I am sick.
Like full on, snot factory, can’t sleep enough, death-warmed-over kinda sick. I should have known it was going to happen. I almost always get sick after traveling. My immune system is no match for the bevvy of germs floating around airports and on airplanes.
I just wish I could shake this so I could have more energy. I’ve been on kitchen hiatus for the past few weeks and I am itching to get back in there. I have so many fun, creative things I want to whip up in the kitchen but all my body wants to do is pass out on the couch in front of a million episodes of the Vampire Diaries.
I did manage to scrounge up enough mojo to whip together this chili. And it was totally worth it. I know chicken noodle soup is the standard fare for sickies, but I think chili is a perfect candidate, too. Still warm and comforting like chicken noodle soup, but also packed with a dose of spice—which is great for clearing out the sinuses.
I especially love this one because it is so bursting with flavor and spice that it’ll break through even the most virus-dulled tastebuds. Few things are more frustrating than working hard on a dish while you’re sick and taking the first bite and….nothing. No flavor at all. That was not the case with the first bite of this chili.
Let’s talk about all the goodness in this bowl.
The quinoa in this vegetarian chili serves as a chewy and bulky substitute for meat while providing a hefty amount of your daily dose of magnesium and fiber. The traditional chili flavor is given an interesting twist with a dose of sweet coconut milk and curry paste. The dark red kidney beans are packed with free-radical fighting polyphenols. Basically, this chili is all that is right and good about how to fuel your body. It was a great dish to help start off 2012 in a clean and healthy manner.
Now if I could just get rid of this bloody cold…
Vegetarian Thai Quinoa Chili
There is so much flavor in this recipe for vegetarian thai quinoa chili, you'll never miss the meat!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon red curry paste
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 4 cups vegetable broth, divided
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 large green pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small sweet potato, peeled and diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cans dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 3/4 cup dry quinoa, rinsed
- 1/2 cup light coconut milk
- 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Sliced green onions, for serving
- Plain Greek yogurt, for serving
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven or soup pot, whisk together the chili powder, curry paste, cumin and a few tablespoons of broth over medium-low heat until smooth.
- Add in onion, green pepper, garlic, sweet potato and olive oil and saute for 5-7 minutes or until veggies are tender.
- Add in remaining broth, beans, quinoa, coconut milk, tomatoes, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer and cook for about an hour, or until flavors are melded and quinoa is cooked.
- Serve topped with sliced green onions and plain Greek yogurt.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 224Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 680mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 8gSugar: 9gProtein: 12g
At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.
Chili is my go to meal when nothing else sounds or tastes good, I hope you feel better soon and NEW Vampire Diaries starts this Thursday!!!! Can’t wait 😉
This chili looks amazing. Next time I make chili, I’ll have to give this one a go. Hope you feel better soon. I had the nastiness on Christmas. 🙁
Aw, I hope you start feeling better! This chili looks awesome. I’m a huuuuuuuge chili fan, but I love the thai twist. I’ll have to keep this in mind next time I make chili 😀
I know that I should be either focusing on A) the amazingness of this recipe of B) the fact that you’re sick, but all I can now think about is…
VAMPIRE DIARIEEEEEES!!
Best show ever.
I hope you feel better soon! It sucks being sick <3
This chili looks amazing 😀 I love that you added coconut mylk.
Whenever I start feeling a cold coming on, I eat a lot of green smoothies, steamed veggies, and fruits like apples, oranges, and bananas. I cut out sugars and eat small amounts of grains. No starving, I just eat mostly produce. It sounds extreme, but I only have to do it for 1 or 2 days and my cold is gone 😉
Hooray for dark green veggies! I like putting kale in homemade chicken soup, that seems to be a winning combo for warding off colds around my house.
Mmmm…sounds right up my alley!! I’m going to try it this week! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Sorry your so sick, I hope you feel better ASAP!!
Oh yummers! Just the kind of thing I’ve been wanting. Feel better soon!
Interesting take on chili! Looks fantastic. I hope it helped you feel better.
YUM! I’ve got this bookmarked…and it’s going to be my lunch for next week. 😀
I hope you feel better soon, Cassie! I usually end up craving my favorite soup: cream of mushroom…w/ Ritz crumbles.
This recipe looks amazing – I just pinned it, and I want to make it pronto!
I hope you start to feel better soon! I like soup when I have a cold, but I always crave cold carbonation when I am sick and end up with a super-sized pop – the least nutritious and healing drink out there!