# What You’ll Need:
→ Wheat and Grains
01 - 1 cup cooked wheat berries
02 - 1/2 cup cooked pearl barley (optional)
→ Beans & Legumes
03 - 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
04 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
→ Vegetables
05 - 1 large onion, diced
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
09 - 1 large carrot, diced
10 - 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
11 - 1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
→ Liquids
12 - 3 cups vegetable broth
13 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
→ Spices & Seasonings
14 - 2 tbsp chili powder
15 - 1 tsp ground cumin
16 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
17 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
18 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
19 - 1 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
20 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Oil
21 - 2 tbsp olive oil
→ Cornbread Topping
22 - 1 cup yellow cornmeal
23 - 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
24 - 2 tbsp sugar (optional)
25 - 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
26 - 1/2 tsp baking soda
27 - 1/2 tsp salt
28 - 1 cup buttermilk (or plant-based milk plus 1 tbsp vinegar for vegan)
29 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted (or vegan butter)
30 - 1 large egg (or flax egg: 1 tbsp ground flaxseed plus 3 tbsp water for vegan)
# Directions:
01 - Set oven to 400°F and prepare for baking.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion, minced garlic, and diced carrot; cook for 4 to 5 minutes until softened.
03 - Incorporate diced red and green bell peppers into the pot and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
04 - Stir in tomato paste, chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, cayenne pepper if using, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant.
05 - Add diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, cooked wheat berries, optional barley, kidney beans, black beans, and corn kernels. Stir thoroughly and bring to a simmer.
06 - Lower heat, cover, and let simmer gently for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
07 - Whisk cornmeal, whole wheat flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in one bowl. In a separate bowl, combine buttermilk, melted butter, and egg. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until just combined.
08 - Taste the chili base and modify salt and spices as needed. Remove from heat.
09 - Evenly spread the cornbread batter over the chili base in the pot, smoothing the surface gently with a spatula.
10 - Place the pot in the preheated oven uncovered and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the cornbread topping is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
11 - Allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before scooping portions that include both chili and cornbread.
