Big batch bean chilli
Portions for you + portions for a friend + portions for the freezer
Give it a go, a a gift to your future self. Big batch bean chilli is the sort of batchable recipe I rely on and simmer up once a month to help ease my mental load and physical load with a reliable stock of delicious healthy dinners. Freeze in containers for a rainy day or for those evenings when you simply don’t have the energy to do anymore than reheat and put your feet up.
Loaded with flavour, with beans and loaded with veg (I used a mountain of 6 different veggies & 3 types of beans but you could add in even more if you like, the more the merrier!) Talk about plant points and gut friendly variety in 1 easy delicious recipe.
This is definitely one to make if:
Want to eat more beans and more veg
You know you’ve got a busy /stressful time coming up
Like to get your head down in the kitchen for a few hours (including chopping and clear up) with a podcast and do all cooking & washing up in one fail swoop
Have a pregnant friend who you want to treat to nourishing food for her freezer
Have a sick friend convalescing
Want to spread love to anyone having a tricky time
Here are some other batch cooking / freezer friendly recipes you might like:
batch cooking newsletter - including sweets and breakfasts
If you’re looking for containers for your fridge/freezer, silicone bags for storing baked goods or similar, you can shop my tried-and-tested favourites here.
It easily makes 12 portions and takes 1 hour but if you let it simmer away for another hour, of course it will be even more tasty. Simply halve the recipe if you’re worried about freezer space but I normally eat some straight away/ freeze some / fridge some for 3-4 days/ give a few portions away. That gets me through 12 portions easily.
Serve with as many of the sides/ toppings / scatterings as you like: jacket potatoes, rice, sweet potato wedges, carrot fries, tortillas, sour cream/yoghurt, avocado, cheddar cheese, pickled jalapenos, lime wedges, chilli sauce, tacos, turn into breakfast burritos etc.
THE RECIPE
Makes 12 portions, takes an 1 hour, simmer for longer if you can. Simply halve the recipe if you’re worried about freezer space but I normally eat some straight away/ freeze some / fridge some for 3-4 days/ give a few portions away. That gets me through 12 portions easily.
6 tbsp olive oil
4 big onions, finely chopped
4 sticks of celery, finely chopped
4 peppers, finely chopped
2 courgettes, finely chopped
1 leek, finely chopped
5 garlic cloves, finely chopped
4 tbsp tomato puree
2 tbsp coriander seeds
2 tbsp cumin seeds
2 tbsp smoked paprika
Big pinch of chilli flakes
4x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes
3x 660g jars of beans or 6x 400g tins of beans*
*Don’t drain the beans. You want all their lovely liquid, unless there are additional ingredients other than the beans, water and salt. If there are additional ingredients, drain the beans and add a good splash of stock or water to make up for the liquid lost.
options: Cooked rice or quinoa / Tortillas / Baked potatoes or sweet potatoes / Avocado
Yoghurt or sour cream/ Grated cheddar / Pickled jalapenos/ Lime wedges
1. Get two large pans on a medium-high heat and add 3 tbsp olive oil to each. Once shimmering, divide all the veg between the pans. Season well with salt and pepper and cook for 15-20 mins, stirring every so often, until completely soft.
2. Add the garlic and spices, fry for a couple of minutes until fragrant then add the tomato puree and cook out for a few minutes until it turns a darker shade of red. Add the chopped tomatoes and beans (plus their liquid, see note above). Simmer for 20-25 minutes until reduced and thickened. Taste for seasoning before serving and/or storing in containers for the fridge/freezer.
And here’s me making it in the summer of 2023 waiting for my baby Summer to arrive!
PS I really recommend this recipe too - squash, beans and greens, a sort of winter-minestrone which we like to call Winterstrone!
And I’ll pop these links here again, in case helpful
Here are some other batch cooking / freezer friendly recipes you might like:
batch cooking newsletter - including sweets and breakfasts
If you’re looking for containers for your fridge/freezer, silicone bags for storing baked goods or similar, you can shop my tried-and-tested favourites here.