Chili Con Carne

A comfort food classic would be Chili Con Carne, you must have a go at this one

Ingredients

• 500 gm lean minced Beef (I use pork) as I can’t get minced beef here.
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 large onion chopped
• 1 red or yellow pepper chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
• 2 inch piece of fresh ginger finely chopped
• 1-3 heaped tsp hot chilli powder (or 1 level tbsp if you only have mild)
• 1 tsp paprika
• 2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1-2 bay leaves
• 1 beef stock cube or 1 pt of fresh made beef or vegetable stock
• 400g can chopped tomatoes
• ½ tsp dried marjoram
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 410g can red kidney beans, drained

this For later use

Method:

1. Put the olive oil in a large pan and heat add the chopped onions, garlic, ginger, bay leaves, and cumin seeds cook until onions are translucent about 5 minutes.
2. I like to add my cumin seeds with the onions as it brings out their full flavour and we love cumin.
3. Add the minced meat and cook, stirring until nicely browned.
4. Add the tomatoes, stock, peppers and tomato puree stirring in well and bring to a soft simmer.
5. Add the paprika, marjoram and sugar.
6. Cook for 20 minutes now this is where I taste and add more chilli and usually more cumin seeds and then add the drained kidney beans and cook for a further 30 minutes.
7. Serve with steamed rice and sour cream.
8. Enjoy!

Prepared, tried, and tested by Carol Taylor