Chilli con carne with egg and fries

This chilli con carne with egg and fries is my bumped up version of the good old steak, egg and chips. It is one of those meals that warms from the inside out, leaving a pleasant rosy glow on your cheeks.

The spices and chilli add a fiery ambiance to this dish. However, the greatest satisfaction does come from dipping the fries in the soft egg. I have fond memories of my childhood, dunking slices of bread in soft-boiled eggs. This should be high on the list of comfort foods and kept for occasions like this, when it’s just too cold to go out. It’s not the healthiest, I know, but who cares on days like these. I might even be tempted to bring out my easy gluwein recipe from my Christmas in July blog…

Prepare to have left over chilli to use for some other great dishes – see my suggestions in Dee’s notes. I am assuming you can make fries, and if you can’t (which is perfectly fine) then buy the frozen ones and fry them up. Then all you need to do is fry an egg – easy, right?

Ingredients:

1.2kg lean mince

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 large white onion – diced

3 garlic cloves – crushed

1 tsp. mild curry powder – adjust the heat as necessary

1 tsp. turmeric

1 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. ground coriander

1 stick cinnamon

2 tins of whole tomatoes

½ cup water

1 tsp. powdered beef stock (or one cube)

2 tins red kidney beans – washed and drained

¼ cup chopped parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

Eggs – fried in butter

Potatoes for chips or ready made frozen fries

Oil to fry chips in

Cheddar cheese – grated

Spring onion to garnish

Recipe:

1 Fry the onion in the oil until translucent.

2 Add the garlic and spices and fry for 1 minute.

3 Add the mince and brown – break the mince up with a wooden spoon.

4 Add the tomatoes.

5 Add the stock and water.

6 Season well.

7 Add the red kidney beans.

8 Stir gently to avoid breaking the beans.

9 Add the chopped parsley.

To plate the dish:

Place a good amount of fries in the bowl, top with chilli con carne, and then a fried egg. Sprinkle some grated cheddar and spring onions on top.

Dee’s notes:

For a healthier version try one of these:

• Serve chilli con carne with basmati rice.
• Serve chilli con carne on wraps with some grated cheddar cheese.
• Serve chilli con carne in a baked sweet potato.
• Eat chilli con carne by itself.