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Vegan Bean Chilli and Two Vegan Recipe Book Reviews

A delicious, warming and hearty vegetable stew made with aduki beans. This vegan bean chilli is just the sort of nourishing food to cook up for a crowd. Serve with rice, baked potatoes or crusty bread.

Vegan bean chilli in serving dish.

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As promised for this month of Veganuary, I’m trying to up the number of vegan meals I eat. Two brilliant new vegan cookbooks by fellow food bloggers have really helped me with this. You’ll find reviews of the books below along with a heavily adapted veggie chilli recipe from one of them. Twas ever thus …

Bit of the Good Stuff by Sharon Collins

Sharon is a long standing plant-based whole food blogger over at Bit of the Good Stuff. Due to popular demand, Sharon self-published over a hundred of her recipes and created an excellent cookbook which I’m really excited about. Despite the wealth of recipes on the internet, I still love print cookbooks. So I desperately hope that online books won’t ever entirely replace them.

Bit of the Good Stuff vegan cookbook.

Bit of the Good Stuff is definitely my kind of book. It’s not only beautifully illustrated, but the recipes are wholesome, hearty and delicious and everything is made from scratch. Sharon cooks the way I like to cook and uses similar ingredients. I guess that should be no surprise as she is a fellow member of the Suma Blogger’s Network.

Sharon starts by explaining the benefits that a whole food plant-based diet have made to her and her family. It must be working; her 13 year old son has not yet had a single day off school through sickness. Sharon no longer has the aches, pains and sinusitis she did before adopting this way of eating and her husband has more stamina when mountain biking and rides faster than ever before. I’m not sure I’m ready to give up dairy yet, but I feel almost tempted.

If you struggle with getting kids to eat their five a day, Sharon throws in several tips on how to encourage them to love their veggies. She also outlines some of her favourite ingredients and kitchen essentials. The recipes are divided into five chapters: breakfasts & elevenses; soups; lunches & light dinners; mains; desserts, treats & snacks. Time to get stuck in.

The recipes are family friendly, easy to follow and easy to make. Each one is accompanied by a clear and appealing photograph taken by Sharon herself. How cool is that? I particularly like The Good Stuff, nuggets of nutritional information that accompany most of the recipes. The recipe for Chive & Onion Frittata with sun-dried tomato, for example, tells us that “onions are great immune-boosters and are packed with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiviral nutrients”.

After I attended a vegan cookery workshop at The Vegetarian Society last year, I bought myself a tub of nutritional yeast flakes. It has sat in my cupboard unopened ever since; I just never think to use it. Thanks to Sharon, I now have several recipes to try it in, including Cashew ‘Parmesan’, Mac ‘n’ Cheese and Spinach & Tofu Pie.

If you’re wanting to incorporate more plant-based meals into your diet or you’re vegan and looking to widen your cooking repertoire, I can’t recommend this book highly enough. You can buy it online at Amazon for around £17 – Bit of the Good Stuff: Over 100 Easy and Delicious Plant-Powered Recipes for All the Family to Enjoy*blank.

Sharon's Rainbow Veggie Chilli used as inspiration for my vegan bean chilli.

I’ve only made one of the recipes so far, but I’ve got several bookmarked including: Green Pea Tostadas, Nut Koftas and Butternut Squash & Apricot Tagine. As regular readers will know, I can’t resist the sweet stuff, so I will have to try these Easy Vegan Waffles, Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread and Giant Peanut Butter Cups in due course.

Vegan Bean Chilli

I can’t seem to follow recipes and usually just cook with whatever I have on hand. That’s why I’m sharing the vegan bean chilli the book inspired me to make, rather than the original Rainbow Veggie Chilli. You’ll need to head to Sharon’s blog for that, or better still buy the book.

The main task involved in making this vegan bean chilli is chopping all the veg. The rest is very quick and extremely simple. Start by frying the leeks and carrots in a large pan. Then add the remaining ingredients. Bring to the boil and simmer for thirty minutes. That’s all there is to it. 

Use whatever vegetables you have to hand for this vegan bean chilli. It’s not worth going out to buy specific ones which may not be in season. I used leeks, carrots, red pepper, sweetcorn and mushrooms in mine. But differently coloured peppers, onions, celery, sweet potato, courgettes, peas, aubergine, pumpkin or squash are all good.

Aduki beans are small and tasty. They’re similar to black beans, but red in colour and they work particularly well in a veggie chilli. But do feel free to swap them for other beans such as red kidney or black.

