Friday 24 September 2010

Chilli Con Healthy

I recently purchased Sally Bee’s cookbook, The Secret Ingredient: Delicious and Easy Heart-Healthy Recipes that might just save your life. At the age of 36 Sally suffered 3 heart attacks in a single week, she had never smoked, didn’t drink and was fit and healthy. But she was to find out that she had a rare heart defect that had gone undetected, SCAD (spontaneous coronary artery dissection) and is usually diagnosed post-mortem! Sally survived against all the odds. Determined to stay alive, she revolutionised her diet and through this book she now shares her secrets about healthy eating for life. The recipes in the cookbook are all eye pleasing, easy, filled with fresh ingredients and flavoured with herbs and spices. I’ve booked marked many recipes but decided to try out the Chilli Con Healthy first. I love chilli but for years have always used the same recipe, I have now been converted and will be using this recipe here on in. This chilli was amazing and my idea of comfort food. I served it along-side basmati rice and dollop of low-fat crème fraiche, which gave it a creamy texture. A must-try!

Chilli Con Healthy

Serves 4

Ingredients
450g extra lean mince beef
extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
2 fresh red chillies, deseeded and chopped
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp paprika
pinch of cayenne pepper
400g can chopped tomaotes
1 level tbsp tomato puree
600ml beef stock
freshly ground black pepper
400g can red kidney beans, drained
chopped fresh coriander, to serve
low-fat natural yoghurt or crème fraiche (optional), to serve

In a large, lidded saucepan, dry-fry the minced beef until brown over a hight heat. Drain off any fat. Turn down to a medium-low heat and add a splash of olive oil and then add the onion and garlic and cook gently until softened.

Add the chillies and all the spices and continue frying, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes.

Add the canned tomatoes, tomato puree and stock. Stir well and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 15 minutes, or until the liquid is slightly reduced.

Season with pepper and add the drained kidney beans. Cover and heat through gently for another 30 minutes, adding a little extra stock if required.

Serve hot, sprinkled with chopped coriander leaves and a dollop of yoghurt or crème fraiche, and accompanied by basmati rice or a fresh salad.

11 comments:

busygran said...

Eating healthy is indeed important. This dish says it all!

Brownieville Girl said...

This sounds lika a book I need to buy ..... my basket on Amazon is HUGE!!

Sounds (and looks) like a great dinner.

Jemima said...

Fab recipe, thank you for sharing it! x

Victoria said...

I love chili! It's one of my favorites meal in cold weather ... The perfect comforting meal! Have nice week-end :)

Chele said...

Think I may need to try this recipe with some quorn me thinks
;0)

Vicky said...

I've been meaning to look up this book after seeing the author on This Morning. My family have a large history of heart problems so this book would be great. The chilli looks lovely and comforting, yum! xxx

Abitofafoodie said...

I absolutely love a good chilli and similarly always use the same recipe. Keen on anything healthy though so might give this a try. I too love a dollop of creme fraiche on top to finish it off. Yum!

Lucie said...

Looks so tasty Maria. I love Sally Bee's recipes. Hugs x

Chronicles of Dolliedaydream said...

Hello Maria thanks for popping by Dolliedaydream and hope you have had a wonderful weekend. What an inspiring story - I will check out this recipe book. In the meantime I have just completed my very first Bakers Challenge over on my blog :-) xxx

Kez said...

Oh im deffinitly going to try this, i'm a Chilli fiend!

Jo said...

I love chilis! Will try this recipe. Thanks a lot!