Recipe: Healthy Quinoa Chipotle Bean Chili

This delicious and healthy recipe is packed with protein, fresh veggies, and spices for a flavorful, hearty winter meal that will fill you up without derailing your New Year's weight loss goals! For less salt and more flavor, cook your own beans instead of using canned - it's easy - just soak in cold water with a pinch of baking soda overnight, then drain, rinse, and cook for about 40 minutes to an hour before adding to the rest of the chili ingredients.

Healthy Quinoa Chipotle Bean Chili
(Serves 4.)

Ingredients:

This recipe contains lots of fresh, healthy veggies like these. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 celery stalk, diced
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 Tbsp minced jalapeno pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp cumin powder
2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp dried chopped basil
1/2 tsp dried chopped thyme
1/2 tsp dried marjoram leaf
1/4 tsp chipotle pepper powder
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
1 bay leaf
3 cups water
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup tomato paste mixed with 3/4 cup water
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup chopped cilantro (for garnish)

Directions:

1. If the quinoa is not pre-rinsed, soak the quinoa for 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly and drain well. (If you do not do this it could taste bitter when cooked.)
2. Heat the oil on medium-high in a Dutch oven or large soup pot.  Add the celery, both bell peppers, and onion, and cook stirring for 3 to 5 minutes or until vegetables soften a little.
3. Add the jalapeno and garlic and cook for 1 minute.
4. Stir in the spices and herbs, and cook for 1 minute.
5. Add the water, beans, tomato sauce mixed with water and quinoa, bring to a boil, cover, and simmer 20 minutes or until quinoa is cooked. 
6. Stir in Worcestershire sauce, taste and adjust for flavor.
7. Serve hot in big bowls and garnish with fresh cilantro.