Black Bean Corn Chili (Print Version)

A hearty, spice-rich black bean and corn chili topped with creamy lime crema for depth.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 large onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped

→ Beans and Corn

06 - 2 cans (15 oz each) black beans, drained and rinsed
07 - 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes with juices
08 - 1.5 cups frozen or canned corn, drained
09 - 1 cup vegetable broth

→ Spices

10 - 2 tablespoons chili powder
11 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
12 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
15 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

→ Lime Crema

16 - 0.5 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
17 - Zest of 1 lime
18 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
19 - Pinch of salt

→ Garnishes

20 - Chopped fresh cilantro
21 - Sliced avocado
22 - Sliced green onions

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened and translucent.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, diced bell pepper, and jalapeño. Cook for 3 additional minutes until vegetables are fragrant and tender.
03 - Add drained black beans, diced tomatoes with juices, drained corn, and vegetable broth to the pot.
04 - Sprinkle in chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to combine all seasonings evenly.
05 - Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
06 - While the chili simmers, combine sour cream or Greek yogurt with lime zest, fresh lime juice, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Mix until smooth and fully incorporated.
07 - Taste the chili and adjust salt, pepper, or spices as needed to achieve desired flavor balance.
08 - Ladle hot chili into serving bowls and top each portion with a dollop of lime crema. Add optional garnishes of fresh cilantro, avocado slices, and green onions.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, which means you can make this on a Tuesday and still have time to breathe.
  • The lime crema is genuinely addictive and transforms something simple into something that tastes like you planned it that way.
  • It's naturally vegetarian and forgiving, so even if you improvise with what you have, it works beautifully.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing your canned beans, because the starchy liquid they come in makes everything taste metallic and dull.
  • The lime crema is what separates this from being just another chili, so don't make it while the chili is boiling or the heat will break the sour cream.
  • Taste it before you serve it, because you might need more salt than you think, and it's easier to add than to take away.
03 -
  • If your chili seems too thin after simmering, uncover it for the last five minutes to let some liquid evaporate and everything concentrate.
  • Make the lime crema thicker by using more sour cream and less juice, or thinner by adding a splash of milk if you prefer to drizzle it rather than dollop.
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