Red Lentil Soup

This simple red lentil soup recipe is bursting with flavor! It’s hearty and cozy, flavored with aromatic vegetables and lemon.…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This simple red lentil soup recipe is bursting with flavor! It’s hearty and cozy, flavored with aromatic vegetables and lemon.

Red lentil soup

If there’s one food that always satisfies, it’s a great lentil soup. Lentils are one of nature’s wonders: they’re full of protein, shelf stable for years, inexpensive, and make for some of the most satisfying filling meals. Got a bag of split red lentils? Here’s exactly what to make: this simple Red Lentil Soup! It’s deliciously hearty, featuring aromatic vegetables, lemon and a hint of smoked paprika.

What are red lentils? Split vs whole

Lentils are small dried lens-shaped legumes, a plant family that also includes beans, peas, and peanuts. Red lentils are a variety of lentil named for their beautiful orange-pink color. The texture of red lentils breaks down faster than most other lentils: this makes it perfect for making quick soups or dal.

Most red lentils sold at the store are split red lentils, which is what you should use here. Some packages say red lentils and some say split red lentils: most of what you’ll find in American grocery stores are all split red lentils. Avoid any packages that specify whole red lentils: they cook differently and hold their shape when cooking.

Red lentil soup recipe

Ingredients in this red lentil soup recipe

This red lentil soup is hearty and easy, an ideal easy weeknight meal! It’s a vegan dinner recipe that’s filling and full of plant-based protein. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Vegetables: carrots, onion, celery garlic
  • Olive oil
  • Vegetable broth
  • Water
  • Split red lentils*
  • Smoked paprika
  • Lemon zest
  • Salt and pepper

All you need to do? Saute the aromatic vegetables, then add the remaining ingredients and simmer until the lentils are tender. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re cooking it!

How to tell when it’s done

The most important thing about this red lentil soup recipe: don’t overcook it! Cook red lentils too long, and they lose their shape and turn into a mush. Sometimes you want that, like in this delicious Masoor Dal recipe (Indian red lentils). But in this soup, you’ll want the lentils to be just tender but still hold their shape.

Make sure to keep an eye on the soup: simmer it just 7 to 10 minutes until the lentils are just soft but before they break apart. Keep in mind that some brands of split red lentils are smaller than others, meaning they cook slightly differently. One brand we buy cooks much faster than others.

Red lentil soup

Garnishes for red lentil soup

This red lentil soup recipe is delicious on its own, but it’s even more perfect with a few garnishes. Here’s what we like:

  • Greek yogurt or sour cream: This adds just the right creaminess and a bright tang: it takes this soup over the top!
  • Cashew cream: For a vegan variation, use vegan yogurt or cashew cream.
  • Cilantro: A few leaves of fresh cilantro makes the dish! If you’re a hater, try fresh parsley instead

Make it a meal: a few side dishes

Try as we might, a cup of red lentil soup always needs a little side dish to make it a filling meal. Here are some of the items we like to pair it with:

What else would you serve with this red lentil soup recipe? Let us know in the comments below.

Red lentil soup

More lentil recipes

Lentils are some of the most nutritious foods on the planet! Here are some other lentil recipes to incorporate into your dinnertime routine:

This red lentil soup recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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Red lentil soup

Simple Red Lentil Soup


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

This simple red lentil soup recipe is bursting with flavor! It’s hearty and cozy, flavored with aromatic vegetables and lemon.


Ingredients

  • 3 large carrots
  • 1 medium yellow onion
  • 3 celery ribs
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 quarts vegetable broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 pound split red lentils*
  • 1 ½ tablespoons smoked paprika
  • 1 ½ teaspoons lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Fresh ground black pepper
  • Greek yogurt or sour cream (or cashew cream for vegan), for serving
  • Cilantro, for serving


Instructions

  1. Peel the carrots. Finely dice the carrot, onion, and celery. Mince the garlic.
  2. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots and celery, and sauté until the carrots are tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  3. Stir in the garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add the broth, water, red lentils, smoked paprika, lemon zest, kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.
  4. Bring to a low simmer, then cover halfway and gently simmer until the lentils are just soft but before they start to break apart, about 7 to 10 minutes. Watch closely and taste to assess doneness. The finished soup should be brothy with the lentils just soft; cooking past this point yields a very thick stew which is just as delicious but less soup-like. (If you’d like, you can add handfuls of greens in the last few minutes, like chopped spinach or kale). 
  5. Taste and add additional salt to taste, and a few grinds black pepper. Leftovers can become very thick, so you can add a little water or broth when reheating.

Notes

*Most of what you’ll find in stores are split red lentils, even if it doesn’t specify split on the package. Avoid buying whole red lentils. 

  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Soup

Keywords: Red lentil soup, Red lentil soup recipe

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Maple Glazed Salmon

This maple glazed salmon recipe will please everyone! It’s fast, easy and deliciously flaky: ideal for healthy weeknight meals. Need…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This maple glazed salmon recipe will please everyone! It’s fast, easy and deliciously flaky: ideal for healthy weeknight meals.

Maple Glazed Salmon

Need a healthy salmon recipe for weeknights? Try this Maple Glazed Salmon! The fish comes out perfectly tender and flaky, the best part? It’s liberally spread with a sweet and tangy maple balsamic glaze. This turned out so tasty, and it takes just a few minutes to cook in the broiler. It’s our favorite quick method for cooking salmon. Even our 4 year old couldn’t stop eating this one.

Ingredients in maple glazed salmon

This maple glazed salmon recipe requires just 5 ingredients, plus olive oil and salt (which are basics we hope you already have on hand). Here’s what you’ll need for this easy recipe:

  • Salmon fillets
  • Pure maple syrup
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Dijon mustard
  • Garlic
  • Olive oil and salt

The basic idea? You’ll simmer the maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, and Dijon mustard with garlic for a bit until slightly thickened. Paint it on the salmon, throw it in the broiler until tender, then remove and paint it with the remaining glaze!

Maple Glazed Salmon

Best type of fish for maple glazed salmon

What’s the best piece of fish for this maple glazed salmon recipe? In general, grab the best quality fish you can afford. The recipe will taste good with most types of salmon. But we’ve found low quality frozen salmon can taste very fishy, whereas high quality wild caught fresh salmon is much tastier.

  • Try fresh, not frozen. You can use frozen salmon if you like, but we find the highest quality salmon that cooks the best is fresh.
  • Buy wild caught salmon. Fish that is wild caught in your country is usually a sustainable choice. There are also quality options in well-regulated farms; see Seafood Watch Consumer Guide.
  • Coho is a good choice. We tend to like Coho salmon for its mild flavor: it’s a good middle of the road option in terms of price. Of course, King salmon is incredible but it’s on the expensive end. Avoid Atlantic salmon as it is typically farmed salmon.

