Cooksister | Food, Travel, Photography

Food, photos & faraway places

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • About me
    • Contact me
    • Work with me
    • Legal
      • Copyright notice & Disclaimer
      • Disclosure
      • Cookies and Privacy Policy
    • Press and media
    • Cooksister FAQs
  • RECIPES
    • Recipe Index – by course
    • Baking
    • Baking (savoury)
    • Braai/Barbecue
    • Breakfast & brunch
    • Christmas
    • Dessert
    • Drinks
    • Eggs
    • Finger food
    • Fish
    • Gluten-free
    • Leftovers
    • Meat
    • Pasta & rice
    • Poultry
    • Pulses
    • Salads
    • Soup
    • South African
    • Starters & light meals
    • Vegan
    • Vegetables
    • Vegetarian
  • RESTAURANTS
    • British Isles restaurants
    • Dubai restaurants
    • France restaurants
    • London restaurants
    • Montenegro restaurants
    • New York restaurants
    • Pop-ups and supperclubs
    • Serbia restaurants
    • Singapore restaurants
    • South Africa restaurants
    • Sweden restaurants
    • Switzerland restaurants
    • USA restaurants
  • TRAVEL
    • All my travel posts
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Canada
      • Dubai
      • Cruise ships
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Grenada
      • Hong Kong
      • Hotel reviews
      • Italy
      • Israel
      • Jersey
      • Mexico
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Singapore
      • Ski & snow
      • South Africa
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • UK
      • USA
      • Wales
  • PORTFOLIO
    • Freelance writing portfolio
    • Speaking and teaching
    • Photography portfolio
    • Buy my photos

Quick chilli con carne

by Jeanne Horak on December 28, 2008 19 Comments in Recipes - gluten-free, Recipes - meat

Quick-chilli-con-carne

When I was a kid, we definitely had certain food associated with certain days. Fish and chips or Cranzgots pizzas were for Friday afternoons.  Fondues were for a treat on Friday nights (come on, it was the 1970s!).  Saturday afternoons, depending on the season, were for corn on the cob; omelettes with garlic bread; or a buffet of cold fish dishes like rollmops, sardines and pickled fish.  Saturday nights were for chicken sosaties.  Sunday mornings were croissants for breakfast.  Sunday afternoons were for roasts.  And Sunday nights were for soup.

I have always maintained that one of the benefits of being a grown-up is that you can eat whatever you want, whenever you want.  If I want croissants for breakfast on a Wednesday morning, or a fondue on a school night… who’s going to stop me??  Even so, I find that we still have certain food that we associated with certain nights.  For example, we will seldom have a chicken stir-fry over a weekend, and we are unlikely to have a pizza on a weeknight. Sunday remains soup night, and Saturdays remain corn on the cob days. But we also have a couple of new “traditions”.  Curry is almost always reserved for chilly Friday nights.  That is, if we’re not having chille con carne!

 

There is something deeply satisfying about this dish, but the speed and ease with which you can make it mean it’s perfect for a friday night when you want something healthier than curry or pizza, but still rib-stickingly good.  I was never interested in chilli con carne – the mere mention of chilli in the title put me off.  That is, until we had some at Nick’s godparents’ place and I realised that if I was making it, I had full control of the spiciness!  The fact that I have come to love beans in pretty much any form also helped 😉  On the topic of the beans, if you think ahead a little, soak the beans when you leave for work in the morning and they should be perfect to cook by dinnertime.  the dried beans certainly have a better texture than tinned ones, but if you are pushed for time, the tinned ones work just fine.  I use red kidney beans, but you can use whichever take your fancy.

So if you unexpectedly follow me or Nick home on a Friday night hoping for a meal, there is a good chance that I will have the wherewithal in the house to throw this together, and it certainly would feed a couple of hungry guests.

