Tex-Mex Bean Chilli
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Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 45 mins
A bowl-in-one chilli that has a double bill of beans (kidney and aduki) with bulgar wheat in the supporting role. Gently spiced with coriander and cumin with a little lick of chilli heat – go as hot as you like.
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304 kcal
(per portion)
Ingredients you'll need
  • 1 tsp coriander seeds
  • 2 onions
  • 300g carrots
  • 1 courgette
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 green habanero chilli
  • 400g tin of kidney beans
  • 400g tin of aduki beans
  • 1 vegetable stock cube
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 50g tamari
  • 150g bulgar wheat
  • 400g chopped tomatoes
From your kitchen
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Sea salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
Step by step this way
  • 1.

    Put a large pan or casserole on a medium heat. Add 1 tsp coriander seeds and toast for 2 mins, shaking the pan, till the seeds smell aromatic and start to pop. Tip the seeds into a pestle and mortar and roughly crush them. No pestle and mortar? Use a small bowl and the bottom of a jam jar or the end of a rolling pin to crush the coriander seeds.

  • 2.

    Peel and finely chop the onion. Put the pan back on a medium-low heat for 2 mins. Add 2 tbsp oil and the onion. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Pop a lid on the pan and sweat the onion for 10 mins, stirring now and then, till the onion has softened.

  • 3.

    While the onion sweats, peel and coarsely grate the carrots. Coarsely grate the courgette. Stir them into the onion. Season with a little moe salt and pepper, put the lid back on the pan and sweat the veg for another 10 mins. The veg should all look soft and glossy.

  • 4.

    While the veg sweat, peel and crush or grate the garlic. Halve the chilli. Scoop out the seeds and pith (this is where most of the heat is)). Finely chop the chilli - it's spicy, so just use 1/2 if you prefer less chilli heat. Drain both tins of beans and rinse the beans under cold water. Crumble the stock cube into a jug and add 800ml boiling water. Stir to dissolve the stock cube.

  • 5.

    Stir the garlic and chilli into the veg. Add the crushed coriander and 1 tsp each ground cumin and dried oregano. Add the tamari. Give everything a good stir and cook for 2 mins till the pan smells aromatic.

  • 6.

    Stir in the beans and bulgar wheat. Tip in the chopped tomatoes. Pour in the hot stock. Pop a lid on the pan, turn the heat up and bring the chilli to the boil. When the chilli starts to bubble, turn the heat down and simmer for 15 mins, Stir every so often till the chilli thickens up and the bulgar wheat is tender.

  • 7.

    Taste the chilli and add a pinch more salt and pepper if you think it needs it. Ladle the chilli into warm bowls and serve straight away.

  • 8.

  • Tip

    Eat & keep
    This chilli will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days or you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Simply divide it into individual portions, cool completely then freeze in freezerproof tubs. Defrost thoroughly and reheat till piping hot.

  • Tip

    You're the tops
    A bowful of this chilli makes a great lunch or dinner by itself, but you can make it extra special with a topping or two. Too cool things down, top your chilli with a spoonful of soured cream, yogurt or crème fraîche, a handful of grated cheddar, mozzarella, halloumi or crumbled feta, or avocado mashed with lime juice. To spice things up, fry slices of chilli in oil for 30 secs-1 min till crisp and sprinkle them over the chilli. For some extra zing, serve with wedges of lime for squeezing and chopped coriander sprinkled on top. And for extra crunch, a handful of nachos are good for scooping - who needs forks?

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