How to broil salmon: a few tips

The way we chose to cook the fish for maple glazed salmon? Broiled! Broiling salmon is ultra fast and makes for a crispier top than baked, which makes it one of our favorite ways to cook it. The downside? It can easily get overcooked, so you’ve got to watch it closely. Here are a few tips on how to broil salmon:

  • A food thermometer is ideal! The exact timing for this broiled salmon depends on your specific broiler and the thickness of the fish. It will be different every time: so watch closely! A food thermometer is the optimal method for judging whether it’s done.
  • Most broilers are about 3 to 5 inches from the heating element. If yours is closer, take care and watch the salmon during the cook time.
  • Watch closely: the optimal temperature is 130°FThe timing on when it’s done depends on the thickness of the piece of salmon and your broiler: it should be just tender and pink at the center. Estimate 4 to 5 minutes for very thin salmon or 7 to 10 minutes for 1-inch thick salmon: it should be about 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
Maple Glazed Salmon recipe

Alternative for maple glazed salmon: baked!

Don’t have a broiler, or prefer another cooking method? You can make baked salmon instead! Here’s what to do:

  • Follow the instructions in this Baked Salmon recipe.
  • Paint on the maple glaze before baking, and after baking like specified in the recipe below.
  • Note that baking produces a softer fish texture, whereas broiling makes a slightly crispier top.

What to serve with maple glazed salmon: quick sides!

And that’s it: how to make maple glazed salmon! Want to accessorize this recipe with a few quick and easy sides? Here are a few easy side dishes that come together quickly to make a lightening fast healthy meal:

More salmon recipes

Salmon is a go-to for us for fast and easy dinner ideas! Here are a few more of our favorite salmon recipes:

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Maple Glazed Salmon

Maple Glazed Salmon


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 13 minutes
  • Cook Time: 7 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

This maple glazed salmon recipe will please everyone! It’s fast, easy and deliciously flaky: ideal for healthy weeknight meals.


Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds salmon fillets, room temperature
  • Olive oil, for brushing
  • Heaping ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 garlic clove, grated

Instructions

  1. Remove the salmon from the refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature. Preheat the broiler to high*.
  2. In a small saucepan, whisk together the maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard and grated garlic. Simmer 3 to 5 minutes on medium low heat until slightly thickened.
  3. Place a large sheet of aluminum foil on a baking sheet and brush it with olive oil. Pat each piece of salmon dry and place it on the foil skin side down. Brush salmon with a bit of olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt evenly divided among the fillets. Spoon about half of the maple glaze over the salmon (set aside at room temperature until the salmon is cooked).
  4. Broil 4 to 5 minutes for very thin salmon or 7 to 10 minutes for 1-inch thick salmon, until it’s just tender and pink at the center (the internal temperature should be between 125 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit in the center). Brush the salmon with the remaining glaze, which should have thickened more after resting. Serve immediately.

Notes

*If you don’t have a broiler, go to Baked Salmon and follow those instructions for cooking, applying the maple glaze before baking and after.

  • Category: Main dish
  • Method: Broiled
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Maple glazed salmon, maple glazed salmon recipe

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Classic Apple Crisp Recipe

This easy apple crisp recipe with oats is classic! Golden crumbles sit atop a luscious, warm-spiced fruit filling. Cakes, cookies…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This easy apple crisp recipe with oats is classic! Golden crumbles sit atop a luscious, warm-spiced fruit filling.

Apple Crisp Recipe

Cakes, cookies and brownies are easy to pass up for us. But crisp? Give us a good old apple crisp and we’re sure to cave! This apple crisp recipe with oats is absolutely classic, harnessing all that cozy nostalgia of the season. The crumble topping is the ideal texture: crispy but not crunchy, and buttery but not soft. The fruit layer below will make your heart sing: cinnamon, a hint of ginger and allspice set off just a hint of orange and lemon zest.

Best types of apples for an apple crisp

The best apples for an apple crisp recipe? Firm, crisp cooking apples. A sweet tart apple yields the best flavor, because the acidity makes the flavor pop. (Acidity is to desserts what salt is to savory food: we’ll get to that more later!). Here are a few of the varieties that shine in a basic apple crisp recipe:

  • Honeycrisp
  • Golden Delicious
  • Granny Smith
  • Jonathon or Jonagold
  • Ida Red

Even better, use a mix of apples! You can infuse even more nuance in flavor by using different varieties. We like to use a mix of Golden Delicious and Jonagold, which are easy to find apple picking here in Indiana.

Apple Crisp with Oats

How to core and chop apples…fast!

When you go to make the filling for this apple crisp recipe, you can ditch that apple corer and slicer. (In fact, we finally threw ours in the trash.) Why? Use this easy way to cut apples, which is so much faster:

  • Slice off each of the four sides: Holding the core of the apple, use a large chef’s knife to slice off four sides of the apple, cutting as close to the core as possible. Discard the core.
  • Cut into chunks: Take one of the quarters and place it flat side down. Then slice in half and cross-wise to dice. Repeat with all four quarters!

Cut and apple this way, and it’s just as fast as with an apple corer. (Of course, if you have one of those fancy apple-corer-peeler-slicers, use that instead).

Keys to this apple crisp recipe

This apple crisp recipe with oats is pristine: it’s just what you’d expect in a classic, but a little bit elevated. Here are a few notes on what makes it so divine:

  • Orange and lemon zest accentuate the sweetness. Acidity in desserts is like salt in savory food: it makes the flavors shine! Here the citrus zest (and a little lemon juice) strike just the right balance with the sugar.
  • Cinnamon, ginger and allspice add a cozy flair. There’s a hefty dose of cinnamon, then a hint of ginger and allspice. Keep in mind: the ginger flavor increases when refrigerated if you save leftovers.
  • The right ratio of butter to oats makes the crumble topping. A good apple crisp recipe should have a topping that’s crumbly and crisp: not crunchy, soft, or soggy. This one has just the right ratio of butter and oats for that signature texture.
Easy Apple Crisp

Customize the sugar to taste

This apple crisp recipe has a little variation on the sugar level in the filling. Here’s what to know:

  • Use ⅓ cup sugar for a sweet tart crisp. This also is perfect if you are planning to serve with vanilla ice cream.
  • Use ½ cup sugar for a sweet crisp. If you’re a sweet dessert lover, go up to ½ cup sugar. It’s sweet but not overly sweet.

