Vegan black bean and chocolate chilli

Photographer: Ali Allen

This gluten-and dairy-free chilli puts vegetables centre stage serving all your 5-plus-a-day in one meal. Simply serve with sliced avocado and a squeeze of lime.

Serves: 6

Time to make: 1 hr 15 mins

Hands-on time: 15 mins

Ingredients

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1 tablespoon sunflower oil
1 large onion, very finely diced
1 heaped teaspoon ground cumin
pinch ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon chilli powder
½ teaspoon dried chilli flakes
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Pinch cayenne pepper
1 red capsicum, roughly chopped
1 yellow capsicum, roughly chopped
1 green capsicum, roughly chopped
1 red chilli, deseeded and chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon tomato purée
400g tin chopped tomatoes
pinch sugar
a few drops tabasco sauce
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 x 400g tins black beans in water, drained
2 tablespoons good-quality dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids), broken into small squares
fresh coriandercilantroX, to garnish
2 avocados, peeled and sliced, and lime halves, to serve

Instructions

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1 Heat the oil in a heavy-based saucepan. Add the onion, season with black pepper and let it soften for several mins before adding the dried spices. Cook for a few min more. Add the capsicums, season again, then cover and cook together for 10 min or until softened. Add the chopped red chilli and garlic.

2 Stir in the tomato purée so everything is coated, then pour in the chopped tomatoes. Add the sugar, tabasco sauce, balsamic vinegar and 1/3 cup water, then season with black pepper and stir to combine. Simmer for around 25–30 min, occasionally topping up with water if the mixture becomes too dry.

3 Add the beans to the pan and simmer for a further 15–20 min.

4 Just before serving, stir the dark chocolate into the chilli – the sauce will turn thick and glossy. Allow everything to amalgamate before serving the black bean chilli garnished with coriander, sliced avocado and lime wedges for squeezing.

Nutrition Info (per serve)

Calories 380 cal

Kilojoules 1590 kJ

Protein 14.4 g

Total fat 21.3 g

Saturated fat 5 g

Carbohydrates 28.9 g

Sugar 15.8 g

Dietary fibre 21 g

Sodium 79 mg

Calcium 154 mg

Iron 5.3 mg

Note: This nutrition analysis is a guide only. Nutrition composition will vary depending on the exact ingredients used. See our guides on your optimal daily nutrition intake, and supermarket shopping.