I developed this Vegan Chickpea Chili during a stressful week. This easy slow cooker recipe was exactly what my family needed. It’s comforting, healthy, nourishing and flavorful. Best of all, it’s completely vegan with all the hardy satisfaction of a meat stew.
What was so stressful about that week, you might ask? Our large hyacinth parrot, Solomon, managed to escape from his flight aviary. His wings are clipped to protect him, but he’s a huge parrot with a very large wingspan and he can glide if he catches a breeze. We live in a mountain range above Los Angeles surrounded by large expanses of wilderness. Long story short, Solomon caught a breeze.
After hours of searching we found him several houses up the road between the yards of two neighbors. He was stuck high in a tree on the side of a mountain, confused and unable to make his way down. We spent hours, tried everything to coax him down. Nothing worked. Even the fire department dropped by; they tried to figure something out, but the tree was too high and too far from the road for their equipment.
Both neighbors on either side were tremendously helpful. They spent several hours of their own time throwing around ideas. Solomon wouldn’t budge. He spent the night in that tree, cold and alone. I couldn’t sleep all night for fear of losing him.
One of the neighbors suggested that we call his tree trimmers, who are experts at climbing those very high, hard-to-reach branches. This morning they came and they climbed. As they got close, Solomon spooked and caught another breeze, gliding far into the canyon below. This canyon is difficult to access and filled with wildlife– bobcats, mountain lions.
Solomon doesn’t know how to feed himself, he’s been raised by humans since he hatched. I thought it was the last we would ever see of him. But these tree climbers didn’t give up. They scaled the canyon walls and located Solomon in a small tree in the center of the canyon. Several minutes and a large net later, they emerged from the brush carrying our beautiful Solomon. He ended the day back in his aviary, munching on bananas and peanuts. What an adventure he had.
What does this all have to do with Slow Cooker Vegan Chickpea Chili? Not a whole lot. And yet, during that crazy week I could only imagine cooking something comforting to soothe our frayed nerves. This delicious vegan chili fit the bill. Chickpeas, sweet potatoes, and spices slowly cook together until their flavors meld. The cashews become tender during cooking, giving the chili a hearty texture.
On a holiday week where many are skipping the turkey in favor of a meatless meal, it would be fitting to serve this Slow Cooker Vegan Chickpea Chili. After all, it was developed with a very special bird in mind! This is clean, healthy, meat-free comfort food. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
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Slow Cooker Chickpea Chili
8 servings
30 minutes
4 hours
Parve
Description
This easy Slow Cooker Vegan Chickpea Chili is healthy comfort food you can feel good about. Chickpeas, sweet potatoes, cashews and spices.
Ingredients
- 5 1/4 cups cooked chickpeas/garbanzo beans (or 3 cans chickpeas 15 oz. each, drained)
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced small
- 2 ribs celery, diced small
- 2 medium onions, diced small
- 2 red bell peppers, seeds and stem removed, diced small
- 2 tsp salt, divided
- 2 tbsp chopped garlic
- 1 3/4 cups diced fire-roasted tomatoes (1 can)
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced
- 2 cups raw cashews
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp curry
- 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp allspice
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 3 1/2 cups low sodium vegetable stock, or more if needed
- Fresh parsley or cilantro sprigs for garnish
Recipe Notes
You will also need: Large saucepan, slow cooker (6 quart or larger)
Instructions
In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add carrots, celery, onions, bell pepper and 1 tsp salt. Cook on medium for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and have nice color. Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 additional minutes till fragrant.
Pour the vegetable mixture evenly to cover the bottom of the slow cooker.
Pour the vegetable mixture evenly to cover the bottom of the slow cooker.
Return the saucepan to medium heat and add the fire roasted tomatoes and vinegar. Use a spoon/spatula to scrape up any brown bits that remain in the pan. Once the mixture begins to boil, turn off the heat. Continue to scrape up as many of the brown bits as you can. Add the mixture to the slow cooker.
Add remaining ingredients and spices to the slow cooker (reserve garnish), stir to combine and cover. Cook for 4 hours on high setting.
After 2 hours, check your moisture level and add more stock if desired. Continue cooking for remaining 2 hours, or until chili is cooked through. Serve warm, garnish with parsley or cilantro if desired.
D-R Gooch says
When do you add the cashews?
Tori Avey says
During Step 5 – with the remaining ingredients.