Variations: vegan and gluten-free

Want to make a vegan apple crisp recipe or gluten-free apple crisp recipe? Here are a few easy substitutions that make this recipe work for almost any diet:

  • Substitute almond flour for gluten-free. Crisp recipes are easy to make gluten-free using almond flour! It works well in a crumble topping, especially because it becomes slightly crispy when baked.
  • Substitute vegan butter or coconut oil for gluten-free. The vegan substitutes don’t get nearly as crisp of a topping, but it works! Vegan butter is the best option. You can also use room temperature coconut oil, though the topping comes out softer. We recommend refined coconut oil, which has a subtler coconut flavor.
Easy apple crisp recipe

Toppings for this easy apple crisp recipe

You might think vanilla ice cream when it comes to apple crisp, and that’s fantastic. But here are a few other options for getting creative:

Leftover storage info

Want to save leftovers of this apple crisp? Here’s what to know about storage:

  • Refrigerate for up to 3 days. The topping holds up pretty well in the fridge, and even better when reheated.
  • Freeze up to 3 months. You can freeze it for up to 3 months in a sealed container. Reheat it in a 350 degree oven until bubbly and the topping is crisp.

More apple recipes & desserts

There are so many apple recipes to try once you’ve made apple crisp! Here are a few more apple desserts to try:

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Apple Crisp

Classic Apple Crisp


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 6 to 8 servings
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

This easy apple crisp recipe with oats is classic! Golden crumbles sit atop a luscious, warm-spiced fruit filling.


Ingredients

  • 6 (2 pounds) medium to large cooking apples
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice, plus 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • 1/3 to 1/2 cup granulated sugar*
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon each ginger and allspice
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour (or almond flour for gluten-free)
  • ¾ cup Old Fashioned rolled oats
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 8 tablespoons cold unsalted butter (or vegan butter or room temperature refined coconut oil for vegan)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Core, peel and cut the apples into 1/2-inch chunks. Combine the apples with the lemon juice, lemon zest, orange zest, granulated sugar*, cinnamon, ginger, and allspice in a large bowl and toss until well coated.
  3. In a separate bowl, make the crumble topping: stir together the flour, oats, brown sugar, and kosher salt. Add the vanilla and stir. Cut the butter into small pieces and add it to the to bowl. Use your hands to mix it into the dry ingredients until fully distributed and a crumbly dough forms. It may take a while, so be patient; you can also use a pastry cutter or fork if you prefer.
  4. Grease a 9 x 9-inch (or equivalent size) baking dish. Place the apple filling in the bottom, then evenly distribute the crumble over the top.
  5. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes until browned and bubbly. Allow to cool slightly, then serve with Greek yogurt sweetened with maple syrup, whipped cream or ice cream. Stores refrigerated for 3 days or freeze up to 3 months in a sealed container. Reheat it in a 350 degree oven until bubbly and the topping is crisp.

Notes

*If you prefer a sweet tart apple crisp, go for ⅓ cup sugar (also good if you’re planning to top it with vanilla ice cream). Use ½ cup sugar for a sweet apple crisp.

  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Apple crisp recipe, apple crisp with oats, easy apple crisp, easy apple crisp recipe

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Our Kitchen & ILVE Range Review

Here it is: our kitchen refresh featuring a new ILVE range! This brand has won us over with its stylish…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

Here it is: our kitchen refresh featuring a new ILVE range! This brand has won us over with its stylish features and functionality.

Ilve range

This post includes our honest review of our ILVE range and hood, gifted to us by ILVE. All opinions are our own.

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and no more so than in our house! As professional recipe writers, our kitchen gets splattered and battered on the daily. So Alex and I decided after 9 years of heavy use, it was time for a little kitchen refresh. We’ve teased it on Instagram long enough, so here’s the big reveal! The main innovation? We made space for this 40-inch ILVE Induction Range! Switching from gas to induction is a big deal: here’s why we did it and all the things we love about this beauty.

What is an ILVE range?

What’s ILVE? ILVE (pronounced “il-vay”) is a brand of Italian crafted kitchen appliances, including ranges, ovens, hoods, refrigerators, microwaves and more. The brand was founded in Campodarsego, Italy in 1952 by two Italian friends. The appliances are commercial grade and highly regarded as some of the finest cooking appliances on the market.

Why did we want an ILVE range? First off, the sustainability of induction cooking. After learning that induction is more sustainable than gas, Alex and I decided we were ready to make the switch (gulp!). Second, we wanted a stylish European range that would make our kitchen look like an eclectic French cottage. After some research, we found ILVE! It’s a stylish range that’s offered in both gas and induction.

Ilve range

Why to cook with induction (sustainability and health!)

You’ve probably heard it before: gas stoves are best for cooking! But guess what? That’s not true. In fact, much of the passion around natural gas cooking is due to gas companies persuading us all that gas is better. After some research, here’s what Alex and I learned about gas vs induction cooking:

  • Burning natural gas produces nitrogen dioxide, sometimes carbon monoxide, and other pollutants, which can be harmful to people and pets. (Source)
  • New efficient electric appliances have lower carbon footprints. So they’re better for the planet! (Source)
  • Induction ranges are much higher quality than old-school electric stoves with coils. It’s incredibly easy to control temperature and cook with even heat. (See more below.)
  • You can boil water in 2 minutes! It’s an incredible time saver. Everything heats up faster!

Want to read more on induction vs gas? Here are a few resources: Give Up Your Gas Stove to Save the Planet (NPR) and Kill Your Gas Stove (The Atlantic).

Ilve range review
Ilve range

Our ILVE Range Review

The ILVE range that we were gifted from the brand was the ILVE Majestic II. We previously had a 30-inch range which was on its last legs (a burner was permanently not working and it had a ton of hard usage). After much deliberation, we decided to remove one kitchen cabinet to make way for a 40-inch range. While this caused a lot of construction (cabinet removal, new backsplash, trim, etc), in the end it was all worth it!

