COTTAGE CHILLI HOTPOT

Cottage chilli hotpot image

The ultimate make-ahead comfort food dish - if you're spending a weekend in the country this dish will defrost as you travel

Provided by Jane Hornby

Time 3h20m

Number Of Ingredients 19

Ingredients

800g braising steak , cubed
2 tbsp plain flour , seasoned well
4 tbsp olive oil
300ml red wine
2 red onions , cut into chunks
2 carrots , cut into chunks
4 garlic cloves , bashed to remove skin
2 red peppers , deseeded, cut into chunks
1 fresh red chilli , deseeded and sliced
few thyme sprigs , plus 1 tbsp leaves
1 bay leaf
1 tsp each ground cumin and coriander
½ tsp each cinnamon and chilli flakes
2 x 400g cans chopped plum tomatoes
2 tsp caster or granulated sugar
250ml good beef stock
400g can red kidney beans , drained
1kg potatoes
knob of butter

Steps:

Toss the beef in flour, then brown half in a pan, using 1 tbsp oil. Once browned, spoon into a bowl. Add 100ml wine to the pan and scrape up any bits. Reduce a little, then pour into the bowl with the cooked beef. Wipe the pan and repeat with the remaining beef and another 100ml wine. Meanwhile, whizz the onions, carrots and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped.
Add 2 tbsp oil to the pan and tip in the chopped veg, peppers, fresh chilli, thyme sprigs and bay. Fry for 10 mins. Tip in the spices, cook for 1 min, then add the rest of the wine and reduce by half. Add the tomatoes, sugar, beef, winey juices and stock, season, then simmer for 1½-2 hrs until the meat is meltingly tender. Stir in the beans and allow to cool.
Peel and slice the potatoes about 5mm thick, then boil for 5 mins. Drain, then tip back into pan. Add the butter and thyme leaves, season, then toss to coat. Tip the chilli mix into a 35 x 25cm dish, then layer the potatoes on top. Dot with butter. Cover with cling film and cool completely if freezing. Will freeze for 1 month - defrost before cooking. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and bake for 50 mins-1 hr, until the sauce is bubbling and potatoes golden. Serve with soured cream and green veg.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 584 calories, Fat 23 grams fat, SaturatedFat 8 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 55 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 16 grams sugar, Fiber 8 grams fiber, Protein 38 grams protein, Sodium 1.27 milligram of sodium