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The Yooper Girl

The Yooper Girl

Life in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Vegan Quinoa Sweet Potato Kale Chili

08/25 by Leigha 34 Comments

Zucchini Bread
Recipe Redux: Chocolate Quinoa Energy Balls

Vegan Quinoa Sweet Potato Kale Chili

I am a food hoarder.

I buy all of this fancy food and then I don’t eat it. I let in sit in the pantry and expire and get stale. I don’t want to eat it because then eventually it will run out then I won’t have any more because for some reason my mind thinks it’s the last package of it in the world and I can never buy more.

Why do I think like this?

vegan quinoa sweet potato and kale chili

Gourmet nut butters, raw granola bars, fancy pesto. Seriously. I once made a tiny jar of pesto last for 4 months. I just took a dime-sized dollop everyday for my sandwich. It’s led me to not trying new things because I don’t want to use them up.

But anyways since this is a recipe post I should probably talk about the chili πŸ˜‰

Vegan Quinoa Sweet Potato Kale Chili and Avocado

Basically I just threw in some spices, veggie broth, quinoa, sweet potatoes, white beans, tomatoes, and kale all into a big pot and let it simmer. What I was rewarded with was a heart warming bowl of the tastiest chili I’ve ever made. Since, you know, it’s the only chili I’ve ever made πŸ˜‰ It’s vegan, gluten free, and bursting with nutrients! I don’t think there’s one ingredient that you’ll feel guilty about indulging in.

But seriously, it’s good. Like eat-it-straight-out-of-the-fridge-by-sticking-my-face-in-the-bowl good. Did I just admit to that? Sorry Mom. 

I actually made this back in March and never posted the recipe. I’ve honestly had it sitting in my drafts, fully written. I didn’t want to post a fall/winter recipe right when the season of fresh fruits and salads was coming. But now it’s going to get cold pretty soon so here’s to the first fall recipe! (I’m definitely not done with summer recipes yet. I still have approximately 50 zucchini from the garden:)

Vegan Quinoa Sweet Potato Kale Chili
2014-04-26 10:42:30
Serves 4
Vegan and freezer friendly, this quinoa sweet potato kale chili isn't lacking in any flavors!
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Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
40 min
Total Time
55 min
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
40 min
Total Time
55 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 small white onion, chopped
  2. 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  3. 1 tbsp olive oil
  4. 1 tsp paprika
  5. 1 tsp oregano
  6. 1 tsp chili powder
  7. 1/4 tsp cumin
  8. 1/4 tsp salt
  9. dash red pepper flakes
  10. 1 can tomatoes (I used roasted garlic)
  11. 1 can cannellini beans
  12. 16 oz vegetable broth
  13. 1/2 cup quinoa
  14. 1 small sweet potato, cooked and cubed
  15. 2 cups kale, torn off the stalks
  16. For topping: avocado, sour cream/greek yogurt, shredded cheese
Instructions
  1. In a large pot over medium heat, cook 1 tbsp of olive oil and the chopped onion until the onion turns transparent, about 10 minutes.
  2. Add the 3 chopped garlic cloves and stir, careful not to let them burn. After a few minutes, add the spices and can of tomatoes.
  3. After a few more minutes add the vegetable broth, white beans, and quinoa. Keep stirring until the quinoa starts "popping" out of the shell. Mine took about 25-30 minutes.
  4. Finally, add the precooked sweet potato and kale pieces, however big you want them to be.
  5. Once kale is wilted to your liking, ladle into bowls and top with avocado and anything else!
By Leigha
The Yooper Girl https://theyoopergirl.com/
Here is a behind the scenes look at my photo shooting mess because I love it when other bloggers post background things! Plus, it’s in my old house. Pictures of the new house here! πŸ™‚

behind the scenes of vegan chili

Happy Meatless Monday!

Vegan Quinoa Sweet Potato Chili on theyoopergirl.com

Zucchini Bread
Recipe Redux: Chocolate Quinoa Energy Balls

Filed Under: All Posts, Dinner, Gluten Free, Healthy, Recipes, Soup, Vegan

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Comments

  1. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

    08/25 at 6:43 am

    Seriously…you are my other half! I am the same way! I am scared I won’t be able to get it again…or afford it really, haha! Like my prized coconut butter! Food Hoarders Unite!

