Meat Free Monday: Bean and Pepper Chilli

For a while now, my partner and I have been trying to adhere to the Meat Free Monday initiative as part of the fat fighting and healthy eating regime and here is a gorgeous recipe for a hearty vegetarian chilli using black beans, kidney beans, red pepper and tomatoes with a smoky flavour burst from chipotle paste.

This is a fantastically nutritious meal too and comes in at 400 calories with 62g brown rice. 

Meat Free Monday Bean and Pepper Chilli

Here's how:

• 1 tin of black beans in water
• 1 tin red kidney beans in water
• 1 onion
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 red chilli
• 1 tbsp dried cumin
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tbsp cayenne pepper
• 1 red pepper
• 2 tomatoes
• 1 tin chopped tomatoes
• 1 tbsp chipotle paste 
• Pinch salt
• Pinch black pepper
• 1 tsp coconut oil

Firstly place the oven on really high and place the red pepper and tomatoes onto a baking tray and place into the oven for fifteen minutes or until slightly charred.

Now place the coconut oil into a non-stick saucepan and place on a low heat.

Peel and finely dice the onion and mince the garlic and add to the pan. Slice the chilli and add to the pan.

Once softened, add the paprika, cayenne, cumin, salt and pepper.

Now drain the beans and add to the pan and allow to fry for a few minutes then add the tinned tomatoes.

Now remove the pepper and and tomatoes and roughly chop and add to the pan.

Finally stir in the chipotle paste and give a good stir. Now cook for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve with brown rice or a sweet jacket potato for a wonderful vegetarian, Meat Free Monday meal. Enjoy!

Mid-week Magic: Haddock baked on a tomato, chorizo and bean stew

During the working week it is very easy to become stuck in a meal rut, cooking the same predictable dishes week after week.

I often draw inspiration from restaurants, cookery programmes, magazines, books and other blogs for some mid-week magic and aim to cook at least one ‘new’ dish each week.

I’ve decided to share some of these recipes in the hope that they inspire others to try something new. These recipes should give readers the idea for a meal that can be pulled together in well under an hour, that requires the minimum of effort on your part and that will be filled with flavour.

This first one takes forty minutes to cook, but after the first five minutes of preparation, pretty much takes care of itself. The bean stew makes a great, healthy carbohydrate substitute, and makes for a great meal on it’s own too. I served my white fish dish with a selection of curly kale, sprouting broccoli and asparagus tips, all steamed, but you could serve with any veg you have in stock. And if you’re after a true one-pot dish rather than having to cook the veg towards the end, you can always bulk up the stew with chopped courgettes, aubergines, carrots or mushrooms too.

After you’ve chopped all of the necessary, fried off the chorizo and bunged the dish into the oven, it’s a perfect opportunity to relax with a glass of wine, have a hot relaxing après work bath, or if essential crack on with any boring household chores.

Apologies for the dodgy bright white light on the fish – I have a new camera and am slowly getting used to it – hopefully this will improve soon!

Here’s How (for 2):

2 fillets of haddock, or your favourite white fish

1 can each of butter beans and cannellini beans

100g chorizo

Can of chopped tomatoes

1 red onion

2 garlic cloves

1 small red bell pepper

1 red chilli

2 tbsp Manzanilla Sherry or a dry white wine

1 tbsp fresh or dried Oregano

1 tbsp fresh or dried parsley

1 tsp paprika

Salt & pepper to taste

Firstly get the oven on at around 180-200 degrees. Next chop the garlic, pepper, chilli and onion up small and add to an ovenproof tray dish.

Chop the chorizo into small, coin-like pieces and dry fry in a hot pan for four-six minutes, until the tell-tale orange-hued oil is exuded.

In the meantime open the beans and tomatoes and add to the dish with the herbs and spices and sherry. Add the fried chorizo, stir and add salt and pepper to taste.

Add to the oven for fifteen minutes, remove and place on top the fish fillets. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper over the haddock, cover with foil and then return the dish to the oven for a further 20-25 minutes – cooking time will depend on the size of the fish fillets but the foil will help to prevent the fish from over-cooking.

Whilst the dish is back in the oven, prepare your vegetables and when you remove from the oven sprinkle with a last flourish of parsley and oregano before serving.