If you know how to open a few cans, you can make this vegetarian drunken pumpkin chili recipe. Its that easy! I kept this recipe seasonal by using some pumpkin. You could easily leave out the pumpkin part of the recipe, and still have a very yummy chili.

In the summerI use zucchini in this recipe instead of the pumpkin. But no matter what season you make this chili, make sure to use a beer you actually like. Dont use a beer that is too bitter, it will make your entire chili bitter. As a tribute to Oregon’s amazing local beers, I used a beer from here. But any pale lager or medium bodied beer will work. Serve the same beer with your meal.

This is a great recipe to make ahead or to feed a crowd. The recipe is also very forgiving, you can adjust the seasonings as you like, leave out the pumpkin, use different beans, cook it too long, too less..it will still taste good! Meat lovers will like this dish too.

Drunken Pumpkin Chili Recipe

Serves about 6

Ingredients
one 1.5 lb pie pumpkin or sugar pumpkin
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, diced
1 large carrot, cut into matchsticks
2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
one 15 oz can kidney beans, drained
one 15 oz can pinto beans, drained
half a 15 oz can sweet corn, drained
two 14 oz cans of diced tomato
1 tablespoon tomato paste
one 12 oz can of beer (pale or medium lager)
2 cups meatless crumbles like Yves ground round or Morningstar crumbles
1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese

Method
Pre heat oven to 375f

Using a sharp knife, cut the pumpkin in half. Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and membrane. Place the pumpkin halves on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, cut side down. Bake in a 375f oven for 15 minutes or just until the pumpkin is soft enough to peel the skin away. 

When the pumpkin is done, remove from oven. Wait for it to cool enough to handle it. Peel the skin, and discard. Also discard the stem end of the pumpkin. Cut the pumpkin into 1 inch cubes. You should have about 3 cups of cubed pumpkin.

In a large pot, heat the oil and add the diced onion. Cook on medium heat till the onion is soft. Then add the carrots, paprika, chili powder, and cumin. Stir for about 30 seconds.

Add the kidney beans, pinto beans, sweet corn, and tomatoes, tomato paste, beer, the baked and peeled pumpkin, and salt to the pot. Bring to a boil, while stirring. When the chili boils, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes or till the pumpkin is soft.

If the chili gets too thick, add 1-2 cups water.

When the pumpkin is soft, stir in the meatless crumbles and cook just untill the crumbles are heated through. If using frozen crumbles, make sure they get completely heated.

Taste and adjust for salt. At this point if you like, you can add 1 tablespoon of sugar to the chili for some sweetness or 2 tablespoons lime juice for some tang. Both are optional.

Serve drunken pumpkin chili with sprinkled cheese on top and tortilla chips or brown rice.

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