Recipe: Leftover Chili Redo

Chili for Breakfast? A Fresh Approach to Eating Your Leftovers! 🌱

I confess—getting legumes in throughout the day is tough. Who thinks of beans for breakfast? Well, maybe it’s time to start! Beans, chickpeas, and lentils are nutritional powerhouses, packed with protein, fibre, and essential nutrients that keep us full, energized, and powered. When I have beans at breakfast - hummus is often my go-to - I’m not the slightest bit full until lunch. With a fresh approach - and some out-of-the-box thinking - it’s easier than you think to work them into your day, even at breakfast.

It’s true, chili might not be the first thing that comes to mind when starting your day, but hear me out—think huevos rancheros, chili-stuffed omelettes, or scrambled egg burritos stuffed with warm chili.

Have you heard of Shakshuka? It’s a Middle Eastern dish where eggs are slowly poached in a sauce made with tomatoes, onions, and peppers. But why not add a fresh twist with chili? Using this week’s recipe: SLOW-COOKER BEAN CHILI WITH CASHEW CREAM, try this:

✨ Bring leftover chili to a simmer in a small skillet (you might need to thin it with a little water).
✨ Crack in an egg or two, cover, and cook to your preferred doneness.
✨ Serve with warm whole wheat pita and a dollop of leftover cashew cream.

Even if you only have a small amount of chili left, don’t let it go to waste—just fry an egg separately and serve it on top!

How About Beans Beyond Breakfast

Here are a few more easy and delicious ways to repurpose this week’s leftover chili.

🥗 Salads – Make a hearty taco salad. I love to make a rice bowl with cooked brown rice, warm chili, and fresh vegetables. If you have some cashew cream left over, add some chili powder, mix and drizzle it on top for a Mexi cream.

🍲 Soups & Stews – Thin the chili with water, add some extra vegetables, and turn it into a delicious soup. Serve crispy tortilla strips on top.

🌯 Wraps & Tacos – Tuck warm chili into a burrito with rice, or fill soft or hard tortillas with chili and spoon over your favourite toppings.

🥧 Traditional Mains – Instead of Sloppy Joes with white bread, how about spooning some hot chili over baked sweet potatoes and drizzling over the cashew cream? Stuffing green peppers or hollowed out zucchini and baking is also fun. Or how about chili cabbage rolls?

Get creative! Taking a fresh approach to eating your leftovers makes for easy, nourishing meals that help reduce food waste and boost your plant intake.

Let me know how you include legumes – beans, chickpeas, and lentils – in your daily meals. Drop your favourite ideas in the comments below! 👇