Vegan in 15 by Kate Ford

With more and more people wanting to embrace a vegan lifestyle or at the very least attempting to eat less meat and dairy meals, Kate’s Vegan in 15 is timely. It’s a great guide for the novice vegan shopper and cook as it contains over 60 quick-to-make recipes. You’ll find tips on going vegan as well as planning, shopping and cooking.

If you’re worried about nutrition and where you’ll get your protein and calcium from, Kate has you covered. She also gives a fairly comprehensive guide on stocking the store cupboard.

Vegan in 15

The book contains over 60 recipes and you can prepare them all in fifteen minutes or less. The recipes are divided into seven chapters: Easy Brunch, Speedy Soups, Salads, Fast Lunch, Small Plates, Main Courses and Decadent Desserts. The recipes are diverse; as well as the pasta, risotto and stews you’d expect to find, there are plenty of gems such as Tahini and Cashew Quinoa Bowl with Garlic and Ginger Mushrooms.

I do love a good breakfast, so what suggestions, I wondered did Kate have for us? Turns out she has some fabulous ideas.. Bubble and Squeak Fry-Up with Grilled Tomatoes sounds like a great start to the weekend, although I’ve also fallen for the Smashed Avocado on Toast with Crispy Spring Onions and Chilli Yoghurt. I’m rather wishing now that I’d tried the Hazelnut and Plum Porridge with Pumpkin Seeds for breakfast this morning. Luckily, there is always tomorrow

Yesterday, I made Cannellini Beans with Cavolo Nero. It was speedy and delicious, although in fact I substituted borlotti beans and savoy cabbage as that’s what I had to hand. The recipe was very easy to follow, included alternatives to the cavolo nero and a useful top tip. Today I’m thinking I quite fancy the Speedy Bean Burger with Gherkins and Mustard Mayo or maybe Black Bean Tacos with avocado and Roasted Peppers.

Borlotti beans with savoy cabbage in serving bowl.

Kate cooks some of the recipes from scratch, but also uses some ready made products. As mentioned earlier, I tend to cook most things from scratch. However, it’s always useful to have a few standbys in the cupboard and I do occasionally resort to “cheat” ingredients. I’m sure I’m not the only one who is pressed for time at some point or other.

I particularly like the handy little “check” symbol next to any ingredient that might contain animal products. It’s always a good idea to read the labels in my experience.

Most of the recipes are unillustrated. But there are a few photographs by Romas Foord in the middle of the book to whet your appetite. I’m rather taken by the picture of the Chocolate and Peanut Butter ‘Freakshake’ and even more so by the recipe. It’s a much healthier version of the ‘Freakshakes’ that have suddenly become so popular, but it still sounds decadent and delicious.

With two weeks of Veganuary left, now’s a good time to get hold of this book and try a few of the recipes. Published in pbk by Short Books, Vegan in 15: Delicious Plant-based recipes you can cook in 15 minutes or lessblank* is widely available at £8.99. Kate’s blog, The Veg Space is well worth visiting too.

Other Vegan Stew Recipes You Might Like

Keep in Touch

Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make this vegan bean chilli, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. And do please rate the recipe. Have you any top tips? Do share photos on social media too and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot them.

For more delicious and nutritious recipes follow me on TwitterFacebook, Instagram, Flipboard or Pinterest. And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my weekly newsletter. Or why not join the conversation in our Healthy Vegetarian Whole Food Recipes Facebook Group?

If you’d like to see more Mexican inspired recipes, follow the link and you’ll find I have quite a lot of them. All delicious, of course.

Choclette x

Vegan Bean Chilli. PIN IT.

Vegan Bean Chilli in a bowl.
Vegan bean chilli in serving dish.
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5 from 1 vote

Vegan Bean Chilli

A delicoius, warming and hearty vegetable chilli made with aduki beans. Serve with rice, baked potatoes or crusty bread for a nourishing crowd pleaser.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: aduki beans, stew, vegan
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 284kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large leek sliced
  • 1 large carrot scrubbed, topped, tailed and diced
  • 3 clove garlic finely chopped
  • 1 red chilli seeds removed & finely chopped
  • 1 large red pepper seeds removed & finely chopped
  • 6 chestnut mushrooms diced
  • 100 g frozen sweetcorn
  • 500 g cooked aduki beans (or use 2 x 400g tins)
  • 400 g tinned chopped tomatoes + ½ tin water
  • 1 tbsp tomato puree
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp tamari (affiliate link)
  • ¼ tsp dried stevia leaves (or 1 tsp unrefined sugar)

Instructions

  • In a large saucepan, fry the leeks and carrots in the oil over a medium heat for 5 minutes.
  • Add all the other ingredients, cover and bring to the boil.
  • Simmer for 30 minutes by which time the carrot should be tender and the flavours amalgamated.
  • Serve with rice, baked potatoes or crusty bread.

