This NEW AND IMPROVED Vegan Keto Walnut Chili is a delicious Gluten Free, High Protein, Low Carb Dinner Recipe that vegans and carnivores alike will want to CRUSH.
So this winter has been a real doozy. I’m sure if you’re reading this from your balcony in LA you’re probably like “WTF is this chick talking about?” but for the rest of us east coasters or Canadians, the struggle has been REAL. Honestly, sometimes the only thing that gets me through the cold nights is a warm meal (sorry salad, you’re out). This is where this Vegan Keto Walnut Chili totally comes into play.
How to Make this low carb Vegan Keto Walnut Chili recipe
So I was inspired to make this Vegan Keto Walnut Chili from a Marilyn Denis segment I did for heart health. Walnuts are such a heart healthy ingredient, since they have about twice as many antioxidants as other nuts, and they pack both monounsaturated fats and omega 3s. I was brainstorming yummy easy ways to incorporate them in a recipe that was more than just a sprinkle on top and this recipe came to me. When crushed really fine, walnuts actually have a similar texture as ground beef but without the saturated fat. It also makes this recipe for Vegan Keto Walnut Chili totally safe for my plant-based friends, yet CRAZY satiating across the board.
In addition to the walnuts, this Vegan Keto Walnut Chili has a lot of other really heart healthy ingredients going on. Tomatoes and bell peppers are rich in lycopene which is an amazing antioxidant. And dark chocolate is everyone’s favourite antioxidant. I will take any excuse to eat more chocolate!
This new and improved vegan keto walnut chili has 10 grams of net carbs, 28 grams of fat, and 353 calories per serving making it the perfect high protein low carb vegetarian keto recipe.
What’s your favourite meal for staying warm this winter?
Have you tried my Vegan Keto Walnut Chili?
Want to try another tasty chili? Check out this super decadent Chocolate Chili here!
Vegan Keto Walnut Chili
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive Oil
- 5 stalks celery finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 4 tsp ground cumin
- 1 ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 2 peppers large chipotle in adobo minced
- 2 green bell peppers finely diced
- 2 zucchini diced
- 8 oz cremini mushrooms
- 1 1/2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
- 3 cups water
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 2 1/2 cups soy meat crumbled
- 1 cup raw walnuts minced
- 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
To serve:
- 2 tbsp Fresh cilantro leaves
- 1 Avocado sliced
- 2 tbsp Sliced radishes
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the celery and cook for 4 minutes. Add in the garlic, cinnamon, chili powder, cumin and paprika and stir until fragrant, about another 2 minutes.
- Add the bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the chipotle, tomato paste, tomatoes, water, coconut milk, soy meat, walnuts and cocoa powder. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for about 20-25 minutes until thick and the vegetables are soft.
- Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Top with avocado, radishes, and cilantro.
Abbey Sharp is a Registered Dietitian, an avid food writer and blogger, a cookbook author and the founder of Abbey’s Kitchen Inc.
Anon says
June 10, 2018 at 7:36 pmI made this last night. I rarely comment on stuff but need to as I often use other people’s comments for inspiration! My partner enjoyed this and I thought it was okay. I halved the recipe, added a chopped serrano, and omitted the celery and chipotle and I think the latter was a mistake. I have some chipolte chili powder I could have subbed but forgot. So I felt like it was missing something in my version. Next time I would cut some of the walnuts in half, too.
Abbey Sharp says
June 11, 2018 at 9:36 amGreat, thanks for sharing!
Tom says
May 10, 2018 at 4:50 pmAs good as the recipe seems please don’t say it is keto. It isn’t. I don’t know if you are just trying to make keto a relevant keyword for ranking or what. This is a disservice to people who are on the diet. Carrots are completely against keto. So are sweet onions, all beans and legumes, canned tomatoes are loaded with sugar. Calling it meatless, vegan, or what have you is fine. But don’t call it keto chili. You are simply lying to viewers.
Abbey Sharp says
May 10, 2018 at 5:09 pmHi Tom, thanks for your comment. Carrots and onions are okay in a keto diet as long as they are eaten in moderation. Obviously, I am not saying this chili should be eaten everyday if you are on keto. It is fine if you are having it once in a while and watching your carb intake throughout the day. The canned tomatoes I used do not have any added sugar or additives so that is okay. Thanks for your comment and I am in no way trying to lie to my viewers.
Kristen says
May 31, 2018 at 4:07 amOne bowl of this contains an entire daily allowance of carbs! I agree with Tom.
Jn says
August 6, 2018 at 1:23 pmBeans are NOT keto.
I was all excited but soy and beans are not keto so calling it keto isn’t correct. Keto is more than keeping it within 20-30 net carbs. This might lazy keto, but not keto. Maybe consider correcting your name for this.
Abbey Sharp says
August 6, 2018 at 3:53 pmHey, actually these type of beans are super low carb and considered keto
Aseel says
January 25, 2019 at 10:18 pmWhat about the beans? Should a keto dieter eat them in moderation too? You are a hypocrite trying to sell your ideas to people in any way possible just to get traffick on your website/youtube. I thought you were against keto but you had to ride the wave right?
