Chilli con Carne
For 4-5 people
The spices
2 tsps ground coriander
2 tsps ground cumin
1 tsp hot chilli powder OR fresh chillies *
1 tsp pimentón paprika (smoky)
1 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp muscovado sugar/dark brown sugar
The rest
3 cloves of garlic, crushed
2 onions, chopped
2 carrots, chopped quite thickly
1 lb minced beef
1 packet of Quorn mince
2 cans of tomatoes
Tomato purée
2 beef stock pots, dissolved in approx. 3/4 pint of boiling water
1 can of kidney beans, drained
Tabasco to taste
Salt and pepper
Fresh coriander - chopped (about 1 large bunch)
Plus
Packet(s) of tortilla chips
Salad
Basmati rice
* Always be careful with chillies - their power can be so different, depending on either the age of the chilli powder, or the freshness of fresh chillies. Better to err on the side of putting in less - you can always add more in later.
Again, this will taste better if you make it the day before, or if you can’t do that, at least try and make it in the morning - the flavours mingle together and just keep on improving as time goes on...
First of all, mix all the spices together in a bowl. If you’re wondering about the cocoa, it goes really well with chillies and gives the sauce a really dark, rich flavour.
In a large casserole/saucepan, heat some olive oil and add crushed garlic cloves. Add the onion and carrots and fry gently till onion is translucent.
In a separate pan, brown the mince. Add to the onions, along with the quorn mince. Mix around for a bit and then add the bowl of spices to this mixture.
Add the tomatoes, tomato puree, and beef stockpots dissolved in water.
Bring to the boil. Turn down, cover with a lid and simmer for about 10 minutes, until the carrots are softened.
Add the kidney beans, salt and pepper and some tabasco if you like it. Throw in the chopped coriander. Simmer for another 5 minutes or so. Turn off the heat and leave to cool on the cooker, lid on - it will continue to cook by itself.
OR you can cook very slowly in the oven - several hours if you like, just keep checking that it hasn't dried out at all. Add some more stock if necessary.
When you are ready to eat, heat up the chilli. Make some basmati rice (see Extras for perfect basmati rice). Put some tortilla chips in a large bowl.
Lay out a salad on a large plate - shredded lettuce, sliced peppers, sliced tomatoes, grated carrot, red onions, spring onions etc, so people can help themselves.
Bottle of tabasco on the table, red wine, white wine, beer - most drinks go with chilli - and that's it!