Sherri says
No fire roasted tomatoes in Israel. What can I submit with?
Tori Avey says
Regular diced tomatoes will work fine.
Marion Capriotti says
Lovely recipe, and so glad that sweet Solomon is safe at home! (I know this happened almost a year ago, but I just now found your site and, as a pet lover myself, I so identified with your fear and stress when he went missing.) The chili looks delicious! My shul community is kosher-vegetarian, so I am always glad to find new main-dish recipes that I can bring to our potluck Shabbat dinners. I am signing up for your newsletter and look forward to more of your recipes. L’shanah tovah!
Etta says
I usually dislike reading a blog when looking for a recipe, but yours drew me I immediately. I had my fingers crossed in hopes that you found your parrot. Good job storytelling.
Tori Avey says
Thanks Etta! 🙂
Yael says
If I want to make this overnight for shabbat should I put it on low instead? Or high and then keep warm?
Ideas?
Amy says
Excellent taste but 4 hours is too long on high. Veggies got very mushy. Will make again and cook for less time or even on stovetop
Tori Avey says
Thanks for the feedback Amy. I think it depends on your slow cooker, some run hotter than others. Other readers have had great results with the timing as written, and so have I. But not all cookers are identical, so this adjustment might be helpful for some.
CowgirlMama says
As I’m making this I can’t help but think it would translate well to the instantpot. Have you tried that way?
Tori Avey says
I have not, but I think it would probably work well. I have noticed that the Instant Pot tends to draw out more moisture when cooking, so you may need to cut back on the vegetable stock. Without testing it I can’t give you a specific recommendation, but it’s worth experimenting with! Hope you enjoyed it 🙂
Erica says
Hi Tori! I love your blog. We have hyacinth macaws, too. We have 10 now! It’s a full house, lol. I’m so glad you got Solomon back! Cheers!
Rick pauline says
Tori, so glad your tale had a happen finale! I had a similar experience many years ago when my young (1 yo) Bare Eyed Cockatoo ended up at the top of a 60-ish foot tree. Fortunately, one of my neighbors at the time was a tree surgeon, and he was able to climb the tree to where she was perched. “Okay, I’m near her. What do I do now?” She was very tame and he was able to coax her onto his hand and bring her down.
Okay, that aside, I will be making this over the weekend, and I hope to post my impressions once done.
PENELOPE A BOEHLE says
Thank you for the recipe and I’m so happy Solomon is home safe and sound. What a stressful experience. As an animal and parrot lover I can’t imagine how upsetting that was.
Varsha says
Looks interesting and tasty … we cook an Indian dish called Chole with similar ingredients… must try this too !
Don Mantack says
A really great vegetarian recipe – Tori you have a wonderful approach to good-sense cooking.
Constance Derby says
Tori, Last spring I taught a lesson on Esau selling his birthright for a bowl of Red, Red Pottage. I found, and used your recipe because I felt it was the most authentic, and I strongly felt that the kids couldn’t relate to what Esau did unless they knew what Red Red Pottage was/is. They loved it and it filled the Church with a yummy aroma. Three weeks ago one of my 10 year old girls asked if I would make it again and bring it the next Sunday. I did, and I had very happy kids, and very unhappy adults. They adults didn’t get any because I went off to a meeting, and my husband grabbed everything and took it to the car. Last week we were talking about Daniel’s Pulse, but unfortunately I never found a real recipe, or even a consistent definition, so we just talked about beans and seeds, and/or fresh veggies. One of my boys spoke up to say he doesn’t like lentils, at which point I said “yes you do”. “No I don’t!”. “Yes you do, You like Red Red Pottage, don’t you?” “yes”. “Well, That’s what Red, Red Pottage is, lentil stew”. OHHHHHHH.
Tori Avey says
Ha! That is a great story Constance. Thanks for sharing!
sharon goldfarb says
how do you print your recipes without the comments?
Tori Avey says
Sharon, there is a “Print Recipe” button on the recipe card. If you use that it will create a print-friendly version.
carter says
Hi! I have made this before with friends and family and it is one of my favorites, but I am wanting to cook it for myself and as much as I think I could probably eat the whole pot, I will probably have a good amount left over. Do you have any tips on how best to store this? Does it freeze well or does it do best to just be refrigerated?
Thanks!
Tori Avey says
You can freeze it, no worries!