Kimchi Chili

When I was visiting new york, my friend Appy brought me a tupperware of (vegan!) kimchi chili that she had made 🥺 and while I was at first a little hesitant about how well the flavor combination would work, I immediately changed my mind when I tried it. The tang and texture of the kimchi combined, sweetness of the gochujang, and smokiness of the gochugaru is just 💯. Once I got back I knew I had to recreate!! I used plant-based ground meat but I’ve also made this with ground turkey before.

I used (serves 3-4):

  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup kimchi, roughly chopped
  • 12-oz. plant-based ground meat (I used impossible)
  • 13.7 oz diced tomatoes
  • 13.7 oz black beans
  • 13.7 oz  kidney beans
  • 3 tbsp gochujang
  • 1.5 tbsp gochugaru
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • ½ cup water
  • ¼ tsp sugar
  • salt and pepper
  • fixing ideas: radishes, jalapenos, scallions, cheese, crushed potato chips, red onions

To make:

  • Heat up oil in a pot/dutch oven over medium heat and saute the onions and garlic until softened, seasoning with salt and pepper
  • Add in your plant-based crumbles or meat, once ~80% cooked add in chopped kimchi and gochujang and stir to combine
  • Add in diced tomatoes and beans as well as your spices (gochugaru, cumin, chili powder, sugar).
  • Pour in water until you reach desired consistency (I use ½ cup) and bring to a boil and simmer on low for 30 minutes
  • Season with salt to taste and garnish with fixings of choice