A tasty and mild Chilli Con Carne recipe for kids that’s packed full of vegetables too!
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Family meal times can be a struggle, I totally get that.
Getting enough veggies into kids on a daily basis is difficult and so I’m a big fan of packing as much as possible into their normal every day meals.
This Chilli Con Carne is a classic example.
This recipe contains FOUR different veggies – the carrots and courgettes are hidden within the sauce and the red pepper and sweetcorn are left whole.
This is a great approach to fussy eating as it’s still giving some exposure to children of vegetables in their whole form.
The recipe is really simple to make.
The list of ingredients might look a bit long but don’t let that put you off! You probably have most of the spices at home in your cupboard anyway.
I’ve kept this dish really mild so it’s perfect for kids but if you prefer your chilli with a bit more of a kick then double the quantities.
Chilli Con Carne for Fussy Eaters
The first step is to lightly fry the grated carrot and courgette with onions, garlic and oil. This means they cook down into the sauce and your fussy eaters won’t even know that they are there.
The grated veggies not only help boost the nutritional value of this chilli, but they also help to bulk out the whole dish, making it go a little further and make the meal more budget-friendly.
Next, fry the spices and beef mince until browned and then simmer with a tin of chopped tomatoes and stock.
The final step is to add chopped red peppers, sweetcorn and kidney beans and cook for a few minutes.
I like to add a squeeze of lime juice at the end but this is totally optional and feel free to leave this out.
I serve my chilli with boiled rice, sour cream and a few tortilla chips on the side. The kids absolutely love this as they see having “crisps” for dinner as such a treat!
If you liked this recipe you may also enjoy my 10 Minute Smoky Bean Chilli
Product Recommendation
I’m a big fan of investing in a good shallow cast iron casserole dish. It’s brilliant for cooking big meals in bulk and can be used on the hob and in the oven too.
There are lots of expensive brands out there but in my opinion the cheaper brands work just as well.
If youtry this recipeplease do let me know what you think. Or tag me in a picture onFacebook, Twitter or Instagram.I’ve really been enjoying seeing all your creations.
Looking for ways to get your fussy eater to eat a better variety of food? TryPick Plates.These round divided plates have five compartments to be filled with a wide selection of food groups and choices of ingredients. Perfect for making food fun, interesting and appealing to picky eaters.
A tasty and mild Chilli Con Carne recipe for kids that’s packed full lots of vegetables too!
Ingredients
1 tbsp oil
1 small white onion, finely died
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 medium carrot, grated
1 small courgette, grated
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
½ tsp mild chilli powder
500g / 18oz beef mince
400g / 14oz (1 tin) chopped tomatoes
300ml beef stock / 1 & ¼ cups (use a gluten free stock cube if necessary)
240g / 8oz (1 tin) cooked kidney beans, drained
1 red pepper, chopped
100g / ½ cup corn (can be tinned or frozen)
1 fresh lime
To serve: boiled rice, sour cream and tortilla chips
Instructions
Heat the oil in a large dish on the hob. Add the onion and fry over a medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until it starts to soften. Add the garlic, grated carrot and grated courgette and fry for another 2 minutes.
Add the spices – smoked paprika, ground coriander, ground cumin and chilli powder and mix well.
Add in the beef mince and fry for another 4 minutes or until the meat has browned.
Pour in the tinned tomatoes and beef stock and leave to simmer for 15 minutes.
Add in the kidney beans, red pepper and corn and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
Remove from the heat and add in some fresh lime juice to taste.
Serve immediately with rice, sour cream and tortilla chips.
Notes
This is a great family meal to make in bulk. It can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for 48 hours or frozen and kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.
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The classic chilli con carne is something the whole family can enjoy, even your weaning baby! Hearty and flavoursome, this recipe can be spiced up or down to suit your needs.
Nigella's Cornbread Topped Chilli Con Carne (from FEAST) has a rich beef chilli base that sits underneath a crust of cornbread. The chilli contains two cans of drained kidney beans and if you can't eat kidney beans but can eat other beans then canned black beans go very well in chilli and would be a good alternative.
Registered dietician and certified nutritionist Reda Elmardi recommends waiting until after the age of 2 to try giving your kids spicy foods, both because of their physical development — she said kids' taste buds become fully developed around that age — and because children deserve the agency to determine their own ...
Suitable from 6+ months and a family favourite - Perfect for weaning, BLW, big kids and toddlers. A question I am often asked is when can I start to give my baby spices, and the answer is straight off the bat from 6 months, which is why this dish is perfect for your baby's first chilli con carne.
Instead of adding water to your chili, add some more flavor with chicken or beef broth, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even beet or wine. Each one of these options brings out different notes and levels of sweetness that will enhance your culinary creation.
If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.
Rather than add the teaspoon of sugar, you can stir in a small piece of chocolate (about the size of your thumbnail) when you add the beans. Any plain dark chocolate will do. Be careful not to add too much – you don't want to be able to identify the flavour of the chocolate.
However, canned beans are soaked in a canning liquid that can throw off your dish's seasoning and texture, so it's best to drain and rinse your beans before pouring them into your pot of chili. Canning liquid can also water down and dilute the flavors of your chili.
The best beans for chili are pinto, kidney, and black beans, like in this easy and tasty recipe. This 3-bean chili freezes great for meals later in the week. If you prefer thinner chili, add an extra can of tomato sauce. The green chiles are not hot and add a wonderful flavor, so don't be afraid to use them.
You'll want to drain the kidney beans, but rinsing them is optional. Doing so will reduce the amount of sodium that gets carried into the dish. I choose to let mine sit in the strainer for awhile, but I don't rinse them.
In Mexico, they make a green rice, using a long-grain variety flavoured with salsa verde. Paul also suggests trying an ancient grain such as quinoa or faro, as well as corn tortillas and condiments such as guacamole, salsas and sour cream. “Chilli con carne is very communal,” he says.
The best meat for chili depends on the type you're making, but professionals generally use a combination of ground chuck, brisket, short ribs, or diced tri-tip sirloin mixed with bacon and sausage to layer multiple textures and flavors.
Whether as chilli peppers, extremely hot chilli sauces, or snacks such as crisps flavoured with chilli – the hot burning taste is caused by in- gredients from the capsaicinoid group. One of the best known examples is capsaicin.
People should be extra cautious while giving red chillies to small children and older adults because red chillies have side effects that might cause stomach discomfort in children and older people. People should not use red chillies to self-medicate. A doctor's consultation is important to avoid further complications.
In general, chili is seen as a healthy food since chili contains ingredients from key food groups. If you want to build a healthier bowl of beef chili, choose lean ground beef. Reducing the fat content in the meat is important for heart health and can lower your risk of developing diabetes.
Introduction: My name is Nathanael Baumbach, I am a fantastic, nice, victorious, brave, healthy, cute, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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