This recipe for Almond Butter Black Bean Chili & Plantain Fritters uses nut butter for a creamy chili, paired with sweet and spicy fritters made with ripe plantains.
Full disclosure, my kids polished off all ten fritters before the chili was even ready. They're addictively delicious. Make sure to use very ripe plantains– the yellow ones with black spots. They're easier to mash and quite a bit sweeter. This sweetness pairs perfectly with the chili seasonings.
The prep and cook time is minimal for both the fritters and the chili, plus there's no babysitting required for the chili. Simply place the ingredients into a saucepan and let them do their thing. It couldn't be easier. And except for the plantains, all the ingredients are pantry-friendly. This dish is as affordable to make as it is delicious to eat.
This Almond Butter Black Bean Chili recipe was inspired by my Spiced Tofu & Black Bean Vegan Chili, as well as my Bean Curry with Roasted Potatoes on this site.
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🥣 Why This Recipe Is Fabulous
- This recipe is versatile. Substitute the black beans for a bean of your choice. Feel free to use whatever nut butter you prefer. Cashew or peanut butter would be my second choices, but that's because I have a penchant for almond butter.
- This chili is ready in 25 minutes or less.
- The subtle sweetness of the plantain fritters are a perfect compliment to this mildly spicy chili.
📖 How to Make This Recipe
For the Chili:
Place the diced tomatoes, garlic, bay leaves, and ½ cup water into a medium saucepan and cook over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer before reducing the heat to medium-low.
Stir in the herbs and spices and simmer covered for 15 minutes. Add the black beans and cook for another 5 minutes. Stir in the almond butter until it is fully incorporated.
Season with salt and black pepper.
For the Fritters:
Mash the overripe plantains until mostly smooth. Add the dry ingredients for the batter and mix.
Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet. Once the oil is shimmering, add 2 tablespoons of batter for each fritter. Cook for about 4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
👩🏼🌾 Ingredients & Nutrition
Almond Butter
Almond butter is rich in heart healthy fats and protein, as well as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It adds a creamy texture to this dish and makes for a more satisfying meal.
Black Beans
Beans are loaded with protein and fiber, and are the foundation of a healthful plant-based diet. This recipe doubles down on them, requiring two cans of black beans!
The seasoned tomato sauce is high in vitamin C, which helps our bodies absorb even more iron from the black beans.
Plantains
Plantains are nutrient-dense and high in resistant starch, a carbohydrate that feeds our 'good' gut bacteria.
Try these comforting bean recipes.
A plantain is a type of banana, but with a different flavor and culinary use. They tend to be larger in size than bananas, and have a thicker skin.
Plantains are also starchier and lower in sugar than bananas. They range in color from green to yellow to dark brown, depending on their ripeness. Because of the high starch content, plantains aren't often consumed raw, and are either boiled, sauté, fried, or baked. They're treated more like a vegetable than a fruit, often being used in savory dishes.
Yes. Any nut butter will work. Try peanut, cashew, or walnut butter.
Make this chili with kidney beans, white beans, or pinto beans.
👩🏽🍳 Made This Recipe?
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I would love it if you would rate this recipe and leave a comment. Thank you in advance.
📖 Recipe
Almond Butter Black Bean Chili & Plantain Fritters
Ingredients
For the chili:
- 14 ½ ounces diced tomatoes or fire roasted tomatoes, canned, with juice
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 bay leaves
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon cayenne
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 30 ounces black beans 2 (15-ounce) cans, drained and rinsed
- ⅓ cup almond butter smooth
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
For the fritters:
- 2 medium-large plantains ripe (yellow skins with black spots)
- 4 tablespoons arrowroot powder or cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Dash of salt
- Neutral flavored cooking oil for pan frying
Instructions
- Cook tomatoes: Place the diced tomatoes, garlic, bay leaves, and ½ cup water into a medium saucepan and cook over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer before reducing the heat to medium-low.
- Season: Stir in the cayenne, chili powder, garlic powder, oregano, and thyme. Simmer with the lid on for 15 minutes.
- Add beans: Add the black beans and simmer covered for another 5 minutes. Remove the bay leaves.
- Add nut butter: Stir in the almond butter until it is fully dissolved.
- Season with salt and black pepper.
- Make the fritters while the chili is simmering.
- Mash plantains: In a large bowl, mash the plantains with a fork until mostly smooth with some chunks remaining.
- Prepare batter: Add the arrowroot powder, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt. Mix to combine.
- Heat oil: Add enough oil to cover the base of a large non-stick skillet. Heat the oil over medium-high heat.
- Add batter: Once the oil is shimmering, add 2 tablespoons of batter for each fritter. Use the back of a spoon to flatten the batter into a circular shape.
- Cook fritters: Cook for about 4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
Notes
- Any nut butter can be substituted for the almond butter.
- Fire roasted tomatoes can be substituted for the diced tomatoes to pack in even more flavor.
- For a less spicy chili, omit the cayenne.
Nutrition
This information is provided as a courtesy and is an ESTIMATE only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased can change the nutritional information in any given recipe.
Zach
I just made this tonight and it was so good! This was my first time cooking with plantains and I couldn't believe how easy it was. I am already thinking of ways to mix it up for future batches such as swapping the black beans for baked shredded tofu.
Nisha Melvani
So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for commenting.
Zara
Hi there
Is this two cans of black beans or 4?
Ie 800g or 1600g
Nisha Melvani
Hi, I just made it clearer in the recipe card. 1 can. 14.5 ounces in total. 1 (14.5-ounce) can. Hope this helps.
Dusanka
Oh my goodness! Its not easy to find plantains near me but it was worth the effort. The whole dish was super simple to make and very tasty!
Nisha Melvani
I really appreciate you taking the time to comment. I'm so glad you were able to find plantains and enjoyed the recipe. Thank you.
Siobhan Haber
This was a hit - wasn't sure about how the almond butter would taste but recipe worked so well and deliciously addictive. The whole family loved them!!
cookingforpeanuts
I'm so happy it was a hit. Thank you.
Ashley
Great recipe! And so filling. It was easy to make. I didn’t make any modifications. Thanks for the great meal! Oh and the plantain fritters...I ate three as soon as they came out the pan ??
cookingforpeanuts
Thanks for letting me know Ashley. I'm so happy you enjoyed this meal. I love the plantain fritters too!
Ani
Awesome recipe. Everything loojs delicious! Congratulations on the blog. This makes it easy for me to look up your recipues.
cookingforpeanuts
Thanks for your kind comment. xxx