We’ve been cooking on the ILVE Majestic II induction range for a month. The opinion of these two professional home cooks and cookbook authors? We could not love it more. Here are a few particulars:

  • Induction cooking is far superior to gas. We are beyond pleased with cooking on induction. While we switched for the health and sustainability reasons, we’ve fallen in love with how it cooks food. It heats up incredibly fast and has much more even heat than gas.
  • The range shows you the heat level and boils water in 2 minutes! We love that the cooktop shows the heat level you’re on. You can also use a “Power” mode to boil a huge pot of water in just 2 minutes! On our old gas range it took 10 to 15 minutes.
  • The cooktop is very easy to clean. This is actually a huge life-saver. We’re pretty messy cooks, so just a wipe of the top gets it beautifully clean. No removing grates or caked on messes.
  • It’s beautiful. (Drop dead gorgeous.) This is subjective, but ILVE ranges are the most beautiful, stylish ranges we’ve seen on the market. The way the brass knobs gleam in the light makes our hearts skip a beat. But in all seriousness: there’s really something to using an appliance that’s functional and beautiful. It’s just more fun.
  • The ovens are very reliable (plus, the small one has a rotisserie!). Our model of ILVE range has a large oven and small side oven, which is nice for when you’re wanting to cook things at two temperatures. If we had room, of course we’d want two big ovens! But the side oven is great and even has a rotisserie. We’ve been using it to roast a whole chicken and it comes out incredibly moist! The oven’s baking ability is spot on: we’ve tested a bunch of our recipes and it’s incredibly accurate on bake time with very even heating.
  • It’s got lots of other great features. There’s a warming drawer where you can store pans while the oven is off, or keep food warm when it’s on. There are lots of different oven settings depending on what you’re cooking, and it even gets hotter than a standard oven (up to 575 degrees, which is great for pizza!).

Want to know more about ILVE? Here are some of the ILVE Range Models and comparisons between the different features that each one has. Or browse around at ILVE.com.

Note: The larger oven in the 40-inch range is slightly too small to fit a standard half sheet pan. The oven comes with a custom sheet pan that fits perfectly. We also purchased a 16″x12″ pan which is approximately the same surface area.

Kitchen reno
Ilve range
Ilve range review

More about our kitchen refresh

We used our new ILVE range as an opportunity to give our kitchen a little refresh! Eight years ago we did a major renovation of our kitchen when we moved into our 1926 home. Putting in this range required some construction to change from 30-inch to 40-inch, but there was no major re-configuration of walls or structures. Even so, we took it as a chance to update a few things to give it a new French kitchen look. Here’s what we changed:

  • Backsplash changed to Zellige tile: Because the range width changed, we had to redo the position of the backsplash. We’d always loved the look of square, handmade Zellige tile so we went with it! We love the irregularity and uniqueness of the look.
  • Added a pot rack: There was a theme in all my Pinterest kitchen photos when planning for this reno: a pot rack with copper pots! All of the pots and ladles hanging up are ones we actually use. We did have to buy new pots because of the induction range! Here’s a link to our copper pots that work on induction.
  • Brass hardware: To update the look of our kitchen even more, we change out our stainless hardware with vintage-looking brass drawer pulls and handles. We love how unique they make the kitchen look.
  • Brass faucet: We changed out the faucet in our island to brass since it was getting very worn. Overall we wanted a mixed metals look, so we went with a stainless ILVE hood and kept our old stainless shelves.
  • Wooden bar stools: We swapped out our stainless bar stools for wooden ones with backs, to add more warmth to the room.

We love how it all turned out. Thanks to our designer Tiffany Skilling for helping us choose all these items to bring the look together!

Ilve range
Kitchen
Kitchen

Questions? Comments?

Thinking about an ILVE range? Have questions about switching from gas cooking to induction cooking? Let us know in the comments below!

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Stuffed sweet potatoes make the best easy dinner idea! Bake them until tender, then stuff with fillings for a delicious…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

Stuffed sweet potatoes make the best easy dinner idea! Bake them until tender, then stuff with fillings for a delicious main dish meal.

Stuffed sweet potatoes

Need a healthy dinner idea? Look no further than this trusty trick: Stuffed Sweet Potatoes! Bake the spuds whole until they’re moist and tender, then top with hearty fillings to make a hearty dinner recipe. We’ve been making the loaded sweet potato for years since we were fledgling cooks, and it’s still a favorite to this day. The way the savory black beans contrast with the sweet orange flesh makes magic, in our opinion. Often when we don’t know what’s for dinner, it’s sweet potatoes to the rescue! Where’s how to assemble this easy meal.

The type of sweet potatoes to buy

When you’re making stuffed sweet potatoes, there a few things to look for when you’re shopping for your spuds. Here are two tips:

  • Avoid very large potatoes. Some sweet potatoes are incredibly large, which take longer to bake. Make sure to find medium to large potatoes; avoid any potato over 1 pound.
  • Look for orange-flesh potatoes. There are many types of sweet potatoes, some with orange flesh and some with white flesh. The two main types of orange flesh potatoes you’ll find at the store are Jewel, which has a light brown-orange skin and Red Garnet, which has red skin and is slightly thinner. We like Jewel sweet potatoes (pictured), but this recipe works with any type of orange-fleshed potato.
Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Stuffed sweet potato cooking methods

There are several ways to bake loaded sweet potatoes: the most classic way is to bake the potatoes whole. But want to cut down on the bake time? We have a shortcut that lets you significantly cut down the bake time, which we use on a regular basis. Here’s what to do:

  • Classic: Make a classic baked sweet potato! Rub the skin with olive oil and prick it with a fork. Place it on a parchment lined baking sheet, then bake 20 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Flip and bake 20 minutes more until fork tender (keep baking up to 20 minutes more until tender, depending on the size).
  • Quick baked method: Make a quick baked sweet potato! Cut the potatoes in half, which drastically cuts down the bake time. Drizzle with olive oil and prick with a fork, then bake at 425 degrees for about 25 to 35 minutes, until tender.

Stuffed sweet potato toppings

Sure, you could serve stuffed sweet potatoes as a side dish, or stuff them with marshmallows or pecans like some people do on Thanksgiving. But the best way to stuff them, in our opinion? With savory toppings, made into a main dish! Savory toppings are the ideal contrast to the sweet flesh of the potato. The recipe below is a spin on the way we used to eat stuffed sweet potatoes years ago when we first started cooking together. The ideal toppings are:

  • Sautéed black beans, cooked wtih onion, garlic and jalapeno pepepr (optional)
  • Mashed avocado
  • Pico de gallo (or a few slices of Fresno pepper)
  • Feta cheese crumbles
  • Creamy sauce (optional): You don’t need it, but we like to add a creamy sauce to bring it all together. The easiest method? Sour cream with a few shakes of hot sauce. But if you like, try Chipotle Ranch Dressing, Vegan Cilantro Sauce, Chipotle Sauce, or Cilantro Lime Sauce.
Stuffed sweet potatoes

More topping ideas

Of course, you can make stuffed sweet potatoes with a myriad of different topping ideas! For us, the key is to keep it savory and top the potatoes with protein-packed ingredients, which make for a filling main dish. Here are some ideas to keep you inspired:

Stuffed sweet potatoes

More sweet potato recipes

Sweet potatoes are one of our top vegetables to add to healthy meals. Here are some great sweet potato recipes to try:

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Stuffed sweet potatoes

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 4
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

Stuffed sweet potatoes make the best easy dinner idea! Bake them until tender, then stuff with fillings for a delicious main dish meal.


