Reply #18: Yes. But I won't tell you the recipe. [View All]

[jobycom]

Mainly because I've lost it. Living in Texas, I've got a whole book on vegetarian chilis and half the cookbooks I've bought over the years were bought because I liked the chili recipes. I used to have a copy of Vegetarian Times devoted completely to chili, but I wore the darned thing out, between constant use and splattering with simmering ingredients. And I attend the Lone Star Vegetarian Cook-off whenever I get the chance, which isn't more than once a year, since that's all they hold it.

But I lost my favorite recipe, have to improvise it when I want it. It uses TVP (though you could leave that out), frozen tofu (freezing it then defrosting it gives it a very different texture), three types of beans, several bottles of Shiner Bock, jalepenos, and I don't even remember what else. Cumin and Cayenne are no doubt part of it.

The other favorite veggie chili I've ever had was from a restaurant in New Mexico, either around Taos or Santa Fe, that had a slighly bitter, licorice flavor. No beans, IIRC, and not a lot of fruit.

I've had chilis based on squash and eggplant, bean chilis, tofu chilis, veggies, fake meat, tofu, Boca Burgers... About the only thing they all have in common is a cayenne--cumin flavor base, and even that varies.

So yes, there are great vegetarian recipes out there. And bad ones. And ones that would only make a vegetarian happy, and others that meat-eaters would love (the one I wish I hadn't lost even pleases my carnivore family).

But I can't make you scream with delight, I'm afraid. The quest for the perfect chili is a religious one, and no one can help your spirit along such an intimately personal journey.