Quinoa Chili

A chili is a spicy and hearty dish made from different beans and tomatoes. This is a version of chili made with quinoa.

This is extremely filling and healthy, not to mention spicy with an Indian kick.

Ingredients (serves 6-8):

1. 2 tablespoons olive oil
2. 1 large onion, finely chopped
3. 4 cloves of garlic, minced
4. 1 can of tomato paste (8 ounces)
5. 2 tablespoons cumin powder
6. 1 teaspoon oregano / omam seeds / ajwain
7. 1 teaspoon chilli powder
8. 1 tablespoon curry powder
9. 2 cups cooked black beans
10. 2 cups cooked kidney beans / rajma beans
11. 4 cups vegetable broth
12. 1.5 cups water
13. 1 cup uncooked quinoa
14. 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
15. some coriander leaves / cilantro for garnish
16. 2 avocados, pitted and diced
17. 1.5 teaspoons salt
18. 1 teaspoon pepper
19. the juice of half a lemon

Preparation:

1. Heat oil in a large stock pot. When hot, add the onion and saute on medium heat until translucent. 
2. Add the minced garlic and stir fry for a minute.
3. Add the cumin powder, oregano, chilli powder and curry powder and stir everything for a minute. 
4. Add the tomato paste and stir fry everything for about 5-7 minutes until the tomato paste begins to leave the sides of the pan.
5. Throw in the black beans and kidney beans and stir everything together. Add salt, pepper,sweet potatoes, the vegetable stock and water and stir everything together.
6. Close the lid and cook for 10 minutes on medium heat. 
7. Add the quinoa and stir everything. Reduce the heat to low-medium, and cook everything for 30 minutes or so, stirring everything every now and then until the quinoa and potatoes are completely cooked.
8. If the chili is too thick, add a little water and dilute the chili. 
9. Remove from heat and garnish with coriander leaves, lemon juice and diced avocados. 

 This is an easy dish to resort to for a weeknight dinner. Plus, the left-overs are helpful for a few meals during the week! And the left-overs taste much better because the flavors get a chance to meld together when stored.