Prep time: 20-30 mins
Ingredients:
- 1 lb or 450 grams ground beef or Quorn soy mince (you can use white meat – chicken or turkey for a healthier option)
- 1 medium-sized onion
- 1 medium-sized green bell pepper/capsicum
- 1 medium-sized jalapeno (optional)
- 4 cloves fresh garlic
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp ground coriander
- 5 oz canned, no-salt kidney beans
- ¾ cup low-sodium salsa
- Low-cal cooking spray
- Optional – low fat cheese
- Optional – sour cream or Greek yoghurt
Directions:
Now you may not be aware of this, but chili does indeed have good health benefits. Yes, I found it hard to believe it too as many times I recall going out for Mexican and eating a heavy chili con carne with all the trimmings…that isn’t what this recipe is all about, this is a healthy version you can really enjoy and not feel bloated and about 5kgs heavier after indulging in! Chili peppers are natural pain relievers, can boost immunity, and have cardiovascular benefits. Awesome, isn’t it?
Take the healthy cooking spray and spray lightly over the base of the pan and cook the beef/substitute meat and onion over medium to high heat for 5-7 minutes. Once cooked, place the meat in a colander and rinse well with water to drain away any excess fat.
Return the meat to the pan. Take the onion and chop finely along with the bell pepper, also finely chopped, and add into the pan along with the chili powder and cumin and cook for approximately 5 minutes.
Using a garlic grinder, prepare the cloves of garlic and add all the remaining ingredients. This needs to be then added into the meat and onion and can be brought to boil. Make sure that after it has reached boiling point that you reduce to simmer, cover, and cook for a further 20 minutes.
When your chili is ready, you can serve it with a low-fat grated cheese, ideally mozzarella or feta, as these are at the lowest end of saturated fat cheeses. A low-fat dollop of sour cream is okay or alternatively, I now use low-fat Greek yogurt and it is just as good. And finish with sliced avocado or some finely chopped green onions or a sprinkle of chives.