Ingredients

  • 4 medium sweet potatoes (orange-flesh)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/2 medium onion, minced
  • 1/2 jalapeno pepper, minced (optional)
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 15-ounce cans black beans, drained but not rinsed
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • Feta cheese, for serving
  • Pico de gallo, for serving
  • Optional: Sour cream mixed with hot sauce, Chipotle Ranch Dressing, Vegan Cilantro Sauce, Chipotle Sauce, or Cilantro Lime Sauce

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Prep the sweet potatoes: Place foil or parchment paper on a baking sheet. Wash and dry the sweet potatoes and prick them all over with a fork. Rub each potato with oil and place it on the lined baking sheet. (For the quick baked sweet potato option, slice them in half, rub with olive oil and prick with a fork.)
  3. Bake the sweet potatoes: Bake 20 minutes and flip with tongs. Bake additional 20 minutes and check for tenderness with a fork. The fork should easily pierce the sweet potato to the center. If it is not tender, continue baking, up to 20 minutes more depending on size of the sweet potato. Or for the quick baked sweet potato, bake the potato halves 25 to 35 minutes, until tender, depending on the size of the potato. Then mash with a fork.
  4. Meanwhile, make the black beans: Heat the olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the minced onion and jalapeno pepper for 5 to 7 minutes until the onion is translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook 1 minute more. Stir in the black beans, oregano, cumin and kosher salt and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes.
  5. Mash the avocado and season it with salt.
  6. When the potatoes are done, sprinkle them with a few pinches of kosher salt. On each sweet potato, add black beans, mashed avocado, pico de gallo, and a sprinkle of feta. If desired, drizzle with one of the optional sauces.
  • Category: Main dish
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Stuffed sweet potatoes

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Spiked Apple Cider

This hot spiked apple cider recipe hits all the cozy notes! Rum or bourbon perfectly complement the cinnamon, cloves, and…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This hot spiked apple cider recipe hits all the cozy notes! Rum or bourbon perfectly complement the cinnamon, cloves, and star anise.

Spiked Apple Cider

There’s nothing better than a warm drink in hand when the weather is chilly. Here’s a classic that’s required for fall, in our opinion: Hot Spiked Apple Cider! There’s something about the combination of sweet cinnamon and cloves with the subtle spicy finish of rum or bourbon that’s absolutely soul warming. The liquor melds seamlessly into the hot cider, making a smooth sip and a cozy finish. This recipe has just the right balance of spices with alcohol: and a side benefit: it makes your kitchen smell like a fall candle.

What’s in this spiked apple cider recipe?

Apple cider is a drink that’s been around for thousands of years, dating back to the Romans in 55 BC! This spiked apple cider recipe is simmered with mulling spices, then combined with bourbon or rum for a tasty finish. Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

  • High-quality apple cider, preferably from your farmers market or local orchard. Look for unfiltered cider, which maintains the best flavor and color. If you’re in a time crunch and want to make your life super easy, you can always buy a pre-spiced apple cider and add rum to that.
  • Whole spices: cinnamon, cloves, and star anise. Make sure to use the whole versions of these spices, not ground, which is key to getting the best flavor. Star anise is the most unique of these spices to the American kitchen: it should be available at most grocery stores or you can buy star anise online.
Apple cider spices

How to make spiced apple cider: basic method

Making this hot spiked apple cider recipe is incredibly easy: all you need is time! Here are the basic steps:

  • Toast the spices: Toast the spices for a few minutes on the stovetop. This releases their fragrance (and makes your kitchen smell amazing).
  • Simmer: Add the apple cider and heat until warmed through, about 30 minutes. You can also use a slow cooker or Instant Pot: see below.
  • Filter: You’ll notice that particulate rises to the top of the cider while it’s cooking. Use a fine mesh strainer or sieve to strain it off (or you can pour it through a strainer into another pot).
  • Spike it: Add the rum or bourbon all at once, or add about 2 ounces to each 1 cup serving. Spiking each drink separately lets you serve both non-alcoholic hot cider and spiked cider at the same time!
Spiked Cider

Serving spiked apple cider for a party

Here are a few tips if you plan on serving this warming drink at a party!

  • Double or triple it: You’ll need to use a larger pot to accommodate.
  • Consider Crockpot or Instant Pot: Using a slow cooker to keep the spiked cider warm is great for parties. Head to our Slow Cooker Apple Cider.
  • Spike the drinks individually: When you’re serving a crowd, it’s nice to have the flexibility to spike the cider for each person individually. Then the drink works for both kids and adults.

Use bourbon or rum

What’s the best alcohol to use for a spiked apple cider recipe? Rum or bourbon are the best choices. Any type of rum works: white rum, aged rum, or dark rum (aged or dark will add more flavor complexity with vanilla and oak notes). Any type of bourbon works as well! The rum melds more seamlessly into the flavor of cider, making it our top choice. Bourbon is a close second, and has a slightly more prominent flavor on the finish.

Hot Spiked Apple Cider Recipe

More cozy drinks

Outside of this spiked apple cider recipe, there are so many winter drinks and hot cocktails to try! Try these cozy options:

This hot spiked apple cider recipe is…

Vegetarian, gluten-free, plant-based, dairy-free, and vegan.

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Spiked Apple Cider

Spiked Apple Cider


  • Author: A Couple Cooks
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 8 drinks
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

This hot spiked apple cider recipe hits all the cozy notes! Rum or bourbon perfectly complement the cinnamon, cloves, and star anise.


Ingredients

  • ½ teaspoon cloves
  • 3 star anise
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 8 cups apple cider
  • 1 cup rum (of any kind) or bourbon
  • For the garnish: star anise, cinnamon stick, orange slice

Instructions

  1. Toast the spices: Add the spices to the bottom of a pot*. Toast over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant.
  2. Simmer: Turn the heat to low. Pour in the apple cider and bring to below a simmer, just barely bubbling. Set a timer for 30 minutes and reduce to low heat (don’t let it simmer).
  3. Filter: Skim off any particulate that rises to the top of the pot using a fine mesh sieve or strainer (or you can pour it through a strainer into another pot). 
  4. Serve: Pour in the rum or bourbon (or add 2 ounces to each 1 cup serving). Ladle into 8 mugs. If desired, garnish with star anise, cinnamon stick, or an orange slice.

Notes

*Or, go to Crockpot Apple Cider for slow cooker or Instant Pot instructions. Make the cider, then add the rum or bourbon before serving. 

