This Charred Sweetcorn, Sweet Potato & Feta Black Bean Chilli recipe is a hearty, plant-based dish that packs a punch of flavour and nutrition. Combining the smoky sweetness of charred sweetcorn and sweet potatoes with the richness of black beans, this recipe is spiced with a blend of chilli powder and red chilli for a warming kick. Perfect for those who love vegetarian chilli, this dish is enhanced with the tangy creaminess of feta, making it a satisfying and wholesome meal. Serve it with a side of cornbread or over a baked potato for a comforting and flavorful dinner that’s ideal for any season. Whether you’re a seasoned home cook or new to plant-based foods, this recipe is easy to prepare and bursting with good food vibes.
Press GO to start step-by-step mode and keep your screen awake as you cook.
Step 1.
Peel the garlic cloves (leave them whole). Pick the tomatoes off their vine, then cut them in half.
Step 2.
Get a frying pan over a medium heat. Toast the cumin seeds until smelling amazing, then tip them into a bowl. Put the pan back over a high heat. Add the garlic and tomato halves. Fry for 3-4 mins, turning regularly until both are charring, then tip the tomatoes and garlic into a blender – keep the pan aside to use later.
Step 3.
Add three-quarters of the cumin seeds to the blender along with the chipotle paste, chilli flakes, coriander stalks and tomato purée. Blitz until a smooth sauce forms – this is the base of your chilli.
Step 4.
Roughly chop 1½ of the red onions, then very finely slice the remaining ½ red onion. Scrape the chopped onion into a large deep frying pan or casserole dish over a medium heat. Pour in 1 tbsp oil, add a big pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, for 6-8 mins until softened.
Step 5.
Meanwhile, put the remaining finely sliced onion into the same bowl as the remaining cumin seeds. Squeeze in the juice of 1 lime, add a good pinch of salt, then scrunch with your hands to soften the onion and quick-pickle. Set aside.
Step 6.
Peel and cut the sweet potato into even small-sized chunks, about 2cm. Stir into the pan with the onions, then pour in your chipotle sauce and black beans along with their liquid. Give everything a good mix, then turn the heat to a simmer and simmer for 20 mins until the sweet potato is tender but still holding its shape and the sauce has reduced.
Step 7.
Cook the rice following packet instructions.
Step 8.
As the chilli cooks, bring another saucepan of boiling salted water to the boil. Once boiling, drop in the sweetcorn and cook for 3 mins, drain and leave to steam dry.
Step 9.
Get the frying pan you were using earlier back over a super-high heat. Brush or drizzle the sweetcorn with the remaining 1 tbsp oil and season with salt and pepper. Add the corn to the super-hot pan and fry, turning regularly until evenly charred – this will take around 5 mins. Put the corn onto a chopping board to cool slightly.
Step 10.
Once ready to serve, season the chilli to taste, pouring in the lime juice from the pickled onions. Cut the other lime into wedges to serve and pick the coriander leaves. Holding the corn upright, cut downwards with your knife to shave off the charred corn kernels.
Step 11.
Serve the chilli in bowls with rice or tortillas, topped with the charred corn, cumin pickled onions, feta, coriander and a few more chilli flakes if you like.
Serves
4
4
Garlic Cloves
500 g
Vine Tomatoes
4 tsp
Cumin Seeds
3 tsp
Chipotle Paste
½ tsp
Chilli Flakes
50 g
Fresh Coriander
3 tbsp
Tomato Purée
2
Red Onions
2 tbsp
Vegetable Oil
2
Limes
2
Sweet Potatoes
2 x 400g Cans
Cooked Black Beans
200 g
Jasmine Rice
2
Corn On The Cobs
150 g
Feta
Serves
4
4
Garlic Cloves
500 g
Vine Tomatoes
4 tsp
Cumin Seeds
3 tsp
Chipotle Paste
½ tsp
Chilli Flakes
50 g
Fresh Coriander
3 tbsp
Tomato Purée
2
Red Onions
2 tbsp
Vegetable Oil
2
Limes
2
Sweet Potatoes
2 x 400g Cans
Cooked Black Beans
200 g
Jasmine Rice
2
Corn On The Cobs
150 g
Feta
Press GO to start step-by-step mode and keep your screen awake as you cook.
Step 1.
Peel the garlic cloves (leave them whole). Pick the tomatoes off their vine, then cut them in half.
Step 2.
Get a frying pan over a medium heat. Toast the cumin seeds until smelling amazing, then tip them into a bowl. Put the pan back over a high heat. Add the garlic and tomato halves. Fry for 3-4 mins, turning regularly until both are charring, then tip the tomatoes and garlic into a blender – keep the pan aside to use later.
Step 3.
Add three-quarters of the cumin seeds to the blender along with the chipotle paste, chilli flakes, coriander stalks and tomato purée. Blitz until a smooth sauce forms – this is the base of your chilli.
Step 4.
Roughly chop 1½ of the red onions, then very finely slice the remaining ½ red onion. Scrape the chopped onion into a large deep frying pan or casserole dish over a medium heat. Pour in 1 tbsp oil, add a big pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, for 6-8 mins until softened.
Step 5.
Meanwhile, put the remaining finely sliced onion into the same bowl as the remaining cumin seeds. Squeeze in the juice of 1 lime, add a good pinch of salt, then scrunch with your hands to soften the onion and quick-pickle. Set aside.
Step 6.
Peel and cut the sweet potato into even small-sized chunks, about 2cm. Stir into the pan with the onions, then pour in your chipotle sauce and black beans along with their liquid. Give everything a good mix, then turn the heat to a simmer and simmer for 20 mins until the sweet potato is tender but still holding its shape and the sauce has reduced.
Step 7.
Cook the rice following packet instructions.
Step 8.
As the chilli cooks, bring another saucepan of boiling salted water to the boil. Once boiling, drop in the sweetcorn and cook for 3 mins, drain and leave to steam dry.
Step 9.
Get the frying pan you were using earlier back over a super-high heat. Brush or drizzle the sweetcorn with the remaining 1 tbsp oil and season with salt and pepper. Add the corn to the super-hot pan and fry, turning regularly until evenly charred – this will take around 5 mins. Put the corn onto a chopping board to cool slightly.
Step 10.
Once ready to serve, season the chilli to taste, pouring in the lime juice from the pickled onions. Cut the other lime into wedges to serve and pick the coriander leaves. Holding the corn upright, cut downwards with your knife to shave off the charred corn kernels.
Step 11.
Serve the chilli in bowls with rice or tortillas, topped with the charred corn, cumin pickled onions, feta, coriander and a few more chilli flakes if you like.
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