It's Getting Chili

Seriously though, it's cold out! And what better way to ward off the fall chill than with some Vegan Cincinnati Chili?

According to K, our resident Ohio expert, Cincinnati chili is characterized by A) lots of fragrant spices, like cinnamon and allspice, and B) being served either over spaghetti or in a hot dog bun. When I suggested adding beans, K gave me a look that clearly communicated that I'm a savage with no chili-related morals. Okay, no beans!

You'll need a Crock Pot for this recipe, and for life in general. My parents got me one for my birthday last year and I don't know how I lived without it. It makes this chili ludicrously easy to cook up - just dump the ingredients in, walk away, and come back to spicy, soupy goodness for dinner!

Vegan Cincinnati Chili
Veganized from Allrecipes

Serves 6

24 ounces soy crumbles (2 packages - I really like Yves Meatless Ground Round for the texture!)
1/4 cup chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground pepper
2 cups tomato sauce (a 15-ounce can)
1/2 cup tomato paste (a 6-ounce can)
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon steak sauce
3 cups water

Pour a little olive oil into a large saucepan, then add your soy crumbles and all the spices (chili powder, garlic powder, cinnamon, allspice, and salt). Over medium heat, mix this all together until the spices are evenly distributed and the soy crumbles hot and starting to get a tiny bit crispy. Don't overdo it! No one likes crunchy chili. You can also skip this step if you're in a rush.

So much chili powder, MM. 

Dump your spicy soy into your Crock Pot, then add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, vinegar, steak sauce, and water. Mix everything up really well, then set your Crock Pot on low and go do your thing for the next 12 hours. If you're like me and didn't manage to get your shit together in the morning, rest assured that 4 hours on high will also work fine.

Majestic.

The last step is to nom down! As noted above, you can eat this in a bowl with oyster crackers like a boring person (i.e. me), or you can pour your chili into a hot dog bun like a real Ohioan and load it up with diced onions, shredded vegan cheese, yellow mustard, and hot sauce. Enjoy!

Tastes best with super generic yellow mustard.