- A 150g bag of polenta
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 green chillies
- A 100g chunk of Cheddar
- A 150g pot of yogurt
- 1 onion
- 1 garlic clove
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 red pepper
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- A 400g tin of mixed beans
- A handful of flat leaf parsley
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
- 6 tbsp warm water
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 150ml cold water
- Baking tray
- Baking paper
- Large bowl
- Pan with a lid
- Sieve
- Measuring jug
- 1.
Heat your oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6. Line a baking tray with a sheet of baking paper. Combine the polenta, 1 tsp baking powder and a generous amount of salt and pepper in a large bowl.
- 2.
Finely chop 1 chilli, flicking out the seeds and white bits. Add to the bowl. Grate the Cheddar and add to the bowl. Pour in 100g yogurt and 6 tbsp warm water. Stir together with a fork to make a dough. Pat into a round.
- 3.
Carefully lay the dough on the baking tray. Flatten it down so it’s around 3 cm thick. Bake on the top shelf of the oven for 25 mins till golden brown on the outside.
- 4.
Peel and finely chop the onion. Warm a medium pan for 1 min. Add the onion and 2 tsp olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Cook over a medium heat for 5 mins, stirring now and then.
- 5.
Finely chop the remaining chilli, flicking out the seeds and white bits. Peel and finely chop the garlic. Dice the tomatoes. Halve the pepper. Scoop out the seeds and white bits. Roughly chop it.
- 6.
Add the chilli, garlic, tomatoes and pepper to the onion pan. Stir in 1 tsp Cajun seasoning. Drain the mixed beans and add them with 15 0ml water. Season with salt and pepper. Cover, bring to a simmer, then turn down the heat and cook for 15 mins till thickened.
- 7.
Spoon the chilli into bowls and top with dollops of the remaining yogurt. Garnish with chopped parsley leaves. Serve with chunks of the warm cornbread.
- Tip
Ragin' about Cajun
Blended in Yorkshire but with all the flavours of Louisiana, any leftover Cajun seasoning will keep well in the jar. Try adding 1 tsp of it to onions, celery and green peppers sweated in oil. Then stir in rice and stock and simmer to make spicy rice.