Description
An elegant one-pot dish that combines silky macaroni with spiced, bean-forward chili for a sophisticated comfort food experience.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (about 2 cups) dried macaroni or small pasta
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans or kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, hot
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp chipotle powder or cayenne
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp lime juice, freshly squeezed
- Fresh cilantro or parsley, finely chopped
- Sliced avocado and vegan sour cream, optional
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a wide, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and a pinch of salt. Sauté until translucent and soft, about 5–7 minutes.
- Add the garlic and toast briefly until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, and chipotle. Toast the spices until they bloom and smell warm and nutty.
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook 1–2 minutes to caramelize its sugars. Deglaze the pot with a splash of hot vegetable broth, scraping up any browned bits.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, remaining hot broth, rinsed beans, and corn. Bring to a gentle simmer. Season with salt and pepper.
- Stir in the dried macaroni, pressing it gently into the liquid so it’s submerged. Cover and simmer gently, stirring every 5 minutes to prevent sticking, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce is reduced to a creamy coating, about 10–12 minutes.
- Once the pasta is al dente, remove from heat. Stir in nutritional yeast and lime juice; check seasoning and adjust salt, pepper, or acidity.
- Finish with chopped herbs and garnishes like sliced avocado or a dollop of vegan sour cream. Serve immediately.
Notes
For better texture, reserve hot broth to loosen the sauce instead of using water. Toasting spices briefly intensifies aroma.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Vegan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 0mg