Chili con Carne

A thick, rich chili con carne made with ground beef, beans, tomatoes, onions, garlic, fresh chilies and warm spices.

A small amount of dark chocolate can be added at the end. It does not make the dish sweet; it rounds out the flavor and gives the sauce more depth.

Ingredients

• 1 kg ground beef
• 2 large onions
• 3 cans tomatoes, 400 g each
• 2 cans red kidney beans
• 3 fresh chili peppers
• 8 garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp coarsely ground chili
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp oregano
• a little vegetable oil for frying
• salt to taste
• a small piece of dark chocolate added at the end

Preparation

1. Finely chop the onions and fry them in a wide, heavy pan or pot with a little vegetable oil until translucent.
2. Add the ground beef and fry, breaking up any large clumps.
3. Add the chopped garlic and fresh chilies and cook for another couple of minutes.
4. Add the cumin, smoked paprika, coarsely ground chili, black pepper and oregano. Stir and cook for about one minute.
5. Add the tomatoes and beans and mix well.
6. Simmer over low heat until the sauce becomes thick and rich.
7. Add salt near the end, after the sauce has reduced slightly.
8. Add a small piece of dark chocolate at the end, stir and let it melt completely.

Serving

Serve with soft flatbreads, guacamole and a fresh salad made with tomatoes, red onion, cilantro and lime juice.