Mexican Bean Chili

Food Matters Main Meal Recipes

For all you Mexican food lovers out there, this recipe is bound to satisfy your taste buds. This tasty Mexican dish is packed full of herbs and spices.

Serves: 4

Why it is good for you: 

This flavor-packed recipe is full of fiber, healthy carbohydrates and delicious, fresh ingredients. The health benefits of black beans, their versatility, and their high nutrient content make them one of the stars of this Mexican bean chili.

Consuming black beans has been shown to improve heart health, protect against cancer, increase fiber intake, improve digestion, boost energy and stabilize blood sugar. They are also a great plant-based protein.

Ingredients

(use organic ingredients where possible)

• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 x 14 oz (1 x 400g) tin of black beans (or soak and cook dried black beans prior)
• 1 x 14 oz (1 x 400g) tin of kidney beans
• 1 x 14 oz (1 x 400g) tin of chopped tomatoes
• 2 kale leaves, coarsely chopped
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• 1 small sweet potato, chopped
• 1 red pepper, diced
• Salt and pepper
• ½ bunch cilantro (coriander) leaves for garnish
• ½ avocado, to serve

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, add the coconut oil and onion. Cook on medium heat for 2 minutes or until translucent.
2. Add the garlic, cumin, cayenne pepper and cook for another 2 minutes until fragrant.
3. Add the black beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, kale, zucchini, sweet potato and bell pepper.
4. Cook for about 12-15 minutes.
5. Serve up chili in bowls and top with fresh cilantro leaves and avocado.

Tip: This makes a big batch so you can eat half now and freeze the other half for next week. This is a great way of saving time and money. Simply remove from the freezer the night before and defrost in the refrigerator.