Chilli Con Carne …

Chilli con Carne 001

 

This is a favourite in my house and I cook it quite often.  Chilli Con Carne is basically a stew containing meat (usually beef), capsicums, tomatoes and beans.  While the name suggests that this will be a spicy dish, it’s really up to you whether you make it mild or hot.  This recipe is for quite a mild version that my kids gobble up and for anyone who likes it a bit spicier, I simply add sweet chilli sauce to their individual serve.  It’s so simple to prepare and is suitable to freeze.  And the thing I love most about this dish, it’s perfect for sneaking in extra veggies – grated zucchini or squash, finely chopped cauliflower, anything at all really!  I’ve even been known to toss in some quinoa.

 

Chilli Con Carne ...
 
Author:
Ingredients ...
  • 500g lean beef mince
  • 2 onions, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 2 small red capsicum, diced
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
  • 3 sticks celery, diced
  • 1 large can (820g) tomato soup
  • 1 large can (800g) diced tomatoes
  • 1 large can (750g) kidney beans
  • 1 can (400g) chickpeas
  • 1 can (420g) corn kernels
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon ground chilli
  • salt, to taste
  • Corn Chips
  • Sour Cream (or Tzatziki)
  • Sweet Chilli Sauce, extra
Method ...
  1. Add oil to a large pot and combine mince, onion, and garlic and simmer gently until mince is browned.
  2. Add remaining ingredients and continue to simmer gently for 1 – 2 hours or until stew is thick and rich.
  3. Serve with corn chips and sour cream.

 

Clever Tricks, Tips & Hints:

 

The can sizes listed above are guidelines so don’t be too concerned if the brand you buy is slightly more or less because it won’t make a difference to the end result.

 

This recipe will make a huge quantity and, when feeding a family of four, it will produce three serves (1 to eat and 2 to freeze).  Therefore, you will need to use a fairly large pot.

 

If you want to bulk out this meal to fill hungry tummies, I sometimes serve it with rice.  Tzatziki is also a great alternative for anyone who doesn’t enjoy sour cream and some mashed avocado also works a treat with this dish.

 

Finally, I love the macro wholefoods market Organic Corn Chips (I get mine from Woolworths in the Health Food aisle).  They are not that much dearer than the regular corn chips and if you can pick them up on special they are sometimes even cheaper.  I prefer them because the round shape is a little better for dipping and they aren’t nearly as salty as regular corn chips.  These corn chips are gluten free with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and that ticks all the boxes for me.

 

So tell me, do you enjoy spicy food or is a milder flavour more to your liking?

 

Comments

  1. Lorraine Not Quite Nigella says:

    As you say you can definitely add more veggies to this and it would still taste great!