What Vegetable Goes With Chili? – A Guide to Pairing Your Favorite Foods
Chili is one of the world’s most popular cuisines, and for good reason. It’s simple, flavorful and perfect for feeding a crowd. Chili is perfect for warming up on those cold winter days. It’s also a great way to use up any leftover vegetables in your refrigerator.
With so many different types of chili, you’ll be surprised to learn which vegetables pair well with chili. Not sure which ones to add? Read on to learn about the best chili-friendly vegetables.
Beans
Beans add a protein and texture to chili that loads it up with “meatiness.”
These hearty legumes are perfect for adding to chili because they hold their shape during cooking and retain their shape when you’re serving.
They’re inexpensive and can be found at almost any grocery store in a variety of shapes and sizes.
If you’re making a vegetarian chili, you can substitute beans for tofu or other types of legumes.
Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are great for adding a sweet, spicy or tangy flavor to your chili.
They’re available in a variety of colors and shapes, making them easy to find at your local grocery store.
If you’re not a fan of bell peppers, you can substitute any type of bell pepper for the same benefits.
If you’re looking for a spicier chili, substitute red bell peppers for jalapeños.
For a milder chili, replace red bell peppers with green ones.
Onions
Onions are a staple in most chili recipes. They add a sweet and savory flavor to any type of chili.
If you’re not a fan of onions, you can substitute them with garlic, celery or carrots.
Onions are an inexpensive vegetable that can be found almost anywhere.
They’re especially easy to find in the winter months since they’re used often in chili recipes.
Potato and Corn
A baked potato on the side is a match made in heaven
Potato and corn are both inexpensive and easy to find. They’re great for adding both mild and spicy flavors to chili.
Potato and corn are perfect for making chili because they have a nice “meatiness” to them.
They also hold their shape during cooking and can be served as a tasty side.
Carrots
Chili is often served with a side of carrots. They help to add some sweetness to the chili and make it more appetizing.
Carrots also help to thicken chili since they have a low rate of water absorption.
Another great feature of carrots is that they can be peeled. This is helpful if you have friends or family members with certain allergies.
Tomatoes
I personally love tomatoes in my chili dishes, They can be chopped and added or roasted on the side.
They have a tangy flavor and add a lot of “meatiness” to chili.
If you don’t like the taste of tomatoes, you can substitute your favorite vegetables in their place.
Tomatoes are usually inexpensive and can be found almost everywhere.
Squash
Squash are generally sweet, but also add a little bit of a savory flavor to your chili.
They can be found in almost every grocery store during the winter months since they’re used often in chili recipes.
They can also be used in other soups and stews since they have a low water absorption rate.
Sweet Potatoes and Yams
Sweet potatoes and yams are two sweet vegetables that can be found at almost every grocery store.
Sweet potatoes are a great option if you’re looking for a savory chili.
Yams are a great sweet option if you’re looking for a spicier option.
Yams and sweet potatoes are both inexpensive and easy to find during the winter months.
Conclusion
Whether youre looking for vegetable options to go in your chili dish or to be served as a side, these options are great and pair very well with chilli.
Some vegetables are better for certain occasions than others, so if you’re not sure which vegetables to add, I hope this article can help you out.