Kangaroo Island is expensive to visit. Not only is the 45 minute ferry ride a total of roughly £250 return for us in our hire car, but all the accommodation is 30% more expensive than back on the mainland. Which is why we find ourselves in an en-suite backpacker room on a farm with nothing but a tiny wall heater to warm us. And an outside bathroom. Yes, an outside bathroom. Last time I checked this was Kangaroo Island, not Bali.
If it wasn’t for my magic chilli con carne recipe, we’d be seriously frozen.
Chilli con carne (serve 4)
- Brown off a pound of mince in some olive oil, season with salt and pepper as you do
- Chop an onion and fry gently, then throw in chopped chillies and a teaspoon of ground cumin and one of coriander
- Fry for just another minute then dump in two tins of chopped tomatoes and one of kidney beans
- Add three big cloves of garlic chopped up small, a tablespoon of worcestershire sauce and half a tin of water
- Add another teaspoon of cumin, one of coriander and one of cinnamon
- Season well, put the mince back in and let the whole thing simmer for an hour or preferably two (adding more water if it dries)
- Melt some grated cheese over the top under the grill and serve with a dollop of soured cream and a dollop of guacamole
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Shoot! I think I understand, but is mince what us philistines in the USA might call ground beef? This looks like a great dish to serve to my son & husband, but it might need cayenne instead of cinnamon.
Yep, ground beef it is. The cinnamon does actually work, you’ll have to trust me on this! I never used to add it, but went to a little Mexican restaurant in London and found they’d added cinnamon to their chilli recipe – I was converted. Of course, if someone in your clan has a definite dislike of cinnamon then I guess it’s out. You’ll obviously add as much/little chilli and cayenne as your guys like!