A Mum’s infamous chilli - Real Recipes from Mums

When I was pregnant with my 1st child, Austin, I instantly craved chilli. Literally the night my husband and I found out we were pregnant, I made my first batch. I found this odd, since I rarely ate chilli and had never made it before. In hindsight, I believe it was my body’s way of telling me I needed more iron and folic acid. Almost two years and dozens of modifications later, I think I have mastered the art of chilli. It has become a weekly staple in our house and my husband’s favourite dish. I not only enjoy the act of cooking chilli, there is just something about stirring a big pot of savoury goodness on the stove that soothes the soul, but I love that one bowl is equivalent to a balanced meal, loaded with dozens of vitamins and minerals and it means leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch and dinner!

Ingredients (serves 8)

1 kilo Extra Lean Beef Mince
800g Canned Diced Tomatoes
435g Old El Paso Refried Beans
1 Onion, Diced
2 Zucchini, Diced
1 Red Capsicum (Red Bell Pepper), Diced
120g Baby Spinach Leaves
To Taste Worcheshire Sauce
To Taste Cumin Seeds Ground
To Taste Paprika Ground
To Taste Chilli Ground
To Taste Garlic Salt
To Taste Bay Leaves
Optional Topping Low Fat Shredded Cheese
Optional Topping Low Fat Sour Cream
Optional Topping Tostado Corn Chips or Tortillas
Optional Topping Jalapenos

Method

In a large stock pot, start by browning extra lean beef mince with diced onion. To keep the meat moist, add 1 cup water and several splashes of worcheshire sauce. Then sprinkle meat and onion with generous portion of cumin, paprika, chilli (modify as needed) and garlic salt.
Once browned, add diced zucchini, capsicum and tomatoes. Sprinkle additional cumin, paprika and chilli to the mix. Allow to simmer for a few minutes then stir in refried beans and baby spinach leaves. Place 2 bay leaves in chilli pot, cover and let simmer for 45 minutes, stirring regularly.
Portion into bowls, top with low fat shredded cheese, sour cream and jalapenos (optional) and serve with Tostado corn chips or tortilla shells.

Notes

You can also make this chilli vegetarian by eliminating the meat portion and adding Mexican Beans. Also, please remember to modify the chilli powder portion to suit your family's needs. My 13 month old loves this dish, so we cook him a small batch without the spice.

19 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 24 Aug 2021
    11:20 am
Chilli is excellent and often ages well over night in the fridge.

- - maidinaustralia said
  - 05 Mar 2020
    10:42 pm
I love a good chilli, and finally, my eldest is finally starting to like it. I was a vegetarian before I became pregnant with him, and I found out then my body does not absorb iron supplements so I have to get it naturally and also from injections (or at worst, infusions). B12 too. So I started eating meat again at his father’s insistence and chilli was a favourite. I even managed steak. Funnily enough, son and I are both mainly vegies now, but eat lots of beans and fresh iron-rich vegetables. He is find most of the time with his iron intake but I need monthly injections. He cooks a lot of our dinners because I’m unwell, and I’m looking forward to teaching him my old chilli bean recipe. But I think this one is better. Thanks for sharing! His sister is a true carnivore (nothing wrong with that) yet I craved only vegetables and fruit with her. Go figure.

- - nadine_hill said
  - 24 Oct 2019
    10:57 am
I love a good spicy chilli – thanks for the recipe.

- - coastalkaryn said
  - 27 Jan 2017
    10:03 am
great story, great recipe – sounds amazing!

- - nealsq said
  - 18 Dec 2016
    8:25 pm
we love chilli and this sounds amazing, we make ours into wraps or tacos or even have it on baked potatoes, DELICIOUS!!

- - youngoldlady said
  - 15 Dec 2016
    3:20 am
Thank you for this, it has been pinned for later. Love chilli and any variation is great.

- - coastalkaryn said
  - 24 Sep 2016
    10:35 am
love the story and the recipe – thanks for perfecting it for us mums!!

- - mom101628 said
  - 17 Aug 2016
    3:23 pm
Fantastic – thanks for sharing your recipe.

- - rovermum said
  - 17 Aug 2016
    11:32 am
I love the sound of this. A dish where you can throw lots of things into a pot for a full flavoured meal. We’re not big chilli eaters, so I love how we can modify this to taste. I know my family will love this.

- - ella12 said
  - 17 Aug 2016
    9:44 am
ooh la la, sounds very yummy, so much flavoursome ingredients! (-:

- - tessie said
  - 17 Aug 2016
    9:37 am
It sounds yummy. My family don’t like spicy food but this is one dish I can make and freeze. I’ll take a bowl out when I cook them something I’m not too keen on. Presto! Everyone’s happy

- - mom134803 said
  - 17 Aug 2016
    3:52 am
Mmm, we love Chilli ! I always make mine vegetarian with more beans and or lentils. Yum !

- - damish70 said
  - 28 Apr 2016
    2:01 pm
Wow this looks packed full of flavour-yum!

- - Some_Toss said
  - 27 Apr 2016
    10:46 pm
“Please Sir, I want some more!” This looks so very yummy! Thank you very much for sharing! I’ll be making the vegetarian version for tomorrow night’s dinner!
- mom93821 replied
  
  28 Apr 2016 , 6:31 am
  LOL! Love your comment- so funny!
- - rachelvk said
  - 27 Apr 2016
    12:05 pm
I am so excited to try this. I love chili!

- - mom93821 said
  - 27 Apr 2016
    6:16 am
Love chilli – thanks for your recipe. The hotter the better.

- - mom90758 said
  - 26 Apr 2016
    2:37 pm
This recipe looks very good. Thanks for sharing the recipe with us.

- - mom112217 said
  - 26 Apr 2016
    12:37 pm
Your infamous chilli recipe is heaven,can’t wait to try it! Thanks.