    Reply
    • theyoopergirl says

      08/25 at 8:24 am

      Hahaha! Glad I’m not alone πŸ™‚ I’m really bad with expensive stuff! Things have expired before I even opened them!

      Reply
  2. Tina muir says

    08/25 at 10:33 am

    This sounds wonderful Leigha! Sorry if I messed you around with meatless monday, but from now on you can join every week! Cant wait to see what you bring to it πŸ™‚ Great recovery foods in here, exactly what I need right now.
    Tina muir recently posted…Racing as an Elite; Crim Festival of Races 10 Mile RecapMy Profile

    Reply
    • theyoopergirl says

      08/25 at 10:41 am

      lol πŸ™‚ no problem! I’m excited for more meatless Monday’s – I don’t want to eat a lot of meat anymore!

      Reply
  3. Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean says

    08/25 at 10:50 am

    this looks fabulous! great photos. Sweet potatoes in chili is one of my favorite things! now if the weather would just cool down a bit πŸ™‚
    Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean recently posted…Bean Bytes 104My Profile

    Reply
    • theyoopergirl says

      08/25 at 11:05 am

      Thanks Lindsay πŸ™‚ The weather is cool enough here! I don’t even think it hit the 90’s this summer!

      Reply
  4. Kelli @Hungry Hobby says

    08/25 at 3:46 pm

    I’m a food hoarder too, we need a food hoarders anonymous lol to purge our cabinets of all unused fancy specialty items. The worst part is I never even use them in recipes because I”m thinking I’m the only one that buys them! Chili looks amazing, can’t wait for it to get cool in Phoenix in like 3 months lol

    Reply
    • theyoopergirl says

      08/25 at 5:07 pm

      Haha right? I feel like people will get annoyed if I post a recipe they don’t have the ingredients for!

      Reply
  5. Josefine {The Smoothie lover} says

    08/25 at 4:41 pm

    Whoa this looks good!!! I actually have some sweet potatoes in the fridge right now – and like you I don’t want to use them because I don’t want then to be gone πŸ˜‰ Haha… I should definitely use them in this chili
    Josefine {The Smoothie lover} recently posted…Healthy & Vegan Dark Chocolate Ice CreamMy Profile

    Reply
    • theyoopergirl says

      08/25 at 5:10 pm

      Lol! I haven’t been buying sweet potatoes lately and I’m wondering why.. they’re so yummy! Probably because when I buy them they always end up going bad because I don’t eat them πŸ˜‰ thanks girly!

      Reply
  6. Cheryl "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser says

    08/25 at 9:59 pm

    Hi Yooper Girl, you will eventually stop hoarding and use the stuff!!! It’s ok eveyone has done the exact thing! Keep on cooking! Cheryl

    Reply
    • theyoopergirl says

      08/26 at 4:37 pm

      Thanks Cheryl! I’m working my way through things now πŸ™‚

      Reply
  7. Francesca says

    08/25 at 10:11 pm

    Too good not to share! Love me some quinoa and sweet potatoes πŸ™‚
    Francesca recently posted…Black Quinoa Lemon β€œPoppy Seed” MuffinsMy Profile

    Reply
    • theyoopergirl says

      08/26 at 4:37 pm

      Thanks, Francesca! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  8. Allie says

    08/26 at 10:20 am

    I love you behind the scenes picture!! Those types of pictures are always my favorite. This chili looks amazing, and I think it will be perfect for fall! Your photography continues to amaze me. Love it.

    I am like you with hoarding things and spreading them out at long as possible… except with nut butters. In those cases I have to force myself to slow down and not eat it all in like 3 days, haha. I had this banana peanut butter from Harry and David like two summers ago and it was SO good. I finished the jar really fast and then found out they discontinued that PB. It was a sad day, haha!
    Allie recently posted…Around the internetMy Profile

    Reply
    • Allie says

      08/26 at 10:21 am

      your*
      Allie recently posted…Around the internetMy Profile

      Reply
    • theyoopergirl says

      08/26 at 4:39 pm

      Oh no, discontinued stuff is the WORST for me! I never use it, hahaha! Thank you so much Allie πŸ™‚ I’m really starting to have a passion for photography!

