As a vegan it might be strange and interesting to try to replicate the "authentic" Texas Red recipes. No beans, no tomato. The basic recipe would be an almost purely pepper-based stock, probably use both Beyond Ground and diced Beyond Steak. If I recall, the most original known chili recipe called for a substantial amount of added pig fat. I'm not big on high-fat foods in the first place, so to me it's dubious whether to even include an alternative. But if I did, the most comparable choice would be coconut oil, but I avoid coconut/palm oil to the best of my ability, so probably a bit of added avocado oil would work best, though it's worth noting that Beyond products are already high in one or the other of these (avocado Beyond is best). Spices don't need to change.

But then, is that really superior chili? Sorry but midwestern bean and tomato/pepper extravaganza chili is way better, and will continue to be my main. But with some added crumbled soy curls? Gonna have to try that soon.

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I’m a vegetarian these days, but the best chili is a five way. Gotta find a decent meatless skyline recipe

[–] tiredofsametab@fedia.io 1 points 1 day ago

Kroger sells the spice powder and it's always been fine for me (I spent a number of years working for Skyline in every position except salaried management (though I was trained on and did their jobs as well)). It has you adding tomato paste, water, and ground meat. You could just do something other than the meat at that stage. Anything providing umami and fat would probably work fine.

[–] CascadianGiraffe@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

Vegetarian for over 20 years. Most of my chili is "leftovers chili". It's about the flavor more than the ingredients. I suppose it's more of a chili flavored goulash technically.

Usually starting with black beans, chick peas, tomatoes, peppers and chili spices. Then whatever leftovers I don't want to eat get chopped up and added. My favorite leftover is old French fries because they never reheat right anyway. Also a great way to use up produce that is going bad but not yet unsafe to eat.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I've never tried it, but I bet TVP would work pretty well in chili as a substitute for meat, at least texturewise.

[–] rumba@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 days ago

I make chili for work once a quarter or so. I make two batches, one Vegan, one Fantastic (ok kidding)

Yes, you can use just about any meat substitute they are all fantastic. Slices of seitan, TVP, Small chunks of drained and pressed low moisture tofu, morning star sausage. The spices destroy any of the finer flavors, so you're just in it for the texture you really can't go wrong because the only no-no is gristle.

Before the meat alternatives got decent in the past few years, I always just made both batches with beans.

[–] AnimalsDream@slrpnk.net 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That's where the soy curls come in. TVP would be a nice addition, but I lean more in favor of a whole-foods approach. TVP = chemically stripped soy, mostly protein. Soy curls are the whole beans boiled and reformed into a surprizingly incredible and versatile meat alternative.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I've never tried soy curls before. Interesting.

[–] AnimalsDream@slrpnk.net 2 points 2 days ago

Yup, to be honest I'm surprised that Butler's has zero direct competition. To the best of my knowledge there is no other whole-bean single-ingrediant meat substitute, all of the other closest competitors are tvp-based.

https://www.butlerfoods.com/

[–] PotatoesFall@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 2 days ago (2 children)

coconut oil and palm oil are from different plants. Are you confusing the two or is there a reason to stay away from coconut oil that I haven't heard yet?

[–] piccolo@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Coconut oil is high in saturated fats.

[–] PetteriSkaffari@lemmy.world 0 points 2 days ago

Also, monkeys are forced to get the last coconuts off the trees. Animals basically used as slaves.

[–] AnimalsDream@slrpnk.net 2 points 2 days ago

Both health and ethics reasons. Healthwise coconut oil has even higher saturated fat levels than palm oil does, but both are quite high.

Ethics wise coconut is similarly not sustainable, at least not in terms of being yet another monoculture. I would say it's arguably not vegan because of the harm that comes to animals and their habitats because of the coconut industry.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/by-the-way-doctor-is-palm-oil-good-for-you

https://theconversation.com/our-love-of-coconut-oil-may-have-forced-some-species-to-extinction-141454