Guest Recipe from Sue Edwards: Hearty Big Chilli Beef Stew

Thank you to Sue Edwards from Swansea who wanted to contribute a Guest Recipe she uses for her Family - a great nourishing, filling autumn/winter warmer-

Chilli Beef Stew (serves 6 main,  or 8 lunches)

Sue only has a Tesco nearby so has costed her recipe from their range. You can probably get slightly cheaper ingredients from Aldi, Lidl or a local market if you have one in your neighbourhood.

Ingredients

Price per portion (approx £1.00 as main, £0.60 as lunch though if you get bargain meat/veg this drops a lot)
I've probably been a bit generous with portion size would probably do 6-8 as main

500gms stewing beef chopped (approx £4.00 in Tesco - see note 1)
2 tins value chopped tomatoes (2 x 31p Tesco)
3 onions – peeled and chopped (£1 in tesco)
300 gms value mushrooms – wiped and chopped (75p Tesco, see Note 2)
300 gms carrots – scrubbed and chopped or grated (30p in Tesco)
1-2 tin red kidney beans (1 x 21p Tesco or use Tesco red kidney beans in chilli sauce 50p)
1 tin 3 bean salad in water (79p Tesco or find similar)
chilli powder (hot or mild - to your personal taste)
salt & pepper
½ teaspoon sugar
oil for frying (cheapest you can find)

Optionals -  (If you have these in your cupboard then use them- if not no need to buy in as they simply add to the flavour of the stew)

Garlic (either fresh or dried)
Oxo cubes/stock cubes
Mixed herbs (dried is fine)
Tomato puree
Mixed peppers (see Note 2)
Bread - Value Loaf will do or Crusty Bread if preferred

Method

1. Heat oil in large saucepan (medium heat)
2. Add chopped onions, peppers (if using) and chilli powder (and garlic if using), fry slowly until soft and golden
3. Turn heat up add beef and fry until beef looks 'cooked all over' keep the meat moving in pan to prevent burning
4. Add chopped mushrooms, carrots (and peppers if using) cook for minute or so
5. Add all tinned ingredients – bring to boil, once boiling turn down heat and simmer for 45 mins or as long as you can, stirring regularly
6. At this stage add approx 250 mls (or use empty tomato tin as measure) water, if you have a stock cube add it at this stage (but honestly you may not need it)
7. Taste and add a little bit of salt if needed – don't add salt before this as until all the tinned beans are in you won't be able to judge the levels

Serve in big bowls with whatever bread you can afford to mop up the yummy juices!!!!