      Reply
  9. Paula @ Paula's Plate says

    08/26 at 6:16 pm

    I DEFINITELY hear you on the food hoarding thing, haha. This chili looks incredible, what a wonderful combo of flavors!
    Paula @ Paula’s Plate recently posted…Green Juice to Start Your DayMy Profile

    Reply
    • theyoopergirl says

      08/26 at 6:40 pm

      Thank you! Glad to hear I’m not the only one, haha!

      Reply
  10. Liz @ Carpe Diem and Run says

    08/26 at 9:03 pm

    Leigha, your photos are absolutely gorgeous <3 Wow! πŸ˜€
    Liz @ Carpe Diem and Run recently posted…Thinking Out Loud #9My Profile

    Reply
    • theyoopergirl says

      08/27 at 8:20 am

      Thank you Liz!

      Reply
  11. Tash says

    08/27 at 3:50 am

    I really can’t wait to try this!! Currently experiencing avocado cravings. (Though don’t I always leave your blog craving something or other..?!) P.S. girl, your photos are becoming pretty outstanding!! Hope you are well!! πŸ™‚ xxx
    Tash recently posted…Deep Filled Sour Cream Blueberry Pie BarsMy Profile

    Reply
    • theyoopergirl says

      08/27 at 8:21 am

      Thanks Tash! I’m really enjoying photography πŸ™‚ hope you’re great too!

      Reply
  12. Brittany @ DulceVie says

    08/29 at 9:54 am

    Oh. My. Gosh. You combined all of my favorite foods into one dish. Making this asap!
    Brittany @ DulceVie recently posted…Birthday CelebrationMy Profile

    Reply
    • theyoopergirl says

      08/29 at 11:09 am

      πŸ˜€ let me know if you like it!

      Reply
  13. molly@this life is sparkling says

    08/30 at 5:57 pm

    Sounds (and looks) amazing!
    molly@this life is sparkling recently posted…A good day of eats.My Profile

    Reply
    • theyoopergirl says

      08/31 at 10:30 am

      πŸ˜€

      Reply
  14. Ursula says

    09/02 at 12:42 pm

    Yum yum yum, This is perfect for the changing weather. And topping it off with avocado makes it look so much more delicious!

    Reply
    • theyoopergirl says

      09/02 at 6:54 pm

      Topping ANYTHING with avocado makes it 10x more delicious πŸ™‚

      Reply
  15. Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner says

    09/03 at 11:52 am

    All of my favorite foods together yum! Thanks for joining our link up. please remember to try to visit the other pages and the hostesses recipes as well. Hope to see you next Monday too!
    Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…September Tune up-Do you need one too?My Profile

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Quinoa, Black Bean, and Chickpea Salad - Cooking Quinoa says:
    09/04 at 7:55 am

    […] When Wendy asked me to write a guest post for Cooking Quinoa I was so excited.Β WithΒ all of the amazing recipes she has, I was honored! Quinoa is one of my favorite foods to work with since it can go so many different directions. Baked, salads, breakfast, soups…(may I mention myΒ vegan quinoa sweet potato chili?) […]

    Reply
  2. Vanilla Bean Almond Butter with Cinnamon and Sea Salt says:
    10/21 at 6:47 am

    […] structures and was bought a year, maybe two ago. Remember when I talked about being a food hoarder? […]

    Reply
  3. Healthy Bananas Foster Bread Pudding – The Yooper Girl says:
    05/12 at 11:52 am

    […] because I didn’t want to use a whole can of coconut milk. Remember when I talked about my food hoarding problems? … yeah. I’m getting better, I […]

    Reply
  4. Quinoa, Black Bean, and Chickpea Salad - Wendy Polisi says:
    08/05 at 8:51 am

    […] Hi, quinoa lovers! I’m Leigha, the blogger behind The Yooper Girl. I love to run and do anything outdoors. I also love cooking! I love to experiment with vegan and gluten free recipes. I’m not any strict diet myself, but I eat a little bit from every diet! When Wendy asked me to write a guest post for Cooking Quinoa I was so excited. With all of the amazing recipes she has, I was honored! Quinoa is one of my favorite foods to work with since it can go so many different directions. Baked, salads, breakfast, soups…(may I mention my vegan quinoa sweet potato chili?) […]

    Reply

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