Vegan sweet potato and black bean chilli

Vegan sweet potato and black bean chilli with tomatoes, black beans, sweet potato, garlic and smoked paprika – well spiced, hearty and easy for every day.

At a glance

• Serves 2
• Prep time: 15 min
• Cooking time: 30 min
• Total time: 45 min
• Calories: 340 kcal per serving
• Protein: 12 g
• Fat: 6 g
• Carbs: 54 g

Ingredients

• 1 large tin of chopped tomatoes
• 1 white onion
• 1 large tin of black beans
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 large sweet potato
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 500 ml vegetable stock
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 pinch of chilli powder

Method

You’ll need: saucepan · wooden spoon · ladle

1. Heat the olive oil in a heavy pan and soften the onion and garlic until the onion is soft and lightly coloured.
2. Add the smoked paprika, cumin and chilli powder and toast briefly until fragrant. Stir well so nothing catches.
3. Stir in the sweet potato, then the chopped tomatoes and vegetable stock. Bring everything to the boil.
4. Reduce the heat, put the lid on and simmer the chilli until the sweet potato is soft and the liquid thickens slightly.
5. Add the black beans and let them simmer for a few minutes so they heat through and come together with the sauce.
6. Serve hot in bowls, topped with avocado if you like.

Good to know

A chilli like this is just right when you want something uncomplicated that still tastes really well rounded. It's hearty, soft and well spiced, and makes the kitchen smell lovely along the way.

Swaps

White onion → red onion (more polyphenols, stronger flavour) Cumin → Ceylon cinnamon + a little ground coriander (milder, complex flavour) Vegetable stock → homemade stock without additives (less salt, simpler ingredients) Olive oil → avocado oil or a little more stock for softening (heat-stable, or no added oil at all)

Allergens

The recipe is naturally free from milk and egg; some sensitive people react to pulses, onion or garlic. Milder seasoning suits children, and in pregnancy it's fine as long as the ingredients are heated properly.

Frequently asked questions

What's in black beans nutritionally?

Black beans provide fibre, plant protein, folate, magnesium and iron. The exact amounts vary with the brand and drained weight.

Why is sweet potato such an intense orange?

The colour mainly comes from beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A. How much is actually in the tuber depends on the variety and ripeness.

Are tinned tomatoes less nutritious than fresh ones?

Not necessarily.

Can garlic cause problems for some people?

Yes, garlic and onion contain FODMAPs – fermentable carbohydrates that can cause wind or a feeling of pressure in the stomach in sensitive people. A smaller amount often helps.

How useful is smoked paprika from a nutrition point of view?

It mainly brings flavour and some carotenoids. Here it's toasted briefly with the cumin and chilli powder, which gives the chilli its smoky note.

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