Hearty Vegetable and Wild Rice Chili

Hearty Vegetable and Wild Rice Chili is a hearty and flavorful chili that's perfect for a cold winter day. It's made with a variety of vegetables, including black beans, corn, onions, bell peppers, carrots, and celery, and it's simmered in a savory broth made with wild rice. The chili is thick and hearty, and it's packed with flavor.

I first developed this recipe when I was living in a small apartment in New York City. I was on a tight budget, and I needed to find a way to make a hearty and flavorful meal that was also affordable. I started by experimenting with different combinations of vegetables, and I eventually settled on the combination of black beans, corn, onions, bell peppers, carrots, and celery. I then added wild rice to the chili to give it a more hearty texture. The chili was a hit with my friends, and it quickly became a staple in my kitchen.

Prep time: 15 | Cook time: 30 | Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery sticks, diced
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15-ounce) can corn, drained
• 1 cup dried wild rice

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil over medium high heat in a large pot or dutch oven.
2. Add the onion, bell pepper, carrots, and celery and sauté for 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften.
3. Add the beans, corn, wild rice and 4 cups of water or broth to the pot.
4. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the chili has thickened.
5. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Why It Works

• The combination of vegetables in this chili provides a variety of flavors and textures.
• The wild rice adds a hearty texture to the chili.
• The savory broth is made with a variety of spices, which gives the chili a complex flavor.
• The chili is simmered for a long period of time, which allows the flavors to develop.