Notes

Aduki beans are small and tasty. Similar to black beans, but red in colour, they work particularly well in a veggie chilli. But do feel free to swap them for other beans such as red kidney or black.
Provides four large servings, but could easily stretch to five.
Adapted from Bit of the Good Stuff by Sharon Collins.
Please note: calories and other nutritional information are per serving. They’re approximate and will depend on exact ingredients used.

Nutrition Estimate

Calories: 284kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 426mg | Potassium: 1290mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 4424IU | Vitamin C: 70mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 5mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below letting us know how you got on and do share a photo on Instagram. Tag @choclette8 or use hashtag #tinandthyme.
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I’m sending my vegan bean chilli off to Baking Queen and Farmersgirl Kitchen for the Slow Cooked Challenge. Whilst the chilli doesn’t take that long to cook, I slow cooked the aduki beans beforehand. I then used them in the chilli.

Thanks to Sharon and Kate for the books. I was not required to write positive reviews and as always, all opinions are my own. The post contains affiliate links which are marked by an asterisk*.  Buying through a link will not cost you any more, but I will get a small commission. This helps to keep Tin and Thyme blithe and blogging. 

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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146 Comments

  1. I’ve been vegetarian for almost a year & would eventually like to go vegan. At the moment I only eat cheese & milk products a couple of times a week. I think that vegan food is delicious, if it has lots of herbs and spices or else it can be very bland.

  2. I am trying to eat more vegan as I have been having problem with my stomache and digestion so thought it was worth a try. So far so good and I am enjoying it

  3. I am Vegan and one of my daughter’s is vegetarian. I love the wide range of delicious recipes that are now available for Vegans.

  4. I’m vegetarian and also lacto-intolerant, so I eat a lot of vegan food. Pretty much all the food I cook for myself is vegan, but if I eat out it’s usually easier to find vegetarian dishes rather than vegan ones. And if I’m offered cake I find it hard to resist!

  5. im not a vegan however if there is a tasty vegan meal i can make which doesnt include eating an animal i would make it on a regular basis if i enjoyed it xx

  6. My daughter is vegan, we have experimented with recipes , has really enjoyed most of them. I have used a fair bit of chickpeas and coconut milk.

  7. I believe the health and eco gains but am put off because there is so much coverage on what you can’t eat – but these books might be the answer

  8. Vegan food is the best- it is healthy, tasty and you can feel good about yourself as you are eating it, as you know that you are helping save the planet and prevent cruelty to our furry, scale and feathery friends.

  9. I’m not a vegan but my dad and sister are and I really enjoy some of the food when I visit their house each week. Xx

  10. I would love to be vegan but with having a nut allergy I think my choices would be very limited. My good friend is vegan and she is so fit and healthy. I want to be like that. I am trying to do a vegetarian meal once a week for a start.

  11. I’m not a #full vegan’ myself but I have plenty of friends who are so I eat a lot of vegan meals. They are tasty, delicious and perhaps more surprisingly to people – versatile. I’m certainly working towards becoming a full vegan.

  12. Vegan food is nutritional and often delicious. I changed from vegetarian to vegan 10 years ago and still enjoy all the best food

  13. Im not a vegan as i love Dairy and Eggs too much but there are some vegan recipes that we enjoy as a family on a regular basis.

  14. Im not vegan but often order a vegan meal in restaurants as they use ingriedients I am a bit scared of but are so yummy!

  15. I used to think that they were bland meals and that they wouldn’t fill me up. But for the last 18 months I have been slowly eating more of them and am finding that I really enjoy them. It is also great to find new recipes to try.

  16. My thoughts on vegan food are that there are many vegan dishes I really enjoy 🙂 and the choice is so much greater than it used to be. Definitely doesn’t have to be bland and boring!

  17. I’m vegetarian so I do eat a lot of vegan food – I don’t think I could manage being vegan myself but really respect those who are.

  18. I have yet to see Sharon’s book, but have heard so many good things about it! Kate’s is fantastic, just browsing through it now!