  • Category: Drinks
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Spiked apple cider, spiked apple cider recipe, spiked cider, spiked hot apple cider

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Classic Chili Cheese Fries

Chili cheese fries are always a hit! Make a batch of baked fries and top with a simple chili, cheese…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

Chili cheese fries are always a hit! Make a batch of baked fries and top with a simple chili, cheese sauce, and toppings.

Chili Cheese Fries

When it comes to fries, there’s nothing more epic than a platter of Chili Cheese Fries! Imagine: that combination of deliciously hearty chili, crispy potatoes, and gooey cheese sauce is comfort food at its finest. Why settle for a plate of fries when you can add chili? This spin on the traditionally heavy dish is fresher than most, featuring a black bean chili and a lighter (but just as tasty) cheese sauce. In fact, this genius way to repurpose chili can even count as dinner!

Elements in these chili cheese fries

Chili cheese fries have three essential elements: French fries, chili, and cheese: either melted or incorporated as a sauce. This way of serving fries is very popular in the US, and originated in the 1950’s with the invention of prepared cheese products. Here are the elements you’ll need:

  • Fries: make these Homemade Baked Fries
  • Chili: try Black Bean Chili, Quick Chili or any of your favorite chili recipes
  • Cheese: make the simple cheese sauce below with whole milk and cheddar cheese
  • Toppings: top with pico de gallo, sour cream, and thinly sliced green onion
Chili Cheese Fries

Time saving tips!

The elements above are listed in the order we like to make chili cheese fries. Get the baked fries started by cutting them and soaking the fries, then get the chili simmering, and make the sauce just before serving. Here are a few quick tips that can save more time when you’re prepping:

  • Make the chili in advance, or use leftover chili. This is the perfect way to repurpose leftover chili! Just spoon it over the fries with a slotted spoon to minimize sogginess.
  • Use baked store-bought fries. There are some great brands of fries on the market that are more whole food spins on this usually processed product. Find a brand with minimal ingredients, then bake them up for quick assembly.
Chili Cheese Fries

Making the easy cheese sauce

The genius part of this chili cheese fries recipe? The easy cheese sauce! Most cheese sauces require you to make a roux by heat flour and butter together first to give the sauce a thick body. But we’ve created an even easier spin that requires two main ingredients: milk and cheese!

  • This 2-ingredient sauce has a slightly lighter texture than most. It’s not as thick because it doesn’t use flour. This also makes it gluten-free!
  • Use whole milk. This makes for the richest, creamiest body.

Chili cheese fries…for dinner!

These chili cheese fries taste decadent: but they’re actually lighter than most recipes. In fact, you can get away with calling them dinner. Here’s why:

  • The fries are just potatoes and olive oil. This is part of a healthy diet!
  • The chili is vegetarian and made of mostly vegetables. Black beans, corn, quinoa, tomatoes, onions: all healthy, good-for-you ingredients! You can choose a meaty chili if you like, which will make this recipe heavier and more caloric.
  • The cheese sauce is minimal. Many cheese sauces pack in loads of cheese. This recipe has just enough. If you’d like to go even more minimal, simply sprinkle with a few handfuls of cheddar cheese and pop it in the broiler to melt the cheese.
Chili Cheese Fries

Variations: meaty, vegan and more

Want to mix up these chili cheese fries? Here are a few ideas for different variations on the theme:

More fries recipes

We love fries over here: and there are lots of ways to make them that are a healthy spin! Here are a few more fries recipes to try:

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Chili Cheese Fries

Classic Chili Cheese Fries


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 4 to 6
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

Chili cheese fries are always a hit! Make a batch of baked fries and top with a simple chili, cheese sauce, and toppings.


Ingredients

  • 1 recipe Baked French Fries
  • 2 cups Black Bean Chili, Quick Chili (with ground beef or plant-based crumbles), or other favorite chili recipe*
  • ¼ cup whole milk (or substitute 2%)
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 green onion
  • Pico de gallo, for serving
  • Sour cream, for serving
  • Hot sauce, for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Make the Baked French Fries, following that recipe. (You also can use frozen fries and skip this step.) While the fries soak, go to Step 2.
  2. Start the Black Bean Chili or Quick Chili, or use leftovers of your favorite chili recipe. Allow it to simmer while baking the fries. 
  3. Directly before serving, make the cheese sauce: In a small saucepan, heat the whole milk and the salt over medium heat. Once hot, add the shredded cheese a little bit at a time, stirring and melting before adding more cheese until all is incorporated (this should take about 3 minutes total).
  4. To serve, place the fries on a platter. Scoop out 2 cups of chili with a slotted spoon and add them over the top. Top with the warm cheese sauce, green onion, pico de gallo and sour cream. Serve immediately. 

Notes

For vegan, use Vegan Chili and Vegan Nacho Cheese.

  • Category: Appetizer or Main Dish
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Chili cheese fries

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Perfect Pumpkin Cake

This classic pumpkin cake recipe is moist and perfectly spiced! Top with cream cheese frosting for an irresistible treat. Here’s…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This classic pumpkin cake recipe is moist and perfectly spiced! Top with cream cheese frosting for an irresistible treat.

Pumpkin Cake

Here’s a recipe that’s just right for the season: this classic Pumpkin Cake recipe! It’s everything you want a pumpkin cake to be: thick and moist, scented with cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. The best part? A layer of tangy, fluffy cream cheese frosting is its ideal flavor match. It’s so classic and irresistible, you’ll want to make it for every gathering. It’s great for fall dinner parties, Halloween, Thanksgiving, or really anytime you’re craving pumpkin goodness! Let’s get to it.

Ingredients in this pumpkin cake recipe

This pumpkin cake recipe is exactly what we look for in this type of cake: beautifully moist and just sweet enough. It’s scented with just the right amount of pumpkin spices, and it’s not too rich. The recipe came about when we asked our 4 year old what else we should make with pumpkin and he said without missing a beat, “Pumpkin cake!” The cake base is similar to our Pumpkin Spice Muffins, and we created a new frosting recipe for the top. Here are the ingredients in this pumpkin cake:

  • All-purpose flour
  • Pumpkin pie spice
  • Baking soda, baking powder, and salt
  • Dark brown sugar and granulated sugar
  • Pumpkin puree
  • Eggs
  • Neutral oil
  • Unsweetened applesauce

The applesauce in combination with the pumpkin helps to make the cake incredibly moist without adding loads of oil or butter. The result is a just sweet enough, just rich enough cake!

Pumpkin Cake

For the topping: a lighter cream cheese frosting!

