Ingredients

• 1 medium onion
• 1 garlic clove
• 100g/3½oz mushrooms (optional)
• 1 x 400g/14oz can chopped tomatoes
• 1 x 400g/14oz can red kidney beans
• 200g/7oz minced beef
• 1 beef stock cube
• 1 tsp chilli powder OR ¾ tsp spoon chilli flakes
• black pepper (optional)
• 1 mug long grain or basmati rice (about 250–300g/9-10½oz)

Directions

• Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic (press or chop the garlic as small as you can).
• Wipe the mushrooms
• if using
• with kitchen paper to remove any dirt and slice finely.
• Open the cans of tomatoes and beans. Drain the kidney beans through a colander and rinse with cold water.
• Put the minced beef into the large bowl and add the onion and garlic. Mix together using a fork until the meat is thoroughly broken up.
• Cover with a microwaveable lid or cling film
• leaving a small area open to allow steam to escape.
• Cook in the microwave on full power for five minutes. Remove from the microwave. Peel back the cling film and stir well with the fork
• breaking up any clumps of meat.
• Add the mushrooms
• crumbled stock cube
• chilli flakes or powder
• tomatoes and beans to the meat and stir well.
• Add a small amount of water to the empty tomato can
• swirl around and add to the bowl. Season with black pepper to taste
• if using.
• Re-cover in the same way and cook on full power for five minutes. Remove the bowl and stir well.
• Re-cover
• return to the microwave and cook on full power for 10 minutes. Remove halfway through and stir well. Leave to stand while you cook the rice.
• To cook the rice
• boil the kettle. Add the rice to the sieve. Run cold water through the rice until the water runs clear and drain. Pour the rice into the other large microwave-safe bowl. Fill the same mug with boiling water twice and pour over the rice. Stir once and put into the microwave.
• Microwave on full power for 10 minutes.
• Remove the rice and stir. Return it to the microwave on full power for another minute.
• Remove the rice and leave to stand for 1–2 minutes and then taste to check it is cooked. If it needs slightly more cooking add a small amount of water and cook for another two minutes.