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Chilli Con Carne

5/6/2012

 

Chilli Con Carne

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Chilli Con Carne a la Lizzy - with va-va-voom!
According to the infamous Spanish Dominican friar, Fray Bartolomé de las Casas (1484-1566), 'Sin el chile los Mexicanos ne creen que estan comiendo'. In other words, 'without chillies, Mexicans don't believe they are eating'. 
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Sin el chile los Mexicanos ne creen que estan comiendo
Ask me what else I know about Mexican food and I would honestly have to say that I know reasonably little, other than what I have read in a few Mexican cookbooks on my shelves, and what I gleaned from chef, Victor Pisapia, who presented a Mexican cookery class for my colleagues and I at my cooking school in late 2000. That was the one and only time I have seen Mole cooked and I don't think I've tasted it since. Although there were yummy Mole dishes on the menu at a couple of (rather lively) dinners at Montezuma's in the 1990s, but I think I was really there at that time for the Margaritas!

I know that Mexican food has a long and complex history; and it is a combination of traditional Indian (Mexica) and Spanish cuisines. I know that chilies of all kinds are served at practically every meal (yes, even breakfast, think Huevos rancheros - Eggs in Chilli Sauce); and that capsicums (bell peppers) chocolate, avocado, beans, corn, jicama (yam bean), pepitas, rice, chocolate, tortillas and tomatoes also feature heavily in Mexican cooking. 

Oh, and I know that I absolutely love the Mexican favourite, Chilli con Carne, or Chilli with Meat. Some might see this as a basic and ordinary dish, but I beg to differ. There is Chilli con Carne and there is CHILLI CON CARNE with va-va-voom! a la Lizzy, even I do say so. Here I share with you my recipe for Chilli con Carne. Please use the best quality, lean mince beef that you can source.

Dear readers, do you enjoy Mexican food? What's your favourite dish? Which Mexican dish do you cook at home most often?

CHILLI CON CARNE
1 tablespoon EVOO
1 large eschalot, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1-2 teaspoons chopped fresh chilli or dried chilli (to taste)
500g lean beef mince 
1 red capsicum (bell pepper), seeds and pith removed, chopped
1 x 400g can red kidney beans, drained, rinsed
1 x 400g can diced tomatoes
2 stalks celery, diced*
1/2 cup water+
sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
steamed rice or tortillas, to serve

Heat the EVOO in a large saute pan. Add the eschalots and fry gently until soft. Add the chopped capsicum, celery, chilli and cook for 3-4 minutes. Then add the mince and brown it well over a medium-high heat. Then add the kidney beans (drained and rinsed), tomatoes (undrained), sea salt and pepper, and water. Stir until the chilli con carne begins to simmer, then lower the heat, pop a lid on and cook for around 30 minutes (longer if time allows). You will know when the chilli is ready, as the flavours will pop when you taste the mixture. Serve with steamed rice or tortillas. This quantity will serve 4.

* I have used baby home grown celery here, including the stalks and leaves (delicious!).
+ use the empty tomato can to add the water.

The process in pictures...

Chilli con Carne a la Lizzy - bon appetito!

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Chilli con Carne is a deliciously simple, nutritious mid week meal
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thyme (sarah) link
5/6/2012 08:31:10 am

Living here in Houston...chilis are everywhere! We have this huge market called Caninos and the chili stall just go one forever it seems. With all of this at my disposal, however, I don't really cook very many Mexican dishes...but I adore Mexican food.

Lizzy
5/6/2012 09:31:23 am

Wow, your market sounds amazing, Sarah. I took a look at the web site and have added it to my list of markets around the world. Thanks for telling me about it. http://www.bizzylizzysgoodthings.com/links.html
I don't cook much Mexican either, but we have home grown chillies en masse this chilli con carne is a favourite!

Laura (Tutti Dolci) link
5/6/2012 01:09:42 pm

This looks so flavorful and delcious, Lizzy! I'd love a bowl for dinner tonight!

Lizzy
5/6/2012 04:47:51 pm

Thanks Laura, flavour is the key here, rather than the heat! ; )

InTolerant Chef link
5/6/2012 02:28:44 pm

What a great warming dinner Lizzy, just what we need with the wind howling outside! Sounds delicious indeed :)

Lizzy
5/6/2012 04:47:26 pm

Thank you Rebecca, it is sooooooooo cold, isn't it. Thanks for visiting
; )

A Canadian Foodie link
5/6/2012 03:28:13 pm

LOOKS gorgeous. No cumin? The traditional Chili Con Carne spice profile we are used to in Canada is vastly different than your recipe, Liz - but everything else is the same. YUM!
:)
Valerie

Lizzy
5/6/2012 04:47:03 pm

Hi Valerie, thank you! Cumin... good point, but I do like it without as well. Thanks for stopping by ; )

Claire @ Claire K Creations link
5/6/2012 03:28:49 pm

I'm a big Mexican fan although a bit of a wimp when it comes to heat. The idea of a nice warm bowl of chili seems rather perfect right now.

Lizzy
5/6/2012 04:46:01 pm

Hello Claire... this one is more about flavour than heat!

Jane @ Shady Baker link
5/6/2012 04:40:16 pm

Yum, I think I might make this tonight Lizzie, unfortunately I don't have home grown celery but I am still picking capsicums. I have not cooked a lot of Mexican food apart from Tacos! I do have a tortilla press...maybe I need to dust it off!?

Lizzy
5/6/2012 04:45:32 pm

Jane, you must pop into Celia's place now, she has just posted her latest tortilla recipe! Great minds xox

Jane link
6/6/2012 10:37:33 pm

I made it last night Lizzy...and Celia's tortillas! It was warming and delicious and a real blog meal created with inspiration from my friends :)

Lizzy
6/6/2012 11:26:40 pm

Jane, it's awesome that you made my chilli con carne and Celia's tortillas! Yum!!! You are a legend my friend xox

celia link
5/6/2012 06:36:11 pm

You're right Lizzy, that <i>would</i> be delicious with our tortillas! Great recipe, and perfect for this cold weather!

Lizzy
5/6/2012 08:28:14 pm

Great minds, Celia! I am envious of your tortilla press! Let's get together ; )

Maureen @ Orgasmic Chef link
5/6/2012 09:56:43 pm

Hola, Lizzie, Como esta usted?

That's the extend of my Spanish but I really like your chilli con carne :)

Lizzy
5/6/2012 10:44:36 pm

Hola Maureen! Estoy bien, gracias. xox

Thank you, pop over and I'll make some for you!

Grace link
6/6/2012 10:54:03 am

I just had a lunch similiar to this!
It looks really good

Lizzy
6/6/2012 11:29:48 pm

Hello Grace! Welcome. That's good, now you can try my chilli con carne at home! Thanks for stopping by.

Lorraine Not Quite Nigella link
7/6/2012 07:37:14 pm

This is so vibrant and beautiful Lizzy! I must admit that I often miss chilli if I haven't had it in a while :)

Cakewhiz link
8/6/2012 12:45:27 am

This looks so appetizing and it's also very healthy! What a nice way to get more veggies in our diet :)

Joanne T Ferguson link
11/7/2013 11:09:59 pm

LOVE Mexican food Lizzy, true!
The hotter, the spicier, as dad used to feed me red hot chilli peppers when I was little, so have an iron stomach too!
Perfect weather for chilli, and I have THE BEST Mexican food store in Adelaide...
Cheers! Joanne


Comments are closed.

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