Slow Cooker Black Bean, Butternut Squash & Quinoa Chili

As I mentioned in my Menu Plan Monday post for the week, this is the week of squash. Creamy butternut squash and five spice soup earlier this week, and a really delicious, hearty, stick-to-your-ribs slow cooker black bean, butternut squash and quinoa chili today. I didn’t plan on all of the squash, but I’m certainly not complaining (I know that I’ll soon be missing winter squash as spring and summer roll around, no matter how many other vegetables there will be to savor!).

This is also a week of intense schoolwork. I have my first Advanced Nutrition II exam this evening, and I’m more than a little nervous about it. It’s a difficult class, taught by a detail-oriented medical school professor, and the level of complexity reminds me quite a bit of my post-bacc chemistry and biochemistry courses. It’s hard not to feel some of the old anxiety rushing back, the fear and the sensation of helplessness I used to experience as I entered a test, totally uncertain about what to expect and whether or not I’d studied the right things.

So it’s a good time for comfort food, for something warming and hearty and uplifting. This spicy, flavorful chili is just that, and it’s also perfect exam fuel. It’s packed with satiating protein, energy-sustaining complex carbs, a healthy dose of iron, and a slew of healthful phytonutrients–I couldn’t ask for a more nutrient dense meal. Better yet, it’s a slow cooker recipe, which means that I was able to whip it up even during a week when preoccupation with schoolwork made it very tempting not to cook. If you don’t have a slow cooker, no worries: I’ve given a stovetop option, too.

Like many of the recipes I’ve been making lately, this one feeds a crowd. It makes about 12 cups by my count, a generous 6-8 servings of food, depending on your appetite. You can cut the recipe in half if your slow cooker is 4 quarts or smaller, or if you make it over the stovetop.

These days, though, I see so much value in batch cooking, no matter how many people one is initially cooking for. Steven and I rarely finish a huge recipe like this in a week; we love leftovers, but after three days or so we start to crave variety. Still, I always freeze what we don’t eat, often in individual portions, and I don’t know what I’d do without these freezer staples during super busy weeks.

As you’ll see, there are ways to jazz this dish up a little, using chopped herbs, green onion, or a dollop of tofu sour cream, which I’ve included the recipe for. It’s really quick and easy to make, and it can work in a variety of soups or stews, or on top of a baked potato. Whether you add toppings or not, you’ll have tons of flavor to savor in this chili. Smoked paprika, chipotle peppers, chili powder, and cumin really bring it to life, and I added just a pinch of cayenne for a little extra heat.

Print Slow Cooker Black Bean, Butternut Squash & Quinoa Chili
Author: Gena Hamshaw Recipe type: main dish, entree Cuisine: vegan, gluten free, nut free, soy free optional
Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 6 hours Total time: 6 hours 15 mins
Serves: 6-8 servings

Ingredients For the chili:

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 large white or yellow onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, diced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1½ tablespoons chipotle en adobo (about 1 pepper and juices), finely chopped
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon coriander
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¾ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
Pinch cayenne pepper (to taste)
3 cups low sodium vegetable broth or water
3 cups cooked black beans (or 2 cans, drained and rinsed)
1 - 1¼ pounds peeled, cubed butternut squash (about 1 small squash)
1 can fire-roasted, diced tomatoes (don't drain)
1 cup dry quinoa, rinsed under running water in a fine sieve for about a minute
Optional toppings: Tofu sour cream (below), chopped green or red onions, chopped parsley, chopped cilantro, avocado slices, guacamole, hot sauce

For the tofu sour cream:

8 ounces silken tofu
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 teaspoons rice vinegar or white wine vinegar
¾ teaspoon salt

Instructions

To make the tofu sour cream, simply place all ingredients in a blender or a food processor and blend till smooth.
For the most flavorful chili results, heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onions and celery and a pinch of salt, to get the onions sweating. Sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the onions are soft and clear. Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute, stirring frequently. Add ¼ cup water, the tomato paste, the chipotle en adobo, the chili powder, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, cinnamon, salt, and cayenne. Allow it to cook for one more minute, stirring to incorporate all of the ingredients.
Add the broth, black beans, squash, diced tomatoes and their juices, and quinoa to your slow cooker. Add the cooked onion, garlic, and spice mixture. Stir everything to combine well. Cook on low heat for 6 hours. Before serving, give the chili a good stir and add some additional vegetable broth if you'd like it to be less thick. Taste, adjust seasonings, and serve with toppings of choice.
Alternately, you can simply add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker and cook for 6 hours on low. If you have the time, browning the onions and garlic will give you most flavor. See note for stovetop option!

Notes Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days, and can be frozen for up to 1 month.

To prepare on the stovetop, follow step 1 of the instructions, using a large soup pot instead of a sauté pan as your cooking vessel. Add the broth, black beans, squash, diced tomatoes and their juices, and quinoa to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and simmer for 35-40 minutes, or until the quinoa has cooked and all of the squash is very tender. Add some extra broth or water if the chili becomes too thick for your taste. Adjust seasonings and serve with toppings of choice.
3.5.3208

This recipe is destined to become a slow cooker go-to for me. I love all of the texture, the combination of a nutty grain, tender, sweet squash, and chewy black beans. It’s such a satisfying meal, especially for cold months–and also for a day on which you’re feeling just a little anxious or vulnerable or overwhelmed. I have plenty of regrets about my post-bacc, but one thing I don’t regret is having managed to take care of my body, even when I was at my most stressed and unhappy. I didn’t relapse, and I kept myself nourished with good meals, and this kind of self-care is something I’m happy to carry into my RD education.

Hope you’ll let this bowl of vegan goodness take care of you, too. Enjoy the recipe.

The post Slow Cooker Black Bean, Butternut Squash & Quinoa Chili appeared first on The Full Helping.