QUICK CHILLI CON CARNE (serves 4-6)

Ingredients:

500g lean mince (I use pork or turkey, but beef is also good)
2 cups dried red kidney beans (or beans of your choice)
1 tin chopped tomatoes with juice
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
salt and pepper to taste
1 Tbsp dried cilantro/coriander leaf
2 Tbsp tomato concentrate paste
sunflower oil for frying
1/2 tsp dried chilli flakes
2 Tbsp chipotle ketchup
1 tsp sugar

 

Method:

If using dried beans, place the beans in a large pot in the morning before work and cover with plenty of water.  Discard any beans that float.  Soak for 10 hours, then discard the soaking water.  Re-fill the pot with clean water and bring to the boil – do not add salt as this can make the beans tough.  Simmer till tender (about 40 minutes) and drain.

In the meantime, heat the oil in a large frying pan and sautee the chilli flakes, onion and garlic until the onion is translucent but not browning.  Add the mince and continue to cook until the mince is browned and almost cooked.

Add the tin of tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar and beans (if using tinned, just drain them well and add straight from the tin. Cook over medium heat until heated through and the sauce has reduced to the desired consistency.  Stir in the cilantro, chipotle ketchup and salt & pepper to taste.  Serve on brown rice. Bloggeraid

The recipe also freezes well and can be batch cooked to defrost and enjoy later.

I am submitting this recipe to Giz of Equal Opportunity Kitchen who is hosting a BloggerAid  event to raise awareness of world hunger.  For those who don’t know, BloggerAid is a group of international food bloggers, convened by the lovely Val of More Than Burnt Toast, Ivy of Kopiaste and Giz herself.  Check out Giz’s announcement for more details, but you’ll have to hurry as the deadline is 28 December!

More deliciousness for you!

  • Chilli con carne with a cornbread toppingChilli con carne with a cornbread topping
  • Ragu Bolognese – the official versionRagu Bolognese – the official version
  • South African chakalaka by the Thames – Scenes from a braai IIISouth African chakalaka by the Thames – Scenes from a braai III
  • Nectarine and coriander leaf salsa with seared tuna steaksNectarine and coriander leaf salsa with seared tuna steaks

Never miss a Cooksister post

If you enjoyed this post, enter your e-mail address here to receive a FREE e-mail update when a new post appears on Cooksister

I love comments almost as much as I love cheese - so if you can't leave me any cheese, please leave me a comment instead!

« Saturday Snapshots #18
Leftover Christmas gammon and caramelised shallot quiche »

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Manggy says

    December 28, 2008 at 12:05 pm

    Taking full control of the spiciness for me means amping it up to a thousand! Heh heh heh 🙂 Looks delicious, Jeanne! Sorry I wasn’t able to catch the BloggerAid event, though 🙁

    Reply
  2. Elizabeth says

    December 28, 2008 at 3:02 pm

    Aren’t traditions wonderful?
    When I was growing up, we always had chile con carne on Christmas Eve, the day my grandfather arrived and the night we put up the Christmas tree. It was thrilling to be allowed to eat dinner in the living room, with our bowls of chile con carne on the coffee table (that had a cloth on it, of course), surrounded by decorations not yet on the tree, presents still under wraps in a box waiting to be placed at the foot of the tree and the thrill of Santa’s imminent arrival.
    Now, of course, amalgamating family traditions, I have learned about the wonders of a sit-down dinner on Christmas Eve, putting our tree up a few days before Christmas Eve.
    Even though we are eating like kings, suddenly after reading your post, I feel the need for a bowl of chile con carne! (With black, pinto, red kidney and navy beans) In fact, I think I’ll go down to the kitchen and start soaking some beans!
    Thank you for the idea, Jeanne, and thank you for pointing to the BloggerAid event.
    Merry 4th Day of Christmas!

    Reply
  3. Kalyn says

    December 28, 2008 at 3:35 pm

    I love Chili any day of the week. Now I’m trying not to be overcome with envy that you have chipotle ketchup! What a wonderful sounding ingredient. Never heard of that here, but I do have ground chipotle powder, which I guess I could add to my ketchup!