  19. My thoughts on vegan food is if it tastes amazing without meat then i will happily eat it and make it for my family too

  20. I like it, and while nobody in my house is vegan, I do make a lot of vegan recipes as find them far more healthy for my growing boys

  21. I have to admit i admit i am not a vegan although, i do make a lot of vegetarian dishes ( especially love working with pulses and lentils ) for the rest of the family and myself. I find they are totally delicious, nourishing and healthy. X x

  22. What an interesting and thoroughly enjoyable post. I was delighted to read about the recipes you had made from the books. It’s a good review and very encouraging to actually get these books because you have shown what some of these recipes are like to cook and how they taste. Food always looks delicious in cookbooks but often they can be a real faff to make for yourself.

  23. Although I am not vegan I cook a number of vegan dishes at home. I was really inspired by the dishes I tried at Vegan Life Live in January .

  24. Although I’m not a Vegan, I’m very interested in Vegan food. I try to incorporate it into my diet, as I think it is very healthy and good for you.

  25. I have reduced my meat intake but still love small quantities of quality meat.Our overall diet would improve if more people ate fish,especially oily fish like sardines and mackerel.I’m increasing the fish in my diet.

  26. although not a vegan i do love the recipes as they are healthy and become an easy challenge to get my boys to eat better

  27. Thank you very much for sending your veggie bean chilli into the Slow Cooked Challenge. Slow cooking your beans is a great way to save money too rather than buying the tins, aren’t dried beans such great value. The chilli looks so rich and full of flavour, I will give it a go!

  28. My Mother in law is vegan and whilst I appreciate her reasons I find it extremely restrictive sometimes and very hard to cater for her. The vegan book would be really helpful so I could cook meals that she would like and everyone else can eat when we have family get toegthers at weekends. I have tasted some lovely vegan dishes but think veggie is far enough for me as i love eggs too much x

  29. I would like to eat less meat. I don’t know much about the vegan diet but it’s something I would like to explore

  30. I’m not vegan, but have friends who are, and the 15 minute book sounds really useful – love the sound of the Bubble and Squeak Fry-Up with Grilled Tomatoes

  31. I am vegetarian but feel i couldn’t be completely vegan as i love cheese too much, although i do make vegan meals regulary for the family

  32. Not vegetarian but fancy a couple of meat free meals a week to save on cost. Some of these recipes sound really tasty.

  33. these look great and really tasty, im transitioning to vegan at the moment and there are so many recipes. I thought i would find it very hard but theres so many wonderful ideas out there

  34. I have cut down the amount of meat in my diet and replaced with vegetables but a world without eggs seems a little too far.

  35. I was always unsure of Vegan food as it seemed quite plain and boring but over the last couple of years it has become more appealing, I definitely think I will try and go vegan in 2017.

  36. If it tastes good, I’m in! We’re trying to cut down on meat at the moment – it’s the dairy that I find harder to let go of

  37. Vegan foods for literally everyone and it’s great to serve at dinner parties as there’s no risk of offending anybody…as long as the food is tasty – everyone has a great time.

  38. As a vegan of many years I’ve enjoyed trying out new recipes from around the world. It certainly opens you up to new ways of cooking.

  39. We went Vegan a couple years ago and it was fab, but when i fell pregnant for the second time i could only eat small amounts of food and the doctors recommended i go back to meat to keep my levels up in certain things so i did. now its a new year me and my partner are going back vegan again as we found it so much better for us health wise 🙂

    1. Good luck Lauren. I think if you feel better for it, you know it’s the right thing for you. I can definitely recommend either or both of these books. There’s lots of nutritional info in them as well as fab recipes.

  40. To be perfectly honest I have never tried vegan food as I am a meat 2 veg type of girl but I am trying to try new things and be a lot healthier so I am open to new ideas and new ways of doing things

  41. I think vegan food has come so far recently, there is so much out there now! I have been a vegetarian for around 10 years now and I am contemplating going vegan x

  42. I’d like to know more in regards to vegan food and recipes. As it is good to be aware, informed and prepared. As I would want to offer any visitors to food which they enjoy.

  43. What a lovely review! Thank you so much Choclette. I’m thrilled to hear how much you’re enjoying the book. The chilli looks delicious!

    Good luck to everyone that’s entering the giveaway! xx

  44. Ive been vegetarian for many years tend to cook lots of vegan meals at home with lots of herbs and spices-when om out and about it can be a struggle to gind tasty food -i find it so nland

  45. I quite enjoy a change every so often, so I eat vegan for one month every year to sample recipes and detox a little!

  46. I haven’t had any vegan meals but plenty of vegetarian.My son eats vegan meals though so I would be more than happy to eat them too.