Abbey Sharp says
January 28, 2019 at 9:29 amHi there, the beans in this recipe are low in carbs
Abbey Sharp says
March 12, 2019 at 3:02 pmHey Tom,
Just a FYI, we have re-tested this recipe and updated it to lower the carbs even further. It’s now 10 net carbs/ serving.
T says
June 23, 2018 at 5:29 pmSeriously. So misleading
MK says
November 15, 2018 at 6:09 amI think if you halved or quartered the higher net carbs mirepoix components and remember this makes 6 servings, this could be keto adapted. I just wonder if the flavor will get lost. I am trying to stay below 19g of net carbs per day. I will try this, doing everything it takes to keep a serving under 9g and report back. I love the idea of it and it does seem like it would be delicious. Always looking for one pot meals to plan lunches for the week.
Caroline says
January 21, 2019 at 12:02 amI agree this recipe is very misleading
Abbey Sharp says
March 12, 2019 at 3:03 pmHey Carolyn
Just a FYI, we have re-tested this recipe and updated it to lower the carbs even further. It’s now 10 net carbs/ serving.
Ry says
April 15, 2019 at 4:26 amHow has this recipe been retested and now it’s 10 carbs? Did she change the recipe?
Abbey Sharp says
April 15, 2019 at 8:17 amYep changed the recipe and retested it (so the nutritional have also changed!)
IG says
January 26, 2019 at 5:33 pmYa’ll need the calm down. Such negativity and straight up nasty/condescending comments. Its chili. Not anything to be so hateful about. Go protest on a street corner or something TOM.
Jaker says
March 8, 2019 at 2:14 pmNobody’s being hateful … just pointing out some facts which I’m glad I read before making this … new to keto people like myself who never would have known any of this would have turned around and made/ate it, totally screwing us up. So thanks TOM for the heads up!
Abbey Sharp says
March 8, 2019 at 2:27 pmThis won’t “screw you up”, it’s actually low in carbs. The beans are a low carb bean.
Jaker says
March 8, 2019 at 2:07 pmYikes! Glad I read this! I just started keto and was going to make this!
Abbey Sharp says
March 12, 2019 at 3:03 pmHey Jaker,
Just a FYI, we have re-tested this recipe and updated it to lower the carbs even further. It’s now 10 net carbs/ serving.
Jennifer says
June 6, 2019 at 10:23 amAny tips for a crockpot version? Sounds delicious but trying to save time for a busy lifestyle. Thanks!
Danielle says
April 30, 2018 at 12:03 amThis sounds delicious, but I think calling it “keto” might be misleading. Keto requires fewer than 20g net carbs per day (total carbs minus fiber), and this seems like it would be much more than that in just one serving. Do you have the nutritional information for a serving?
Abbey Sharp says
April 30, 2018 at 9:24 amHi Danielle, with keto the daily net carbs can be around 20-30g, and one serving of this keto chili is around 24 grams of carbs without fibre.
Ian says
January 4, 2019 at 3:38 pmWhich proves it is not keto
Abbey Sharp says
March 12, 2019 at 3:04 pmHey Ian
Just a FYI, we have re-tested this recipe and updated it to lower the carbs even further. It’s now 10 net carbs/ serving.
Angela Cardamone @marathonsandmotivation.com says
February 20, 2018 at 9:34 amYum! this looks absolutely amazing!! I can’t wait to try this recipe 🙂
Abbey Sharp says
February 20, 2018 at 12:57 pmEnjoy lovely
Chrissy says
February 20, 2018 at 8:06 amI’m all about the walnuts and chocolate in this chili! Such creative additions. It was cold here and snowed over the weekend, so this is perfect.
Abbey Sharp says
February 20, 2018 at 9:25 amyes! this chili is perfect for this annoying weather
Laura K says
February 20, 2018 at 12:20 amWow, that’s absolutely perfect recipe! All the great ingredients that I need for my meal.
Abbey Sharp says
February 20, 2018 at 9:26 amAmazing! Thanks so much Laura, enjoy!
Emily says
February 19, 2018 at 10:29 pmI’ve never thought to add walnuts to my chili!! I love how it would give it some crunch without croutons/chips.
Abbey Sharp says
February 20, 2018 at 9:28 amTotally. Such a game changer. I highly recommend
Kelly says
February 19, 2018 at 7:32 pmI love how versatile walnuts are. They’re great in everything. I do vegan walnut taco meat with them.
Abbey Sharp says
February 20, 2018 at 9:32 ammmm totally agree. So fun to cook with
Deborah Brooks says
February 19, 2018 at 3:51 pmLove the idea of walnuts for texture and some healthy fats. Looks delish
Abbey Sharp says
February 20, 2018 at 9:32 amTotally. Adds the perfect crunch
dixya @food, pleasure, and health says
February 19, 2018 at 3:45 pmthe weather hasnt been as horrible but i am up for chili anytime. your version sounds really comforting and im interested to try walnut version soon.
Abbey Sharp says
February 20, 2018 at 9:32 amFor sure. Chili anytime is a must!
Samantha says
February 19, 2018 at 1:55 pmI’ve never thought about putting walnuts in my chili! Yum!
Abbey Sharp says
February 20, 2018 at 9:33 amTotally delicious. You won’t regret it