Recipe video above. A bubbly casserole of sorts, this Mexican beef and bean is like a baked version of chilli con carne with lots of melty cheese - but faster to make. Think of it like your ultimate all-purpose Mexican beef - stuff in tacos, DIY burrito wraps, dunk with corn chips - like nachos!
Sauté - Heat the olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium high heat (or other oven-proof pan). Cook onion, garlic and capsicum for 3 minutes.
Cook beef & spices - Add beef and cook, breaking it up as you go, until you no longer see raw meat. Add spices, then cook for 1 minute.
Beans & tomato - Add kidney beans and passata. Stir, then bring to a simmer.
Cheese it! Scatter the jalapeño across the surface, top with cheese.
Bake 15 minutes (no lid) then remove from the oven.
Serve! Scoop into bowls and serve with corn chips or tortillas with your favourite Mexican fixings (guacamole or avocado saucepico de gallo or restaurant style salsa, fresh coriander/coriander, sour cream). Dunk like nachos, make DIY burritos or tacos!
Notes
Servings - This will serve 5 to 6 people depending on how you serve it. As a burrito or taco stuffing, it will easily serve 6 if not 7 people, once you factor in the toppings. If served with corn chips for dunking, it will probably serve 5 (because corn chips is less bulk than tortillas).1. Meat - Recipe will work great with chicken, turkey or pork. Actually,even lamb!2. Passata - this is a thick smooth tomato puree, see here for more information. Substitute with crushed tomato or what's called "tomato sauce" or "tomato puree" in the US (eg. Hunts).3. Pickled jalapeno is terrific here for something a little tangy and a bit of spiciness. Feel free to omit.4. Cheese - any good melting cheese can be used here, except if using mozzarella I'd add a handful of parmesan on top because mozzarella, while an excellent melting cheese, doesn't actually have that much flavour (this recipe relies on cheese for extra flavour boost for a quick recipe).Leftovers will keep for 3 days in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer.Nutrition per serving, assuming 6 servings, beef and bean only (ie not toppings).