Lentil Sweet Potato Chili
From All-Creatures.org Vegan - Vegetarian Recipe Book: How Mary and Frank and Friends Eat

"We are dedicated to cruelty-free living through a vegetarian - vegan lifestyle. Let no animal suffer or die that we may live!"

Ingredients

2 lbs. Lentils, dry
2 lbs. Sweet Potatoes
1 - 28-oz. can Crushed Tomatoes
2 Onions, medium size
5-6 Garlic, cloves
1-2 Chipotle Peppers OR 2 drops Smoke Flavor and Hot Sauce, to taste
1/4 cup Molasses, unsulphured
2 tbsp. Chili Powder
2 tbsp. Cumin, ground
2 tbsp. Paprika
1 tsp. Cinnamon, ground

(To enlarge the photo of the lentil sweet potato chili, click on the photo or link)

Preparation

We prepare this lentil sweet potato chili recipe in a 6-1/2 quart slow cooker (Crock-Pot).  If you have a smaller slow cooker, or wish to make a smaller batch, cut the recipe in half. The lentil sweet potato chili is great for leftovers, so we usually make a full batch and store it in the covered pot in the refrigerator for a few days. It makes 8-12 servings.

This recipe will take about 10-12 hours of cooking time, so we begin cooking the lentils the night before we wish to eat the chili, adding the other ingredients in the morning, and letting it cook on "low" until we are ready to eat.

Begin by turning the slow cooker on to "low". 

Place 10 cups of cold tap water (filtered, if possible) in the slow cooker pot.

Clean and wash the lentils and add to the slow cooker (all the lentils should be covered with water in the pot). Cover the slow cooker pot, and let simmer over night.

(OPTION: If you desire to reduce the cooking time so you can begin cooking in the morning, set the slow cooker to high, and preheat the water in a pot on the stovetop, and add to the slow cooker pot when it begins to boil, along with the washed lentils.)

In the morning, peel and wash the onions and garlic. If you want to omit the garlic, add an additional onion instead.

Place the onions, the garlic and the chipotle peppers in the container of a high speed blender, cover and run at "high" until the veggies are turned into a puree.  Empty the contents into a microwaveable dish or pot and precook for about 5 minutes.  Add to the slow cooker and mix.

Open the can of tomatoes, and preheat in a pot or dish until it just begins to boil.  Add to the slow cooker.

Add all the other ingredients except the sweet potatoes, and mix well. 

WWash and peel the sweet potatoes and cut into small cubes (3/8 inch or 1 cm.).  Add to the slow cooker and mix well.  Cover.

Turn the heat down to "low" and allow to simmer for at least 3-4 hours to allow the sweet potatoes to cook and the flavors to blend.

Mix well and serve the lentil sweet potato chili with a large tossed salad and enjoy!

Ingredients Information

Chili Powder

Cinnamon, ground

Cumin, ground

Garlic

Lentils

Molasses, Unsulphured

Onions, Yellow

Paprika

Pepper Sauce - Hot Red

Peppers, Chipotle

Potatoes, Sweet

Smoke Flavor, Liquid

Tomatoes, Crushed

Utensils and Equipment Information

Crock Pot (slow-cooker)

Dish, Ceramic Baking

Knives

Measuring Cup, Liquid

Measuring Spoons

Pot, Glass

Spoon, Large Mixing

Vita-Mix

The above recipe is in keeping with God's creation intent (Genesis 1:29-31): 'Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground-- everything that has the breath of life in it-- I give every green plant for food." And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.' (NIV) Let no animal suffer or die that we may live!