    Reply
  4. giz says

    December 28, 2008 at 6:35 pm

    My heart gets warm just thinking about chilli and I really have trouble resisting this one. Winds are gusting, snow flying and what could be more warming. Thank you for this lovely entry to BloggerAid: Because we can Help. I believe we can!!!

    Reply
  5. Ivy says

    December 28, 2008 at 8:49 pm

    I wish you had posted this recipe last week. I cooked red kidney beans for the first time and had no idea how to make them. Your recipe sounds easy and delicious.

    Reply
  6. Kevin says

    December 28, 2008 at 10:11 pm

    Yep, the beans really make the chili. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Gill says

    December 29, 2008 at 12:15 pm

    Would you believe I have never eaten Chilli Con Carne?? I have no idea why as I love a little chilli and I am a huge fan of beans. I am definitely going to have to try this!

    Reply
  8. b says

    December 29, 2008 at 12:30 pm

    This is comfort food at its best Jeanne. It is also the perfect addition to Giz’ event to raise awareness for those less fortunate than ourselves.I know that it is a passion of yours!!

    Reply
  9. Darius T. Williams says

    December 29, 2008 at 12:41 pm

    I love quick…and this looks great! Amazing!
    -DTW
    http://www.everydaycookin.com

    Reply
  10. grace says

    December 29, 2008 at 2:50 pm

    for me, if a dish like this doesn’t have beans, it can’t be called chili. great recipe for when a body needs to be warmed up, and quick. 🙂

    Reply
  11. Deeba says

    December 29, 2008 at 4:07 pm

    Knock-knock…is it Friday yet? Sounds finger licking good Jeanne. My kids still have ‘those days’ earmarked aften; can’t let them have a free run so early in life. We still have bookmarked days often, but I love your Fridays! This recipe is wonderful & heart-warming. YUM!!
    Have a wonderful 2009 Jeanne…filled with warmth, fun & happiness!!
    (BTW, love it that you used ‘mea culpa’ & achieved it too..he he)

    Reply
  12. bee says

    December 29, 2008 at 8:09 pm

    here’s wishing you and your family a wonderful 2009, dear jeanne.

    Reply
  13. Gloria says

    December 29, 2008 at 8:42 pm

    I love chili and your chili sounds really good. I usually make mine with beef, but my daughter always makes hers with ground turkey.

    Reply
  14. Scott at Realepicurean says

    December 29, 2008 at 11:45 pm

    Tell you what – I’m going to try this one. I’ve always played it by ear when it comes to Chilli Con Carne, but this way I can blame it on you if something goes wrong 🙂

    Reply
  15. Antonia says

    December 30, 2008 at 10:08 am

    Mmm, I’m really craving spices at the moment. I’m staying with my parents and my father won’t touch anything with even the remotest bit of heat – part of me can’t wait to get home to cook up something with a just a little fire (though not too much). Chilli con carne is such great warming comfort food and yours looks delicious.

    Reply
  16. Gemma says

    December 30, 2008 at 11:44 am

    I think our only regular meal was the Sunday roast but I’m sure the week’s meals were more planned out than I ever manage now. This looks delicious and reminds me that I need to get over my dislike of kidney beans!

    Reply
  17. courtney says

    December 30, 2008 at 10:22 pm

    “I have always maintained that one of the benefits of being a grown-up is that you can eat whatever you want, whenever you want…” I wish that were always true.I will tell you later.But a big pot of chili would excellent about now( you can turn up the heat on mine). Happy New Year.

    Reply
  18. Claudia says

    January 1, 2009 at 9:00 pm

    I see behind the ‘chili’ and the ‘meat’ (carne), I see rice and beans which is a everyday Latin American+African food, isn’t it? Pure comfort by nature.
    Happy new year!
    C.

