Vegetarian Chili with Kidney Beans, Black Beans and Rye Berries

Perhaps I should call this dish "Fire in a Bowl". I drafted this recipe on a chilly afternoon and when I got to making it, well, I guess I was quite liberal with the spices and chilies. Writing up the recipe here, I have adjusted the ingredients, but of course feel free to cut down on the heat according to your preference. It was delicious and warming all the same, with a wonderful added chewy texture from the cooked rye berries. Fresh herbs certainly add a bit of flare to dishes like this, but dried herbs will work just fine too. Serve with some yogurt and sprinkle with some fresh grated Cheddar cheese as desired. This fusion-style Mexican-Indian dish also goes well with homemade tortilla chips.

Vegetarian Chili with Kidney Beans, Black Beans and Rye Berries

Recipe by Lisa Turner Published on February 23, 2013 Rich, hearty, warming and nourishing spicy vegetarian chili with kidney beans, black beans, rye berries, vegetables and fresh herbs Print this recipe Ingredients: 1/2 cup dried red kidney beans 1/2 cup dried black beans 1/2 cup rye berries 1 tablespoon olive oil or sesame oil 1 medium onion, chopped 3 dried whole red chilies, broken into pieces 3 to 4 red or green chilies or jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed or minced 1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated or minced 2 medium carrots, sliced 5 cups water 6 sun-dried tomatoes 2 medium tomatoes, finely chopped 2 teaspoons chili powder 1 teaspoon curry powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon turmeric 1/2 teaspoon cayenne 1/4 teaspoon asafetida (optional) 1 tablespoon tamarind paste, seeds removed (optional) 2/3 cup frozen corn 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, finely chopped (1 teaspoon dried) 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely chopped (1 teaspoon dried) 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt, or to taste fresh ground black pepper to taste Instructions: Rinse the beans and rye berries and soak in several inches of water for 8 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse, and set aside. In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. When hot, add the onion, dried and fresh chilies or jalapeños, garlic, ginger and carrots, and stir for 3 to 4 minutes to soften the onions. Add the soaked beans and rye berries and pour in the water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour or until the beans are tender. Stir occasionally and add more water if necessary. Meanwhile, soak the sun-dried tomatoes in hot water for 20 to 30 minutes, then drain and chop. When the beans are tender, stir in the sun-dried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, spices and tamarind paste to the pot, and continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Toss in the corn, simmer for 5 minutes, and then add the parsley, oregano and thyme. Simmer for another few minutes, and then remove from heat and season with salt and pepper. Serve hot. Makes 6 to 8 servings

More chili recipes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen you are sure to enjoy:
Vegetarian Three Bean Chili with a Cashew-Pistachio Sauce
Cornmeal-Crusted Chili
Southwest Vegetarian Chili
Kidney Beans in a Slowly Simmered Tomato Sauce with Shredded Paneer (Rajma)