Chilli Con Carne using stewing beef instead of mince

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Dec66

A gentlemanly pootler, these days
Location
West Wickham
Has anyone got any sure-fire recipes for this?

Got some people round for drinks for my birthday in a couple of weeks and I want to put a big pot of chilli out for people to help themselves, but I'd like to use really slow-cooked beef and mash it all up instead of using mince.

I googled a couple of recipes but they look slightly on the poncy side (especially Jamie Oliver's "throw half a litre of coffee in" one).

TIA.
 

Saluki

World class procrastinator
Just make the chilli as normal but use stewing beef instead of mince. Easy peasy. No need to change your usual recipe. I use a slow cooker for a chilli, then stewing meat just falls apart with a dirty look.
I have never put coffee in but have grated dark chocolate over when serving, before now.
 
OP
OP
Dec66

Dec66

A gentlemanly pootler, these days
Location
West Wickham
Just make the chilli as normal but use stewing beef instead of mince. Easy peasy. No need to change your usual recipe. I use a slow cooker for a chilli, then stewing meat just falls apart with a dirty look.
I have never put coffee in but have grated dark chocolate over when serving, before now.
How long do you slow cook the beef for? I'll be using 3kg or so?
 

Saluki

World class procrastinator
How long do you slow cook the beef for? I'll be using 3kg or so?
Bung it in during the morning and by teatime it will be fantastic. A slow cooker is your friend, especially if you have more than one cook setting. I put mine on high for an hour and then low for the rest of the day. If I am going straight out, I put it on low and don't worry about it too much.
It's not like you are cooking one 3kg bit, is it. Small bits cook wonderfully in a slow cooker.
 
Cooking time is affected by the size of each cube.
I agree with Delia that most stewing steak is cut too small, but I still use it successfully.
8-10hrs in a slow cooker will do.
make it the day before, leave it in the fridge and it will taste even better.
 

Fab Foodie

hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
Location
Kirton, Devon.
Bung it in during the morning and by teatime it will be fantastic. A slow cooker is your friend, especially if you have more than one cook setting. I put mine on high for an hour and then low for the rest of the day. If I am going straight out, I put it on low and don't worry about it too much.
It's not like you are cooking one 3kg bit, is it. Small bits cook wonderfully in a slow cooker.
Agree, small dice the stewing steak first rather than beating it up later.
 

Milkfloat

An Peanut
Location
Midlands
Marmite is my not so secret ingredient, most of the time with stewing beef rather than mince.
 

swee'pea99

Squire
Another guilty secret, if you don't mind blitzing everyone's cholesterol levels, is a vast lump of butter stirred in shortly before serving. Naughty but nice.
 

T4tomo

Legendary Member
Shin of beef is excellent for that sort of recipe, needs a long cook but cheap as chips and very flavoursome, better than stewing or braising steak.
+1 on marmite and Worcestershire sauce, (and beer)
 
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