All the meaty meatless thangs there ever were are right here in this very chili. It’s that time of year where we put everything in a pot and say “oh hi, here’s dinner.” And breakfast. And lunch. Everything becomes a one-pot-meal. Because no one wants to do dishes when it’s thirty degrees outside. We want to sip coffee with cinnamon and chow down on sweet gingerbread nothings while things cook in one pot. While dishes don’t pile up. While the counters clean themselves. I’m a huge tofu fan but never have I ever put the ‘fu in chili. Why, you ask?
I have no answer for you there. Tofu is magical in the way that it takes on the flavor of pretty much anything. It’s basically an edible sponge. A high-protein, tasteless sponge. How appetizing does that sound right now? Raise your hand if you’re thrilled to whip up a batch of meatless tasteless sponge chili. Meeee! But seriously. The combination of tofu and mushrooms and beans galore makes this chili one for the chili books. It’s meaty without trying to be meaty. It’s savory, umami, bold. It would be insanely delish atop cornbread. Or like jalapeño cornbread studded with roasted corn slathered in something…buttery.
