Coffee, Beer & Chocolate Chilli Con Carne

Who doesn't LOVE a Chilli? It's the perfect Autumn comfort dish. I long thought I had THE BEST recipe for a Chilli con Carne (generally a good dose of Red Wine, a couple of Oxo's and a load of other ingredients), but I was wrong, oh so wrong.

So, I'm mixing it up today (Monday), and taking ideas from different recipes to amalgamate them into one incredible, extensive (and therefore, expensive) 'Chilli-Recipe-Of-The-Gods' to change your game!

The beer adds a great depth of flavour to the dish that you just don't get with wine; malt sweetness and a little bitterness. I used Adnams Broadside as I was in a rush at my local offie.

So, in no particular order, heres the ridiculously long list of ingredients:

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
3 Shallots (chopped)
2 Garlic Cloves (mashed)
450g Sirloin/Rump Steak (nice and lean)
1 200g Tin of Chopped Tomatoes
1 Chopped Chilli, deseeded
100g Button Mushrooms
500ml Dark Beer
100ml Espresso/Strong Coffee
150g Tomato Puree (or 75g Double Concentrated)
1 Tin Kidney Beans
1 Tin Butter Beans
Generous glug of Worcester Sauce
1 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika
250g Beef Stock
40g Dark Brown Sugar
2 Teaspoons Chilli Powder
1/2 Tablespoon Ground Cumin
1 Teaspoon Oregano
1/2 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1 Teaspoon Salt
60g Dark Chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids)

METHOD:

Gently shallow-fry the Onions, Garlic & Diced Steak in the Oil for 4-5 minutes, until the beef has sealed and started to brown, and the onions turn translucent. Add chopped Mushrooms and cook for a further 2-3 minutes

Add about 400ml of the beer Beer, the Beef Stock, Coffee, Tomato Puree, Chopped Tomatoes and season with the Sugar, Chilli Powder, chopped Chilli, Herbs, Chocolate, Salt, and as much Worcester Sauce as you can handle (I'd happily drink the stuff!) Add half of the Beans, cover, and simmer until reduced by half, around 45 minutes.


Taste and season further with Salt & Pepper, and add another glug of Beer to bring it back to life.

I served it with a Perfect Jacket Potato (rubbed with Olive Oil, Salt, pepper & Rosemary, and cooked at 180 for 60-70 minutes), but would also be awesome with Rice or in a wrap.


The only way I can imagine this being any better is if I had made it with Smoked Beef Brisket. Hhhhhmmmmm.....




Although the ingredients list is quite extensive, just remember that most of the ingredients are probably already in your cupboard. It cost me just under £20 for the Steak, Beans, Beer, Mushrooms, Beef Stock & Chocolate, and there was enough for 4-5 people. Not bad for how bloody brilliant it was, but it's also great the next day after the flavours have developed further!





Enjoy with more of the beer you made it with, or a great Steam Beer such as that from Anchor Brewing Company, a great beer to cut through the spice and compliment the smoky chilli flavours. Adnams Broadside is widely available, although currently 2 for £3.00 at Waitrose. Anchor Steam Beer is well worth tracking down, and available in most Majestic Wine stores, 6 for £10.99 when you buy 2 cases.