VEGAN; a person who does not eat any food derived from animals and who typically does not use other animal products.
Many people today choose to eat a more plant-based diet, whether that means being a strict vegan or a vegetarian or simply limiting animal products in their everyday life for one reason or another. We could get into why people choose a specific diet, but this isn’t going to be the time or place, so if you’re interested in chatting further, leave a comment, and I’d be happy to bounce ideas around.
Being plant-based holds differing ideals, but let’s discuss how to create a DELICIOUS vegan meal!
For the most part, all recipes are adaptable to become plant-based or even fully vegan. So today I’m going to choose a recipe shared with me by a local postpartum doula when I asked for suggestions on an iron-rich meal for a newly postpartum mom struggling with low hemoglobin.
See below how I take the original chili recipe and substitute ingredients to make this delicious VEGAN chili!
SWEET POTATO CHILI
Original Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef (organic, grass-fed is best!)
- 2 14 oz cans diced tomatoes
- 2 14 oz cans tomato sauce
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bag frozen spinach
- 3 large sweet potatoes
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 3 cups broth
VEGAN Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked lentils
- 2 14 oz cans diced tomatoes
- 2 14 oz cans tomato sauce
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bag frozen spinach
- 3 large sweet potatoes
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 3 cups vegetable/mushroom broth
Instructions
- In a pan, sauté the onion and garlic until aromatic
- This would be the time to brown the meat or meat substitute (impossible sausage)
- Once the onions are translucent transfer them to the crockpot, and add the chopped sweet potatoes, tomatoes and sauce, frozen spinach, broth, and spices.
- Stir thoroughly to ensure the sweet potatoes are fully submerged in broth and put the lid on the pot.
- Cook on low for 6 hours, or high for 4. Until lentils and sweet potato are tender.
Samantha Martin of Doula Mae Birth Services is a Birth Boot Camp Doula and Instructor based in Minnesota who loves cooking plant-based meals for her family. Eating plant-based isn’t always easy but since choosing to eat a plant-based diet in late 2014 she’s modified many recipes that have now become favorite staples in her house.