OhNow, anybody got good meatless Friday recipes for their slowcookers?
when I make quantity dishes I use soy meat analogs, like burger crumbles and patties from Morningstar farms, or the bigger “sausages” from Boca, since DH is vegetarian.
chili - how many beans depends on the size of your crock pot, the ordinary one takes two regular cans, but chili is a staple so if you make to much just freeze it. If you don’t like beans, just use all burger crumbles, or half burger, half bulk soy saugage (or obviously use real meat outside lent).
dice onions, green and red bell peppers, and jalepeno (discard seeds, do this using plastic gloves) if your family likes it hot. I add a can of diced green chilis, which are rather mild, just enough spice for us.
you want enough for a layer an inch or so thick on the bottom of the crock pot.
add 2 cans beans drained and rinsed, your preference (I prefer black beans or small red beans “rojos” but if you like pinto or kidney, go for it.)
1 large can diced tomatoes ( or used Mexican diced tomatoes with onions and green chilis)
1 can tomato paste
1 bag burger crumbles
(or bulk soy sausage broken in chunks).
envelope of chili seasoning mix of your choice, or just a 1-2 tsp of chili powder (more if you like it hotter)
1 can water or broth, liqud should come halfway up the side of the pot
sometimes I use dried red peppers instead of powdered mix, put them on the top, so I can take them out when the chili is done cooking.
turn it on low it can cook all day, but will be done in 4-6 hours if nothing was frozen.
we make this every week in the winter and always have chili on hand. I also make it without beans
Italian “Sausage”
Use the Boca Italian sausage cut in 2" pieces
again lay the pot with sliced onions and peppers, but you want as much bulk in veggies as you have in “meat”.
If you don’t see Boca look for bulk soy “sausage” and scoop it in chunks,
large can diced italian style tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
1 can water, liquid should be halfway up side of the pot.
if you want to add rice, add half a cup dry rice to the small pot, 1 cup to the big one, with twice that amount of tomato sauce or water. noodles and pasta don’t work, cook them separately.
Italian seasoning, or just oregano if that is what you have, 1 tsp
chopped garlic if you like it, or lay garlic cloves on top just before you put the lid on so you can remove them before serving if you don’t like that much.
this can cook all day, and is excellent with real sausage as well.