This pumpkin cake recipe is at its best with that classic topping: cream cheese frosting! Something about the tangy, creamy texture makes magic with the fluffy cake below. For this pumpkin cake, we created a lighter version of cream cheese frosting. Here’s what to know about it:

  • This frosting has half the butter of a traditional cream cheese frosting recipe. This means it’s a little bit softer of a texture than the standard, but just as delicious!
  • This frosting has less sugar than the standard cream cheese frosting. This also gives it a looser texture. Because of this we’d recommend using it for applications like a sheet cake, but not for piping cupcakes.

Alternate topping: powdered sugar!

The easiest way to top a pumpkin cake recipe? Douse it with powered sugar! This makes it a much lower calorie option, and it’s easier because you don’t have to mix up the frosting. It’s still delicious, but for top deliciousness we’d recommend making the cream cheese frosting.

Pumpkin Cake recipe

Let the cake cool completely before frosting

As with any cake, let this pumpkin cake cool completely before frosting it! If you’re impatient like we are, here’s how to cool a cake quickly:

  • Cool the cake at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
  • Refrigerate until it’s room temperature, about 15 more minutes.

Pumpkin cake storage & make ahead instructions

Want to make this pumpkin cake ahead? Or want to save leftovers? Here’s what to know about storage:

  • Cake lasts 3 to 4 days refrigerated. It holds up well! Just bring to room temperature before serving: this is the best way to taste all the flavors.
  • You can freeze the cake for up to 3 months. Bake it and let it cool completely, then tightly wrap the unfrosted cake before freezing. Let it come to room temperature before frosting it!
Pumpkin Cake

More pumpkin recipes

When it’s pumpkin season, there’s nothing we crave more! Here are a few more desserts, breakfasts, snacks and drinks that make ideal pumpkin recipes:

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Pumpkin cake

Pumpkin Cake


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 12 to 16
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

This classic pumpkin cake recipe is moist and perfectly spiced! Top with cream cheese frosting for an irresistible treat.


Ingredients

For the pumpkin cake

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ tablespoons pumpkin pie spice (purchased or homemade)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¾ cup dark brown sugar
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 large eggs
  • ⅓ cup neutral oil
  • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce

For the cream cheese frosting (optional)

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9 x 13″ or equivalent baking dish.
  2. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, baking powder and kosher salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, granulated sugar, pumpkin puree, eggs, oil and applesauce. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until combined. Pour into the prepared pan and use a spatula to smooth into an even layer. 
  3. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool until for 30 minutes, then refrigerate about 15 minutes until it comes to room temperature. (Or allow to cool and refrigerate it, then frost before serving.) If desired, dust with powdered sugar before serving or proceed to the cream cheese frosting (recommended). 
  4. Meanwhile, make the cream cheese frosting: Beat the room temperature butter and cream cheese with a mixer on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes until completely smooth. Reduce the speed to low, then add the vanilla. Slowly sift in the powdered sugar until thickened. Refrigerate the icing until frosting the cake.
  5. Spread the frosting on top of the cake to the desired thickness (you can use the entire batch or less if desired). Stores refrigerated for up to 3 to 4 days; bring to room temperature before serving. Freeze the completely cooled unfrosted cake tightly wrapped for up to 3 months.
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Pumpkin cake, pumpkin cake recipe

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Easy Black Bean Chili

This Black Bean Chili recipe is easy to make and full of big flavor! It’s cozy and hearty, the ideal…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This Black Bean Chili recipe is easy to make and full of big flavor! It’s cozy and hearty, the ideal vegetarian dinner idea.

Black Bean Chili

Can you have too many chili recipes? We think not. Introducing our new favorite easy spin…this Black Bean Chili recipe! It’s beyond simple to make, and the flavor is outstanding. (We hope you’ll agree.) It’s got a hint of smokiness to highlight the tangy tomatoes and savory black beans. Top it with your favorite toppings, and it’s so hearty and savory, you’ll forget it’s healthy, too.

Ingredients in this black bean chili recipe

This vegetarian black bean chili recipe was inspired by open fire cooking. In fact, we first made it around our firepit during a kitchen reno! We adapted our healthy chili recipe to be even simpler so it was easy enough to cook on a fire. This is the stovetop version of it, and it’s got lots of great ingredients to bring massive flavor with little effort:

  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Olive oil and butter
  • Quinoa
  • Black beans
  • Canned tomatoes
  • Corn
  • Mustard, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce
  • Chili powder, oregano, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and salt

The flavor secrets here? The butter adds the richness you need in a vegetarian chili. The mustard, ketchup and Worcestershire add tangy and savory notes. The kicker at the end? Adding a bit of smoked paprika, which helps to emulate that smokiness of the campfire chili we were inspired by.

Black Bean Chili

Chili toppings: dress it up!

This vegetarian black bean chili is simple and elegant. In fact, you only really need to dice an onion and garlic, and let your stove do the rest of the work for you! Once it’s done, dress it up with the toppings of your choice. Here are our top choices, and then a few more creative ideas:

  • Sour cream and cheese: Just a little goes a long way! We think these are required. For vegan, use Cashew Cream or Vegan Queso.
  • Green onion: Thinly sliced green onion is the best fresh accessory.
  • Cilantro: Fresh cilantro leaves are a great addition.
  • Hot sauce: Naturally! A favorite is a Mexican hot sauce like Cholula.
  • Roasted salted pepitas: This unique option adds a salty crunch.
  • Pickled jalapenos or onions: Pickled jalapeños add a kick! If you think ahead, pickled onions are a favorite of ours: they add bright color and tangy flavor.

Leftover storage

This black bean chili recipe stores well and is great for leftovers! Here are a few notes on leftover storage:

  • Refrigerate for up to 3 days. It can become very thick, so you may need to add a splash of water when reheating.
  • Freeze for up to 3 months. This recipe works well frozen in a freezer-safe container.
Chili Cheese Fries

Make it a meal: ways to serve black bean chili

There are so many ways to serve this black bean chili recipe — straight up in a bowl, or with more creative options! Here are a few ways to accessorize it:

Variation: cook it on an open fire

Sure, you probably won’t do this every day! But this black bean chili recipe is an ideal campfire chili, too. We first made this one over an open fire when our kitchen was undergoing a renovation, and it worked wonderfully! The fire infuses an incredible smokiness to the flavor. Here are a few notes:

  • Use a hardwood for the fire, like oak or cherry. These woods have the best flavor for cooking food.
  • Follow the recipe but omit the smoked paprika. You don’t need it since the fire infuses smoky flavor.
  • Advanced prep for camping: If you’re taking it camping, prep the minced onion and garlic and place in a sealed container. Place the ingredients from water through kosher salt in another large sealed container (keep out the dry quinoa and add when cooking).

Let us know if you try it in the comments below! It’s a fun variation, though we typically make this one on the stovetop.

