Chilli con Carne in 30 minutes

A tasty, juicy and lightly spiced chilli in under 30 minutes. Serve with rice, a jacket potato or in a fluffy bun for a classic 'sloppy joe'.

Serves 4
Ingredients:

• 500g beef mince
• A diced onion
• Spice mix 3 teaspoons of each unless stated (you can use a packet spice mix if you prefer): onion powder , paprika , 2 garlic cloves grated, sugar,  plain flour, cumin, oregano, chilli powder (or crushed, dried whole chilli peppers)
• Splash of white wine vinegar
• 400g tin of tomatoes
• 200g (1/2 a tin) of baked beans
• 400g tin of kidney beans
• A squirt of #5 umami paste (available from Waitrose)
• Soy sauce
• 50g grated mild cheddar (or another hard cheese of your choice)
• 1/4 pint of boiling water
• Tabasco sauce (optional, for extra heat)
• Salt and pepper to season
• Sour cream to serve.

Method: 

1. Brown the mince and onion in a saucepan. Drain off any excess fat. If you are making baked potatoes preheat your oven.
2. Blend your spice then mix with the water and stir into the mince, along with a splash of white wine vinegar and soy sauce. Also add the Tabasco sauce if you are using it.
3. Add the tomatoes, baked beans and kidney beans and a tablespoon of #5 umami paste.
4. Bring to the boil, stirring continuously. 
5. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes until thoroughly cooked. 
6. While the chilli is simmering, prick your potatoes with a fork and microwave for 4 minutes (or until soft) then move them to the oven for a crispy skin. 
7. Remove the chilli from the heat and stir in the grated cheese until melted, this will add an extra creaminess to the chilli and serve immediately with baked potatoes or rice and lashings of sour cream.

This is an easy dinner that is sure to satisfy and great if you are having friends over. If you are eating alone or with a partner just freeze the leftovers or halve the ingredients.