Smoky veggie chilli – Sweet gem & cheesy jacket spuds

What can I say? This is just very good cold weather grub! The BUXters where not very much impressed I did cook them a vegetarian meal for the second day in a row, but with this comforting dish I didn’t hear a peep out of them after the first bite! -enjoy-

Ingredients (serves 8)

2 onions
olive oil
1 heaped teaspoon cumin seeds
2 heaped teaspoons smoked paprika
2 teaspoons quality cocoa powder
1 heaped tablespoon peanut butter
1-2 fresh red chillies
3 large mixed-colour peppers
2 sweet potatoes , (300g each)
1 bunch of fresh coriander , (30g)
2 x 400 g tins of butter beans
3 x 400 g tins of plum tomatoes
8 small jacket potatoes
140 g Cheddar cheese
4 little gem lettuces
8 tablespoons natural yoghurt

Method

Put a large casserole pan on a medium-low heat and a griddle pan beside it on a high heat. The idea here is to work in batches, starting by charring the veg on the griddle to add a smoky flavour dimension.
Peel the onions and cut into 1cm dice, char on the griddle for 3 minutes, then place in the casserole pan with 2 tablespoons of oil, the cumin seeds, paprika, cocoa and peanut butter, stirring occasionally.
Slice the chilli(es) 1cm thick and griddle while you deseed and roughly chop the peppers and chop the sweet potatoes into rough 2cm chunks (leave the skin on for extra nutritional benefit, just give them a wash).
Griddle it all, adding to the casserole pan as you go. Finely chop and add the coriander stalks.
Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4.
Drain the beans in a sieve over the casserole pan so the juices go in, then tip the beans into the griddle pan in an even layer. Have faith and leave them without stirring until they start to char and burst, then add to the veg.
Pour in the tinned tomatoes, breaking them up with a wooden spoon. Stir well, then pop the lid on ajar and leave for 1 hour, or until thickened, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, wash the potatoes, prick, then bake for 1 hour, or until crispy on the outside, fluffy in the middle.
Just before serving, finely chop the coriander leaves and stir through the chilli, taste and season to perfection.