Red Lentil Chili

Ingredients

• 1 cup red lentils

• 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons water, divided

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 1/2 cup diced onion

• 1 stalk celery, diced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 medium tomato, diced (about 1 cup, canned tomatoes may be substituted)

• 1 1/2 ounces Veggie-Stock Gold® dissolved in 4 cups hot water

• Tabasco sauce, to taste

• 1/8 teaspoon turmeric

• 1/8 teaspoon cumin

• Pinch cayenne pepper

• 1 teaspoon salt, plus additional as needed

• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, plus additional as needed

• 1/8 teaspoon chili powder

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

• 1/4 cup finely diced green pepper