Quick (and unexpected) Beef Chili

Well, this was certainly unexpected!

I had planned to make a lamb Tagine tonight.  But out of the blue, I got a great order for Lift Flavours from a friend and she needs it tomorrow!!  So, we quickly defrosted some stew beef to make chili, instead!  Good call, too -- we had some organic bell peppers from our Farm Share that desperately needed to be used up!  "Necessity is the mother of invention", as they say!  Then I realized that we didn't have any hot peppers on hand.  But I do have a collection of hot sauces, so at least we had something to add pep!  As a result, here is a super-easy (if unconventional) recipe in case you're ever in a jam like I was!

• 1/2 cup / 125 ml Avocado or Canola oil
• 1 lb / 454 g stew beef, cut into bite-sized chunks
• 2 Tbsp / 60 ml Lift Flavours Pink Peppercorn & Rose Petal Sea Salt
• 1 large brown onion, finely chopped
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup / 250 ml red wine (or beer, if you've got it)
• 1 Tbsp / 15 ml tomato paste
• 2 sweet bell peppers (any colour), cut to bit-sized pieces
• 2 Tbsp hot sauce (didn't have any fresh hot peppers on hand! -- would have minced those *with gloves on*!)
• 1 14 oz / 398 ml can chickpeas
• 1 14 oz / 398 ml can beans of your choice
• 1 28 oz / 796 ml can chopped tomatoes with juice
• Additional Lift Flavours and pepper or hot sauce, if desired!

1.  Heat the oil to medium-high in a large, shallow pan.
2. Add the beef and Lift Flavours and brown on all sides, then remove the beef to a bowl.
3. Turn the heat to medium and add the onion to the pan, along with more oil if needed, and sweat until soft.  Add the peppers and cook for about 5 minutes, until softened.  (If you did have fresh jalapenos on hand, you could add them at the same time).
4. Add the garlic and tomato paste and turn the heat to low.  Cook until the tomato paste is more of a browny-orange, then add the red wine and turn the heat to high.  Let the wine evaporate by about half.
5. Drain and rinse the chickpeas and beans and toss those in.
6. Add your hot sauce if you didn't have any hot peppers on hand.
7. Now, the tomatoes go in and turn up the heat!
8. Then, simmer for half an hour or so, and then taste.  Does it need more Lift Flavours or hot sauce?  Throw that in!  Stir, taste and serve!!

~ Enjoy!!