self titled album from Oceans of Slumber that was released last year gives me a similar feeling. It’s one of many reasons it made my list of the Best Metal Albums of 2020.
It is so easy for metal music to get cast aside by mainstream culture as just “angry music with screaming”. However, bands like Oceans of Slumber defy those expectations. Yes, this album does have some aggressive growls, but it’s also powered by the melodic vocals of Cammie Gilbert. And as far as expectations go, Oceans of Slumber will blow yours out of the water, no matter what music you like.
A Deeper Look at Oceans Of Slumber
The band’s fourth, self titled record is emotional, powerful, and deeply heavy. It provides a sense of comfort by not hiding the dark from the light, but instead blending it into something we can relate to and understand. Oceans of Slumber is as dark and doomy as it is uplifting and inspiring. Nothing in this album feels like a band just trying to make a heavy record that will sell. It does though, feel like an authentic depiction of life and human struggle that explores what it takes to carry on. This is accomplished with the lyrics, vocals, and instrumentals all working together to create this atmosphere that the band has managed to pull you directly into. My favorite example of this is the song “A Return to the Earth Below”.
The album contains 2 instrumental tracks as well, but don’t let that fool you into thinking there are throw away songs here because that’s not the case. They, too, serve a purpose in setting the scene and are powerful in their own right. Oh, and did I mention the final track is an AMAZING cover of Type O Negative’s “Wolf Moon”?
Quite frankly, Oceans of Slumber is a masterpiece. It’s an album that everyone needs to hear, whether you like metal music or not. This is NOT your typical metal record, and I mean that in the best way possible.
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Easy Vegan Lentil Chili [Slow Cooker Recipe]
- Total Time: 4hrs 15 mins
- Yield: 6
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This easy vegan lentil chili is perfect for any day of the week, especially since it’s a slow cooker recipe.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup white onion, diced
- 3 jalapenos, seeded and diced
- 1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, diced
- 6 oz. can of tomato paste
- 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes (do NOT drain)
- 15.5 oz can of black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup green lentils, uncooked
- 2 tbsps coconut oil
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 4 cups of vegetable broth
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- green onions, optional* for garnish
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker and stir.
- Cover the slow cooker with the lid, and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours. When fully cooked, the lentils should be tender.
- Add additional salt and ground black pepper if necessary. Make sure to taste it first as the level of salt can vary based on the broth you used.
- Garnish with green onions and serve with a side of warm bread or crackers.
Notes
Makes about 6 large servings
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight glass storage container in the fridge for 4 days.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 4 hrs on high
- Category: Vegan
- Method: Slow Cooker
Keywords: Easy Vegan Lentil Chili
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