Growing up, I was never a fan of chili. My family would make large batches of it and I'd always strategically avoid it. I really didn't like the flavors and I was pretty much anti-anything bean. However, I might touch try it if there weren't beans but I was never really sure about it. A rather far cry from my current diet which has me eating beans nearly every day!

I fell in love with chili later when I attempted to recreate a lost vegetarian chili recipe for my mother that involved bulgur and chocolate. While we never determined if it was close to the one she remembers, it became a favorite/staple of the winter months. However, I don't always remember to buy bulgur and thus, a no-grain chili was created.

This vegan chili is a riff on the flavors of the original bulgur version I developed. However, gone is the bulgur in lieu of beans (and lots of them). I also included a bit of pecan meal in this vegan chili. It's really subtle but I think it adds an extra layer of warmth and a bit more texture.

One note: my husband would look at these photos and think I was in the wrong. I grew up with cornbread while he swears by a peanut butter sandwich with his chili. As far as I can research, it's a very midwestern thing. However, we'll have to agree to disagree. My chili always comes with cornbread!

Read more and see the recipe.

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