Black Bean Chili Recipe

More chili recipes

This black bean chili is our new favorite, but we’ve got lots of other chili recipes for the season! Here are a few to try:

This black bean chili recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, replace the butter as noted in the recipe below.

Print
Black Bean Chili

Easy Black Bean Chili


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

This Black Bean Chili recipe is easy to make and full of big flavor! It’s cozy and hearty, the ideal vegetarian dinner idea.


Ingredients

  • 1 medium yellow onion
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ⅓ cup dry quinoa
  • 1 cup water
  • 3 15-ounce cans black beans, drained (not rinsed)
  • 2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes, fire roasted if possible
  • 4 tablespoons salted butter (replace with 2 tablespoons olive oil or refined coconut oil for vegan)
  • 1 15-ounce can corn (or 1 ½ cups frozen corn)
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons each chili powder and dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon each garlic powder and cumin
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

Instructions

  1. Dice the onion. Mince the garlic.
  2. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, until tender.
  3. Add all other ingredients except for the smoked paprika. Simmer for 25 minutes, then stir in the smoked paprika. Serve immediately with toppings of your choice. Store leftovers refrigerated for up to 3 days, or frozen for 3 months.
  4. Campfire chili instructions: Follow the instructions above, but remove the smoked paprika (the fire will add smoky flavor). If you’re taking it camping, prep the minced onion and garlic and place in a sealed container. Place the ingredients from water through kosher salt in another large sealed container (keep out the dry quinoa and add when cooking). Keep everything cool until making the chili.
  • Category: Main dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Black bean chili, black bean chili recipe

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Mulled Wine

This mulled wine recipe is easy and classic, starring a bold red, mulling spices, brandy and orange. The ideal cozy…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This mulled wine recipe is easy and classic, starring a bold red, mulling spices, brandy and orange. The ideal cozy drink for a crowd!

Mulled wine

When the first chill starts to fill the air, it’s time for cozy drink season! What better way to start the fun than a great Mulled Wine? Make up a big pot, and it fills your kitchen with an intoxicating aroma of toasted allspice and cinnamon. This recipe is just sweet enough, balancing the bold fruity wine with mulling spices, citrus, and oak and vanilla notes on the finish. It’s truly stunning: a classic recipe for all your fall and winter occasions!

What is mulled wine?

Mulled wine is wine that’s heated with spices. It’s typically served in the fall and winter, especially around Christmastime. The first recorded spiced wine recipe was in Rome in the 2nd Century AD! Today it’s very popular in the UK and across Europe, as well as the US. It’s called Glühwein in German-speaking countries and Glögg in Nordic countries.

Mulled Wine

Mulled wine spices

Mulled wine is made with mulling spices, which infuse the entire drink with that signature cozy flavor. (The same style of spices are used in Mulled Cider.) Typically a mulled wine is simmered with whole spices instead of ground, so the flavor infuses into the wine instead of making it cloudy. There are lots of variations on the spices depending on your country and tradition. Common mulled wine spices include:

  • Cinnamon sticks
  • Cloves
  • Allspice berries
  • Whole nutmeg
  • Star anise

Star anise is the most unique of these mulled wine spices: it’s a star-shaped seed pod. It’s available at most grocery stores, but you can also buy star anise online.

Mulled wine spices

How to make mulled wine: stovetop, slow cooker or Instant Pot

You can make mulled wine using various methods: our favorite is the stovetop because it’s quick and easy! But if you’re serving a crowd at a party, a slow cooker or Instant Pot are great options. Here are the three methods of how to make mulled wine:

  • Stovetop method: The quickest method, at only 30 minutes! Just make sure it stays on the lowest warming setting: it shouldn’t even come to a simmer (otherwise the liquid reduces too much).
  • Slow cooker method: This method takes 2 hours and is great for parties! You can leave it on the warm setting and serve it right out of the Crock Pot.
  • Instant Pot method: Use this version if you have a pressure cooker instead of a slow cooker!
Mulled wine

Tips to the best mulled wine recipe

A good mulled wine is one thing: but a truly great mulled wine has a few tricks to take the flavor over the top! Here’s are a few tips for how to make the best version of this drink:

  • Toast the spices first. Toasting the spices for a few minutes in the pot or a skillet helps to release even more of their flavor during the simmering time. Plus, it makes your kitchen smell incredible!
  • Simmer very low. You barely want it to be bubbling. If it’s too high, the liquid will reduce and get too thick.
  • Add brandy and orange juice at the end. Do this instead of simmering them with the wine. It brings in major oak, vanilla and citrus notes to the finish of each sip.

Make a double recipe for party size

This mulled wine recipe uses one 750 ml bottle of wine, and makes enough for 6 servings of ¾ cup each. Serving a crowd? We’d recommend grabbing two bottles of wine and doubling this recipe. A doubled or even tripled recipe would fit in a Slow Cooker or Instant Pot. Use the 2x button in the recipe below for easy doubling.

Mulled Wine recipe

More winter drinks

Mulled wine is one of our top winter cocktails and hot alcoholic drinks! Here are a few more that always hit the spot:

This mulled wine recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

Print
Mulled Wine

Mulled Wine


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 0 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 6 drinks
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

This mulled wine recipe is easy and classic, starring a bold red, mulling spices, brandy and orange. The ideal cozy drink for a crowd!


Ingredients

  • 10 allspice berries
  • 10 whole cloves
  • 3 star anise pods
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 750 ml bottle dry red wine*
  • ½ cup water
  • ¼ cup maple syrup or honey
  • ¼ cup brandy or Cognac
  • 1 small orange, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Toast the spices: Add the spices to the bottom of a pot (or to a skillet for Slow Cooker or Instant Pot). Toast over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant.
  2. Stovetop cooking instructions: Turn the heat to low. Add the water, then pour in the wine and maple syrup and stir. Warm for 30 minutes on low heat, just barely bubbling. Do not let the wine come to a full simmer (or the liquid will reduce too much).
  3. Slow Cooker & Instant Pot instructions: Place the wine, water and maple syrup in the slow cooker or Instant Pot (pressure cooker) with the toasted spices. Cook on low for 2 hours or Normal using the Instant Pot “Slow Cooker” setting.
  4. Add brandy and orange juice: When ready to serve, stir in the brandy or Cognac and the juice from 1 orange. Garnish with orange slices and if desired, rosemary sprigs. 

Notes

*Double the recipe for a party: for the Slow Cooker and Instant Pot it’s nice to have the doubled quantities. 

  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Drink

Keywords: Mulled wine, mulled wine recipe, how to make mulled wine, mulled wine spices

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.