By Marci Lutsky
There are certain things that make me feel like I’ve won the lottery, like cutting into an avocado and finding it has ripened to perfection or using every last bit of produce from my CSA share before the next pickup. Another one of these small victories is when I make a new dish and everyone in the family not just eats it, but loves it. I’ve pretty much transitioned away from making two meals, one for the kids and one for the adults. Our kids mostly eat a vegetarian diet and enjoy it. This recipe for tater tot veggie chili casserole was a major crowd pleaser. My kids and husband loved the tater tot topping, my daughter loves anything with soup and I loved the opportunity to use a variety of vegetables from my most recent Misfits Produce box.
You start by making a basic veggie chili. You want to saute a bunch of vegetables in an ovenproof pot like this one from Le Creuset. I used carrots, squash, peppers and onions because that’s what I had on hand. Feel free to swap out whatever fresh veggies you want to use.
Cook those in oil for a few minutes until they are softened and then add garlic and spices.
Next comes the beans, corn, diced tomatoes and broth. Again, you can customize this chili to your bean preferences. Use two cans of your favorite beans rinsed, for me this was pinto and black beans. Let that simmer for about 30 minutes and remove it from the heat.
Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top of the chili and then, making an inward circular pattern, top the chili with frozen tater tots. Carefully transfer the pot to an oven and cook for about 25 minutes.
When you remove the pot from the oven you will catch glimpses of bubbling chili and cheese underneath the tater tots.
Top with either scallions or cilantro and serve.
Spring still has many cool nights ahead and this casserole is perfect for those nights. If you have a busy day on the schedule, make the chili ahead and top with with the tater tots a half hour before you want to serve it. This is sure to be a winner all around for you too!
Marci Lutsky is a food blogger at Vegging at the Shore, www.veggingattheshore.com and can be reached at veggingattheshore@gmail.com.
