PUMPKIN QUINOA CHILI IS SO YUMMY! (recipe in description)

Welcome to my kitchen! Having dietary restrictions shouldn’t mean missing out. I have been gluten free for 15 years and dairy free for 7 years. I also avoid corn and yeast. We have four beautiful daughters who have each delt with a wide variety of food sensitivities over the years. In addition to no gluten and no dairy we have also avoided eggs, soy, cashews, sugar, carbs and meat. The main lesson I have learned is adaptability. I love cooking and preparing good food for my family and friends. Cooking is chemistry, my goal is to remove the mystery from chemistry! I invite you along to share my food journey to find tasty, safe food that makes you say “No gluten? No whey!”
Pumpkin Quinoa Chili
This thick and hearty fall must-have is a quick to throw together dinner for our family of 6 plus 2 lunches the next day.
1 Onion diced (I used red)
2 bell peppers diced (any color)
2 medium carrots diced
1 TBS avocado oil (any neutral flavored oil works)
4 cloves garlic (about 2 tablespoons diced)
1 ½ TBS chili powder
1 TBS cumin
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
1 large can (28 ounce) diced tomatoes with juice
1 -15.5 ounce can black beans drained and rinsed
1 -15.5 ounce can kidney beans drained and rinsed
1- 15.5 ounce can pinto beans drained and rinsed
1- 15.5 ounce can chili beans
1- 4 ounce can green chilies
4 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
1 can pumpkin puree
¾ cup quinoa (I use tri-colored)
Heat oil in a stock pot over medium heat. Sauté onion, peppers and carrots until tender (about 5 minutes) then add garlic and continue to stir until fragrant (about 1 minute more). Add spices, stirring to coat veggies. Next, add tomatoes in juices, beans and green chilies. Add broth and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add pumpkin puree and stir to combine. Bring back to a boil and add quinoa. Simmer 20 minutes until quinoa and vegetables are tender.
Topping Ideas:
Non-dairy cheddar cheese
Non-dairy sour cream
Cilantro
Avocado
Additional veggies to add:
Butternut squash diced
Zucchini diced
Corn
For low sodium use no salt added tomatoes and beans as well as low sodium chicken broth (Knorr makes a no salt chicken bullion that has no gluten or dairy ingredients) and omit salt.