Mary Berry, the former Great British Bake Off host, has a chilli con carne recipe that includes a surprising ingredient: mango chutney. Typically reserved for curries and Indian cuisine, the chutney is used to balance the acidity of tomatoes and add sweetness, according to home cooks who have tried the recipe.
Berry's recipe uses beans and red pepper to make the dish vegetarian, but the hack works equally well with beef. She also uses mango chutney in her Irish stew, explaining in a Food Network video: 'You may think mango chutney is an unusual ingredient for a stew, but I find that it just adds to the flavour.'
One cook who initially omitted the chutney later realised its importance. