Wednesday, October 27, 2010

E: Vegan (or not) Peanut Butter Chili

Wednesday! Halfway through the work/school week. This week has been flying by (in a good way) for me. Yesterday, I walked the bridge in Charleston with my friend Jill. I wanted to share just a couple pictures from the walk.

  bridge 003

 bridge 004

For more gorgeous shots of the Charleston area, check out Mandi’s post (and drool over her cookies) or Christina’s post. I just love Charleston!

I’ve seen intriguing recipes for almond butter/peanut butter chili on both HEAB and the Broccoli Hut. I was very curious and wanted to make some of my own. I made a vegetarian/vegan version and then added shredded chicken to Josh’s dish. I relied heavily on Caroline’s recipe.

Vegan (or not) Peanut Butter Chili

Ingredients

  • ~1-2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1/4 white or yellow onion, diced
  • 1/4-1/2 cup Spicy V8 Juice (can use tomato sauce or salsa here as well), amount depends on desired thickness (disclaimer: I received this product for free to taste test)

bridge 001

  • 1 cup canned beans (your choice, I used pinto)
  • 1 cup frozen corn, defrosted (or fresh)
  • 1 cup chopped frozen yellow squash, defrosted (or fresh)
  • 1 t chili powder
  • 1 t ground cumin
  • 2 T natural peanut butter

Directions

1. Over medium heat, cook onions in olive oil until tender.

2. Add tomato juice (or salsa), beans, corn, squash, and spices. Bring to a simmer and cover. Cook for ~10-60 minutes (in my opinion, longer is better- brings out the flavor-but whatever you have time for).

3. Add peanut butter, place a lid on the saucepan, and allow peanut flavor to infuse throughout the chili (5 minutes).

4. Remove lid, and stir thoroughly. Serve and enjoy!

The results:

Veg version:

 chili 002 

And with chicken:

chili 005 

The peanut butter added a really interesting flavor to the chili. And the V8 added some nice kick. Next time, I want to try adding some peas or other green for color.

Plans for Halloween? Mandi & I are having a special party!

Have you heard about Krista’s Thanks & Giving Food Drive? I am participating and you should too!

38 comments:

Jessica @ How Sweet said...

Peanut butter chili!? How interesting! It sounds go good. :)

RhodeyGirl said...

What a gorgeous day for a walk! I never take pictures on walks or runs... but now I kind of want to start!!!!!

Joanne said...

Pretty neat recipe. Anything with peanut butter attracts my attention.

Love the photo of the bridge. It's so interesting.

CaSaundraLeigh said...

The weather looks fabulous--wish I could say the same about MN! Haha! And I need to keep and eye out for that spicy hot V8..I loooove spicy!

Megan D said...

I love the Charleston bridge!! So cool you can walk across it whenever! And that recipe sounds like something I'd enjoy :)

Christina said...

thanks for the shout out! i love the spicy v8!

Jenna said...

Beautiful photos!

Anything with peanut butter perks my ears. What a unique addition!

Julie said...

oh! peanut butter in the chili hmm that sounds interesting. i bet it makes it kind of smokey?

i'm excited to hear about yours and mandi's party! you guys must be the talk of the town over there. you're like the real housewives of charleston hahahaha :)

Heather said...

I put Spicy V8 in my chili, too! Though, I've never experienced with PB in it.....interesting!

That picture of the bridge is awesome. What a fun time!

Maria said...

Never tried PB in my chili. Love it!

Holly said...

Mmmm....Peanut Butter in chili sounds interesting and delicious!

I can't wait to see what you girls throw together for your party! I'm going out with friends/dressing up Saturday night, and Sunday is my mama's bday (your dad's, too, right?!) so we'll have lunch and then see all the kiddos in their costumes. ;-)

Esi said...

I remember that bridge!! ;) Never heard of peanut butter chili before.

Corey @ the runner's cookie said...

Your walk looks gorgeous! I've seen a few people add nut butter to stir fries and chili before, but still have yet to try it. I love nut butter so much, it's hard to imagine I wouldn't enjoy it ;)

Beth @ DiningAndDishing said...

peanut butter chili sounds like an awesome combination! i'm always looking for ways to include more peanut butter into my diet. hehe :)

Stephanie @cookinfanatic said...

peanut butter in chili... i would have never thought to do this.. but i imagine it could add some interesting flavor?! i like it!

HelloVeggie said...

WOW! I have never thought about using something like V8 in a soup. So creative. And peanut butter... very interesting!

Jenn-- HeVe

Krista said...

I've had PB in chilli before and thought it was great! Love the photos of the bridge. It must be such a great place to walk! Thanks for the shout out!!! :)

Pound said...

i love halloween! im cohosting a party and we'll have about 25 screaming two year olds running around us! as always, chaotic but fun.

Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather said...

I think you are reading my mind. I just finished off a batch of almond bitter chil for lunch. Peanut butter would be delicious I bet!

Naomi(Onefitfoodie) said...

peanut butter in chili?!?! i love the sound of that!!!!

Tiffany @ The Chi-Athlete said...

Okay, confession time: At first, I went "OMGEWWWWW!". Then I see the recipe...maybe...it might...be good...? I'm going to give it a try. :D

Averie @ Averie Cooks said...

what a great recipe! yum!! i have thought about adding PB to my chili and soups but wondered if it would overpower it at all...and now, i am gonna do it to my next batch!

glad you and mandi are gonna go out!!

vanillasugarblog said...

someone else did this! oh i must try this. it is becoming popular. i love it!

Anonymous said...

PB chili? great idea! so many amazing flavors combined!!! :D

The Purple Carrot said...

I'm glad you posted the recipe, I'm still very intrigued, and will remember this one!

BroccoliHut said...

So glad you got the chance to try PB Chili! It's one of my fall/winter staples:)

madeleine said...

hi sweetie! great recipe!! and thanks for your email last night- i am definitely starting a clean eating lifestyle (thanks to your awesome insight) and just started a blog about it- you can follow my 21 days of clean eating here. can't wait for saturday! xoxoxo http://clean-eating.blogspot.com/

Tina Marie Frawley said...

Love the photographs! See you at breakfast!

Dawn (HealthySDLiving) said...

PB? THIS is something I want to try for sure! Looks delicious!

We Are Not Martha said...

It looks like you're enjoying some awesome weather! I love V8 and need to get my hands on the low-sodium spicy kind! I have a feeling PB would be great in chili, too!

Sues

Lea @ Healthy Coconut said...

You live in a beautiful place, perfect weather for a walk with a friend too.

Are your pictures from your phone? Really clear. I take pictures on my run, but from my camera phone.

I just finished my big batch of chili and need to cook more. Is the chili cooked with nut butters taste sweet?

Seglare said...

Beautiful pictures! :)

Chili is one of my favorite winter foods, and the addition of peanut butter sounds really interesting and unique.

Anonymous said...

Wow! That looks like an amazing walk on a beautiful day.

Anonymous said...

I don't think I could add PB to chili! Would you make this recipe again with the PB? Cool pictures!

Katie said...

I remember reading a murder mystery once about a woman who had a peanut allergy and was poisoned with peanut butter chili! I didn't know it was used in chili until then... I'll have to try it!

We're having a party this weekend, too. Happy Halloween!

Chef Fresco said...

This makes me miss Charleston! We usually only make it there once a year - for the cooper river bridge run. This chili looks amazing - PB?! yum!

lynn said...

i love the idea of adding nut butter to chili! why not?!?!

Natalie said...

pb chili? what a great idea! i'm definitely going to try this sometime!