  47. Vegan or vegetarian – what’s to be worried about? It’s all just lovely food. If I see something that looks nice or interestIng I will eat it. Keep all these lovely recipes going to make us all salivate and rush to the kitchen.

  48. I love vegan food, the taste as well as the ethics. My body isn’t terribly keen; I need a higher proportion of fat and protein in my food than most people, but I eat it when I can and enjoy learning new dishes/bakes.

  49. as much out of ignorance than anything else, I’m a little cautious on vegan food but being more open-minded about it all the time

  50. I’ve really enjoyed the vegan meals I’ve had but I’m skeptical whether I could find enough variety to become a vegan. Open to new recipe suggestions 🙂

  51. I really enjoy vegetarian and vegan meals, I think there are no so many products available that the choice of foods you can enjoy as a vegan is much more extensive now than it used to be.

  52. Oh goodness all this food looks so yummy! I want to be a better vegan but it’s difficult to find interesting recipes sometimes!

  53. My son has been vegan for two years and cooking for him has led me to eat more vegan meals myself. I can see myself moving towards a totally vegan diet.

  54. I’m a vegetarian who cooks quite a few vegan dishes and plan to introduce more this year. I think a lot of people forget or are unaware that a lots of everyday dishes, that they actually eat themselves, are vegan and certainly not “weird” or “disgusting” – things like a (non-egg, basic) pasta arabiatta or a baked potato with beans!

  55. I am not vegan but perhaps 95% of what i ea happens to be accidentally vegan. I think vegan food over the past 8 years has become very innovative and also tasty.

    1. Hello Shaheen, how lovely to hear from you. Recipes have hugely improved over the last few years and part of that is down to the work you’ve done on your blog.

  56. I was thinking about a veggie chilli the other day and this totally satisfies my craving! I also adore Veganuary too… bloody brilliant. Happy New Year darling x

  57. I have heard alot of good things about being vegan but i worry what I would cook, its good to know there is plenty of choice 🙂

  58. I’ve been putting a lot of thought into going ‘proper vegan’, with the amount of recipes around and even the supermarkets stocking a lot more vegan food these days it does seem easier to do than it was years ago.

  59. I’m not vegan but being dairy intolerant and keen to eat healthily do eat quite a lot of vegan food and it’s very nice.

  60. I have a couple of vegetarian and vegan friends, I often prefer vegan recipes as they can be much healthier and give you lots of energy.

  61. We’re not vegan, but we enjoy lots of great vegan meals – we’re big fans of pulses such as lentils, which are packed full of protein and really keep us feeling full! I’m just not a big fan of vegan substitutes, such as vegan cheese…

  62. I love using vegetables as the main part of a meal and am trying to grow a variety on my allotment to produce a range of different combinations and tastes.

  63. Thanks for the review Choclette – the beans look yummy! I’ve just been reading Sharon’s book too and loving it – I have some of her Cranberry & Orange Florentines in the oven as I type!

    1. It’s a great book Kate. Congratulations. The beans were delicious and I’d never have thought to do anything quite like that without your lovely recipe. Now you’ve made me want to make Florentines!

  64. I think there is nothing wrong with eating a vegan diet as long as you make sure you get the right nutrients. As for non-vegans eating vegan meals sometimes – I think it’s a good thing from what I’ve read. I like to experiment so if I enjoy a particular food or recipe, or if it sounds interesting, then I’ll give it a go. Vegan baking is interesting too. It’s good for everyone to explore different foods providing their specific requirements allow!

  65. Love vegan food – I tend to eat vegan at home, and then as plant-based as possible when out, although choice can be quite limited in some places – you’d think mushroom risotto or butternut squash was all vegans eat!

  66. Both books sound fantastic! I am not vegan or vegetarian but I often eat vegan meals and am always looking for more tasty ideas of getting my two children to eat more vegetables!

  67. I have been a vegetarian for years and have experimented with veganism twice. Failed both times as I did not make the necessary effort with planning and preparation so got a bit anaemic. However, there are many more resources out there now so I am tempted to try again.

  68. I’m currently researching transitioning from being vegetarian most of my life to vegan so really excited by all the vegan foods that I can eat, rather than focusing on what I can’t!

    1. Hi, I’m not entering the giveaway because I bought Sharon’s book but I just had to say how brilliant it is. Love the layout and fab recipes.