Fast 9-ingredient Chili Con TVP
1/2 cup onion, chopped
4 tablespoons chili powder
hot chilies, to taste, optional
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/4 cups textured soy protein
1 1/4 cups dehydrated "ground beef" style bits
2 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans, undrained
2 (10 ounce) cans condensed tomato soup
4 teaspoons vinegar
1. Begin by boiling 2 1/2 cups water in the microwave. Meanwhile, saute onion, garlic, chilies (if using), and chili powder in a large sauce pan. Once water is boiling, pour over textured soy protein and dehydrated "ground beef" in a separate bowl. Let stand 5 minutes.
2. While this mixture is hydrating, begin opening all cans and dumping into sauce pan. Add the vinegar and an additional 1/2 cup of water to this in the large sauce pan.
3. Fluff up the now-hydrated textured soy protein and "ground beef," and stir into the large sauce pan. (Don't worry if they're not hydrated all the way, they will absorb the chili liquid). Heat mixture to boiling.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve immediately.
(Note: I used two different types of dehydrated "beef" substitute because of the coloring. You can use whatever you like. Also, don't worry if the chili burns a bit on the bottom of the saucepan. If you scrap this burnt stuff up and into the chili, it will impart a nice, smoky flavor.)
SO HOW'D IT GO?
Like many recipes on this site, this gets a 5 not on taste alone but because it is so simple and quick.
I did not use any ground beef style bits, but did up the TVP to two cups. I did not use vinager. I used three table spoons of chili powder instead of four. Four is a bit much and seems like a waste when it tastes perfectly fine with three.
I think this is going to be a great lunch for work. Full of protein.
I'd only cooked a handful of times before making this last Friday, so didn't have high expectations - through no fault of the recipe's, of course! I was delighted how smoothly this came together, and even more so by how the size of the recipe meant I had three days worth of lunch and dinner. A total treat, and I'm making it again this weekend! ;)b
Can the ground beef style bits be replaced with more TVP? I want to make this for chili dogs and the less extra ingredients I have to buy, the better. ;)b
I bastardised this due to lack of ingredients and found out to my surprise that my omni boyfriend really likes TVP. I plan to make this later this week - following the directions this time.
It just kind of adds a dimension of flavor.....I guess I've always used vinegar in tomatoe-y recipes. The chili certainly doesn't taste like vinegar.
What's the point of the vinegar in here? I've never used it in chili so I'm curious. ???