Spiced Chocolate Chip Chilli


On the first Friday of each month enthusiastic cooks from around the country are united around a virtual dining table where they all prepare and cook a meal centered around a particular theme. This is known as the Irish Foodies Cookalong. November's theme was quite appropriately 'winter warmers' and with so many recipes to choose from the possibilities for me were endless. Eventually I decided to cook a good old Chilli- perfectly suitable for cold weather and has the ability to heat you up in more ways than one!
I had seeen Nigella adding some dark chocolate to her Chilli Con Carne and it looked delicious. I based this recipe on Nigella's version substituting kidney beans for chick peas. This was a good tip given to me by my friend Erika who found the latter was better received by kids!! I found the addition of Guinness really complements the spicy flavours quite well. As with most hearty stews this tastes even better the day after cooking and freezes well.
If like me you are currently housebound due to snow why not make a big pot of chilli, freeze it and enjoy a cook free day over the Christmas holidays!!


Spiced Chocolate Chip Chilli

Ingredients
150g chorizo
900g/ 2lbs shin of beef cut into three quarter inch cubes
2 large onions
3 cloves garlic
1 long red chilli, seeded
rapeseed oil/ olive oil
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tbsp tomato puree
2 tbsp tomato ketchup
1x400g (14oz) tin chick peas
2x 400g (14oz) tin chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp sugar
25g dark chocolate chips
250mls Guinness
100mls water (swilled out in the chopped tomato cans)

Method
Preheat the oven to 150c/325F/gas 2.
1.Finely chop, or process the onion, garlic and chilli. Heat the oil in a large pan and fry this mixture until soft, add the cumin, coriander and cinnamon.
2. Stir the oniony-spiced mixture together and then add the sausages sliced into eighth-inch coins.
3. Drop in the cubes of beef turning them in the pan with the sausages to brown the meat.
4. Stir in the tomato puree, tomatoes, ketchup and drained chick peas.
5. Add the guinness and water and bring the chili to a boil, sprinkle over the chocolate and stir it all together. 6. Season with salt, pepper and sugar. Once simmering cover the pan with a lid.
6. Put the chilli in the oven and cook for 3 hours. Once cooked it is best left overnight as the flavour improves.

To serve
Creamy mashed potatoes or Basmati Rice
Grated Chedder cheese- sprinkle over before serving
Sour cream (to cool things down!) - a dollop on the side

10 Comments:

French Gourmet Food said...

The recipe is really interesting, I think I might try it some evening when the snow clears! and your child's picture is very very beautiful, it would be perfect in a high-end magazine. Well done!

French Gourmet Food said...

Mmmm I've noted the recipe & I'm hungry now!

Nessa Robins said...

Thanks for your lovely comments. I love taking the photos for the blog and my kids are very obliging models!!

French Gourmet Food said...

My pleasure, Nessa. You're really good at taking photos, I really like your style- and your son's a wee cutie! =)

Brownieville Girl said...

Fantastic photo!

Perfect dish for this weather.

Nessa Robins said...

Thanks a lot! This is certainly a handy one pot dish!

Aoife Mc said...

Mmmm looks amazing! And your son is such a cutie pie :)

Looks like a seriously good chilli, a dish which I'm always striving to perfect. Will definitely be adding a few of your special touches into my own version. Yum!

Nessa Robins said...

Thanks Aoife. He is certainly enjoying all the compliments!!
A good chilli is great for this weather!!

Anonymous said...

Im still trying to wrap my head around this dish.It looks absolutely delicious.I came across your site from the foodieblogroll and I'd love to guide Foodista readers to your site. I hope you could add this chocolate chip widget at the end of this post so we could add you in our list of food bloggers who blogged about chocolate chip,Thanks!

Nessa Robins said...

Thanks Alisa!!
I have added that widget. If you try out the recipe let me know what you think!!