Chilli con Carne

pollyanna24

I bulk buy the cheap tomatoes from Tesco, and the only spices I will need for me chilli is cumin (43p) and coriander (69p), so I think that's a good start for now.

How much are tomatoes in Lidl?

dniester007

I bought a big bag of extra strength chilli powder (it's just ground chillis) from Julian Graves health food shop (another version of Holland and Barrett). It has lasted for ages. Just a quarter of a teaspoon is enough for chilli.

annie-c

Yes 1/4 to 1/2 tsp I would say, though 1 red chilli chopped and deseeded is my preference. 1/2 tsp each of cumin and coriander. For a recipe using 1 lb meat.

bluekp

Lynzpower - tell me again what meat you have? :rotfl: :rotfl:

Sorry - I couldn't help myself

si1503

pollyanna24 wrote:

Can anyone tell me what is in the packets you buy from the supermarket? Is it just chilli powder?

They are BOGOF at Tesco at the moment, but I just wondered if it would still be cheaper to just make my own from scratch.

Seeing as even with the packet, you still have to use kidney beans, tomatoes, etc., I just wondered if I used mild chilli powder (how much please?) which I happen to have sitting on my spice shelf?

can of tomatoes, onion, can of kidney beans, pack of mince, beef stock cube, various spices (paparika, chilli powder, etc), will serve 2-3 (2 large portions or 3 medium), and obviously some rice, you could make that for £3-4 easy (might cost a little extra first time for stock cubes and spices), and that is gonna taste a million times nicer that any pre-made stuff!

voguemonkey

My, very rough recipe is:

1Llb of mince
2 tins of chopped tomatoes
1 tin kidney beans
1 or two cloves garlic
1 or 2 onions
chilli powder
2 beef stock cubes
generous dollop of tomato puree
season all
cumin
fresh coriander

With the spices I tend to just heft a load in and then taste as I go, adding in whatever it seems to lack! Not particularly scientific I'm afraid. The coriander goes in not long before serving.

Generous dollop of creme fraiche or sour cream and some grated cheese to serve.

And now I'm hungry.

The silly thing is, for a long time I would add all of the above to the packet mix before I realised I really didn't need it! Doh!

Penny-Pincher!!

Our chilli is very basic and very easy to make:D We dont eat much beef so use minced lamb instead.

2 chopped onions-10p
1 chopped pepper-15p
1 tin sweetcorn-17p (cheapie from Aldi)
2 tins of tomatoes-28p (cheapie ones from Aldi's with herbs)
2 tins of kidney beans-26p (cheapie from Aldi)
500g minced lamb (frozen Asda £1.29)
chilli powder

Lightly fry the onion, add pepper. Add mince and stir till cokked through, add half a teaspoon of chilli powder and leave for 2 mins. Then add the tomatoes. Drain the kidney beans and the sweetcorn and add them. Heat through...taste...add more chilli if needed.

This cooks enough for 4 full size portions and about 2/3 baked spud amounts. We freeze the surplus and pul out when needed.

Total cost £2.25 for several meals:D Serve with either rice, pasta or baked spud.

PP
xx

Heth_2

I've never used a packet, or indeed thought about using one. I use a good housekeeping recipe, and it makes a yummy chilli. It's got some red wine in which I think really adds to the flavour.

mountainman_2

Does no one use Tabasco? I love it in chilli,
Also I use Swartz(sp)? hot chilli powder, but I think the Tabasco makes all the difference.

Gaia

I use a recipe from an old issue of The Good Food Magazine, it's superb and never lets me down! If I haven't got the square of dark chocolate (and you only need 1 small square) I use a teaspoon of cocoa powder and one of sugar. Is a good and cheap alternative.

Personally I think the packet mixes are a waste of money. Chilli powder, cumin and majoram (yes, marjoram) are really nice in a chilli.

You can make it cheaply by using equal quantities of mince and grated carrot.