    Reply
  19. Susan from Food Blogga says

    January 11, 2009 at 4:07 pm

    Ahhh. Comfort. Pure comfort.

    Reply
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Never miss a Cooksister post!

Enter your address to subscribe via e-mail

Search over 500 recipes

Featured on

Recently on Cooksister

  • Potato, salmon and cucumber salad
  • Review: Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecote
  • Exploring Grenada’s tree-to-bar cocoa estates
  • Beef, broccoli and udon noodle stir fry from “The Japanese Larder” by Luiz Hara
  • The Rosemary – an organic Hungarian restaurant in London
  • The Foyle Hotel Eatery: dining on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way
  • 8 Rhubarb recipes you need to try this winter
  • Saturday Snapshots #318

Archives by month

Archives by category

Popular posts

Peppermint Crisp fridge tart - a South African treat
Oxtail and red wine potjie
Roosterkoek - a South African braai essential
How to sautée Brussels sprouts
Brandy and Coke glazed gammon for a South African Christmas feast
Gem squash central - how to find them, how to grow them, how to eat them!

Also available on

cooksister


Instagram post 2182859529545291118_54730621
Can anybody gaze up at St Paul's Cathedral and fail to be impressed by its scale, beauty and grace (and the amazing blue skies that London has been blessed with for the past 2 Sundays??) *LONDON TRAVEL TIP* Admission to the cathedral costs £20.00 on the door (or £17.00 in advance) but here are my tips to see the interior for less.
1. Attend a service in the cathedral for free (there are four services a day), although you will not be able to access some areas like the whispering gallery that are open to paying visitors.
2. Attend a free organ recital which take place most Sundays at 16h45.
3. Get 2 for 1 tickets when you buy National Rail tickets to travel to a station near St Paul's. See http://www.daysoutguide.co uk for details.
4. When you buy your ticket, ask for an Annual Pass which will let you return to the cathedral for free as many times as you like for a year. 365 visits for the price of one!
5. Book a public guided tour (no extra cost above admission) which will get you access to areas like the Geometric Staircase and the Quire which are not usually open to visitors.

Instagram post 2171125393545679606_54730621
"Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate" (JRR Tolkien)

Do you love the anticipation of what lies just around the corner? Or does the unknown fill you with trepidation? On my recent trip to Assisi, I found this compact and ancient city to be filled with hidden treasures concealed behind every corner (and there were MANY corners, most of them on a steel uphill! 🤣). Sometimes a quiet church; sometimes a quirky art gallery; sometimes a breathtaking view; and sometimes a cheerful procession of geraniums marching up ancient stone stairs.

May you turn a corner today and discover something wonderful. 🙂
📸 @paolahorak

Instagram post 2140197497750837873_54730621
Today, South Africa (my homeland) marked Heritage Day, when the diversity of cultures in the country are celebrated. But as much as heritage is about what makes us different, it is also about what brings us together.

One thing that brings South Africans of all ages, from all walks of life, and from all cultures together all over the world is the braai - food prepared communally over an open fire and enjoyed with friends. Today, Heritage Day shares the date with National Braai Day when Sourh Africans celebrate their unifying fireside  culinary heritage. 
I have made this dish both in the oven and over the coals of the braai - and I definitely prefer the smokiness of the braaied version. The dish is simplicity itself - salmon (or snoek, if you can get your hands on some!) basted with a sticky glaze of... smooth apricot jam and Bovril! I kid you not! Don't mock it until you've tried it 😁. Serve on a bed of leaves topped with pomegranate seeds and spring onion.

Happy Heritage Day! 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦 #heritageday #braaiday

Instagram post 2135786442203279056_54730621
Hands up - who is loving the fabulously mild September weather we are experiencing in London at the moment? Such a treat 🌞 There are few finer ways to enjoy sunny late summer weekends than sundowners along the river Thames with friends. This particularly lovely and colourful river view was snapped from outside the @barmyarmstw1 in #Twickenham recently. 
How have you been celebrating the lingering summer days?

