Bean Chilli from Dame Fandango

vegetables | bean chilli

Serves 2 on its own for a really hearty main meal. Can serve 4 if served with rice/potatoes etc.

This is absolutely gorgeous. It isn't a particularly spicy dish, (although you could make it far hotter if you prefer), it's just a lovely savoury meal. It's fantastic for a winter's night and the whole family seem to love it. I'd like to say this dish is best when left to rest overnight before reheating and eating - but it just never lasts that long in my house!

Wheat free, dairy free, nut free, meat free version...

Ingredients...

1 chopped onion
2 carrots, chopped into slices
1 large tin of butter beans, rinsed
3 x ½ peppers (orange, red and yellow peppers make it sweeter than green ones) chopped into chunks
1 baking sized potato, cut into small cubes (or a sweet potato is a delicious alternative)
1 small tin of kidney beans, rinsed
4 tbsp tamari sauce
6 heaped tsp sun dried tomato paste or tomato puree
Tip tsp cayenne pepper
2 heaped tsp vegetable bouillon/stock
3/4 pint (450ml) water
1 finely chopped chilli

Optional:

3 finely chopped cloves of garlic
2 finely chopped sticks of celery, if you have some to use up.
2 squares of dark chocolate if you want to add a secret ingredient.

Method...

Heat the oil and cook the onion and chilli until the onion softens. Then add celery and/or garlic if using them.
Add the carrots and potato, stir and cook for a few minutes
Then the chopped peppers, mix in and cook for another few minutes.
Add the water, tomato paste, tamari, stock and cayenne.
Stir well, cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes.
Rinse the beans, add to the mixture and boil for 5 minutes or until thoroughly cooked through.
Add in the chocolate, if you are using it and stir well until it melts.

Maybe serve with...

My favourite way of serving this is with peppered, mashed swede. The swede seems to compliment the chilli brilliantly - however, I realise not everyone is fan of swede! Not to worry, you can serve this with almost anything from potato wedges, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, rice, pasta... or simply eat it on its own.

For those who can eat meat or who are not quite veggie ...

Instead of tamari, use a tbsp of gravy granules and tsp beef stock, but this will make it a little thicker. If you wanted to stretch out the sauce a little, you can add some more water and more gravy granules.

For those able to eat dairy ...

Serve with buttery swede or mashed potato.

For those who can eat wheat ...

This is lovely served with garlic bread or crusty bread to dip in the sauce!

If you have peppers and carrots leftover, try the pepper paprikash or the creamy dip. If you just have peppers, try some creamy pashley pasta. If you have beans leftover, try the light Mexican bean salad. If you have sun dried tomato paste, see the aubergine caponata, flat roof cottage pie and quick fling pasta.

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