Quick Meal Chilli con Carne for Grown Ups

This is a really delicious dish that is quick to cook up. It is hot so feel free to adapt to your tolerance levels.

3 Tbs Oil
Half a Star Anise

2 tsp curry powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

1 teaspoon paprika 

1 tsp hot chilli powder (optional) 

1 tsp chilli flakes (optional)

1 jar of Doritos salsa (you pick mild, medium or hot)

3 Tbs sweet chilli sauce

1 can red kidney beans (optional if you don't like beans don't feel obliged to add but they're really good for you, I use Waitrose - forget the reviews, they add great flavour)

1 cup of water

500g beef mince

Sour Cream to serve

Nacho crisps to serve

1 Lemon

Guacamole

Two avocado's mashed

1 Tablespoon mayonnaise 

Squeeze lemon

Take a large/medium saucepan heat the oil on medium heat then after a minute lower the heat and add star anise, chilli flakes and all the spices, cook for 3 minutes and stir so the spices don't stick.

After 3-4 minutes turn the heat up high and immediately add the mince beef. Get a nice colour on the mince - colour = flavour! After 2 minutes browning and breaking down the meat, reduce to medium heat  season with salt n pepper and add jar of salsa, water, chilli sauce and stir it in to mix. Add the whole can of kidney beans and stir. Then simmer for 15 mins stirring occasionally.

During this time, make your guacamole by slicing two avocado in half, remove the large pip, then scoop out the flesh.

Quickly mash in a bowl with a little salt and pepper and the mayo, add half a squeeze of lemon and mix. Refrigerate until you serve.

Tip: Make sure you make the guacamole as soon as you peel the avocado, so it doesn't oxidise and turn grey.

You're ready to plate up. Before removing chilli from heat add the other half squeeze of lemon. and mix, you're now done. Put your chilli in a bowl, for full fat version see below, add sour cream and guacamole on top and serve with Nacho chips. 

Full fat version - add loads of grated cheddar cheese on top of your chilli, blitz under the grill until melted

Buffet style:

Scatter Nacho chips in a roasting oven dish, spread chilli over the chips add loads of grated cheese over the top, the place under the grill until the cheese bubbles. Serve on table, as is, with sour cream and guacamole.

Nacho chips - you can also warm these in the oven before serving for around 10-15 mins.

INFERNO: If you want extra heat add four Tbs of the Ghost Pepper Salsa from Whole Foods market. They also sell ready made guacamole :)