Chili Con Carne

This was my first time making Chili Con Carne. After looking up the traditional ways of making it I decided to add my own twist to the dish to make this recipe my own. The end product is a Chili Con Carne recipe that’s hearty and full of flavor. Incorporating spices like geera, allspice and clove along with local cocoa and Angostura Cocoa Bitters add a depth of flavor that could make this your favorite chili recipe.

This is definitely a must try!

Chili Con Carne

Ingredients

• 1 lb minced beef
• 439g (1 can) kidney beans
• 1 tbsp whole geera (cumin)
• 6 grains of whole clove
• 10 all spice berries
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 large onion (finely diced)
• 4 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 bundle celery (finely chopped)
• 1 scotch bonnet pepper
• 3 shadon beni leaves (finely chopped)
• 3 tbsp tomato paste
• 350g peeled tomatoes (crushed)
• 18g local cocoa
• 6-8 dashes Angostura Cocoa Bitters
• 1 tbsp oil
• 3 cups water
• salt & black pepper (to taste)

Chili Con Carne Spice Blend

1. Add geera, all spice and clove to a spice grinder then grind into a fine powder.
2. Combine mixture with paprika and chili powder then set aside.

Method

1. Add minced beef to a pan then cook for approximately 10 minutes. Use a spoon or spatula to break the minced beef into small pieces.
2. Once water has started evaporating from the beef, season with salt and black pepper then continue to cook the beef until the fat starts to render and the beef starts to caramelize and get a rich, brown color.
3. Add oil to a pot then sauté onion, garlic and celery for 4 to 5 minutes.
4. Add spice blend to the pot then toast spices with aromatics for 30 to 45 seconds.
5. Add cooked minced beef to the pot then combine well.
6. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, cocoa and kidney beans to the pot along with Angostura Cocoa Bitters.
7. Season mixture with salt and black pepper.
8. Add water to the pot along with scotch bonnet pepper then combine gently.
9. Bring pot to a boil on medium-high heat then reduce to lowest flame.
10. Cover pot then simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
11. Turn off heat then finish with fresh shadon beni leaves.
12. Serve & Enjoy!