Chilli is such a great make-ahead meal for weeknight dinners. I like to make it on the weekend, when I have a bit more time.
I enjoy how versatile it is to use. Usually it becomes an easy to prepare dinner, where I heat it up once I get home from work, while cooking some rice. If avocados are in season, I love to mince one up with some lemon juice for a delicious creamy topping.
Leftovers are great for lunch, and can become part of a salad bowl, or stuffed in a wrap with salad and avocado.
This dish also freezes well, so I will sometimes make a double batch so that I can stock the freezer for days when my future self can't be bothered cooking.
I hope you enjoy making this dish using carrot mince as much as we do. Enjoy!
Add the onion and fresh chilli to a large non-stick saute pan. Fry on a moderate/high temperature until softened and slightly browned. Add a little water to prevent sticking, but don't add so much that the onions end up being boiled in the water.
Add the vegetable stock powder, cumin, chilli powder, chilli flakes and cinnamon. Stir to combine and cook for another 2-3 minutes to allow the spices to cook.
Turn the temperature down to medium. Add the carrot mince and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring regularly until the carrots are cooked.
Add the diced tomatoes, kidney beans, corn kernels (if using) and cocoa. Stir to combine, and cook until the mixture comes to the boil. Then turn the heat down to a simmer. Stir from time to time. Taste the chilli and add maple syrup and salt, depending on what is needed. Maple syrup will smooth the heat of the chillies.
Continue simmering, while stirring from time to time, until the chilli becomes thick and tomatoes have lost their wateriness.
Serve according to your own preferences! Our favourite is to serve it on a bed of boiled brown rice with a dollop of mashed avocado or guacamole on the side. You could also serve it with tacos or in nachos. Leftovers are great in a tortilla wrap with salad and avocado.
CARROT MINCE
Make the carrot mince by adding the carrots to a food processor. I like to use the small food processor that attaches to my stick blender. If you don't have a food processor, you can grate the carrot then finely chop the shreds. Grated carrot can be used, but it doesn't give the look of mince that you get from chopping the carrot in the food processor.
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