Instagram post 2118446473331719697_54730621
The Cité de Carcassonne is a walled mediaeval citadel within the modern French city of the same name, in the Occitanie region of southern France. The citadel was founded during the Gallo-Roman period and is famous for its intact 3 kilometres of double surrounding walls and 52 towers.

The original Roman walls were in place by 333 AD and since then the citadel  has been variously occupied by the Visigoths, Saracens and the Crusaders. The second line of walled defences was added after 1226, outside the Roman walls, and the town was finally annexed to the kingdom of France in 1247.

I loved looking up at these magnificent walls on Bastille day, through the prism of a glass of @foncalieuwines who were hosting us at @lecomptoirdelacite  for dinner with a spectacular view. 
Have you ever visited a Mediaeval walled city? Which one? [PRESS TRIP]

Instagram post 2106746806038463644_54730621
Simple and delicious, this new potato, salmon and cucumber salad is the happy marriage of nutty new potatoes (I used @jerseyroyals), silky smoked salmon and crispy cucumber in a lemony yoghurt dressing. Perfect for a summery main course - the recipe is linked to in my profile. Have a delicious weekend, everyone 😎 [GIFTED]

Instagram post 2100775015050655801_54730621
Come on in - the gates are open! Hello to my new followers - great to have you here 😊

These beautiful gates lead to the elegant Chateau la Provenquiere in the Pays d'Oc region of the Languedoc where I recently tasted their range of rosé wines. Built in the 15th Century, the castle was restored and refurbished to its current style in the 1800s. If you visit, make sure to explore the beautiful grounds and views over the surrounding countryside from the chateau garden. [PRESS TRIP]

Instagram post 2097986173625239866_54730621
Looking out over the vineyards of La Clape in Pays D'Oc in the south of France, where we spent the night at Gerard Bertrand's beautiful hotel, Chateau L'Hospitalet. From this ridge (about 10 minutes walk from the hotel) you can look out over the vines all the way to the Mediterranean which exerts its influence on the region's microclimate and its much-respected red wines. [PRESS TRIP]

Instagram post 2093023799826787585_54730621
[Press trip] Enjoyed a fabulous charcuterie platter under the trees to the sound of cicadas at Bar Boeuf & Cow near Béziers with winemaker @bruno.andreu. Bruno has recently started making wine under his own name and makes a great range of "Aromatic" @vinspaysdocigp varietal wines as well as AOP and premium "Icon" ranges. His "Aromatic" Pays D'Oc IGP Merlot with its ripe red fruit flavours and lively acidity made a great match for the excellent smoked duck breast (and I love his  botanical-themed labels!). What wine do you enjoy with charcuterie?


Load More...


Follow on Instagram


Cooksister

Follow Jeanne Horak-Druiff's board Recipes by Cooksister on Pinterest.

The South African Food and Wine Blog Directory

Foodies100 Index of UK Food Blogs

See my Recipes at Feastie

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read More…

Latest Recipes

Jersey-royals-salmon-salad2 © Jeanne Horak 2019
Beef-Udon-noodle-stir-fry-title
P2PIrelandRhubarb © J Horak-Druiff 2013
Blood-orange-halloumi-salad-title
Lentil-squash-feta-Casserole
lamb-pulao-title
Blood-Orange-Cake-Title
Rhubarb-strawberry-Galette-1

SITEMAP

Home

Contact

About me

Recipe Index

Restaurant Index

Copyright & Disclaimer

Cookies & privacy policy




blog counter

© 2004 - 2019 · Jeanne Horak unless otherwise stated - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You may not reproduce any text, excerpts or images without my prior permission. Site by RTW Labs

Copyright © 2019 · Cooksister on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Cooksister cookie consent
We use cookies to ensure you receive the best experience on our site. If you continue to use this site, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions. Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Necessary Always Enabled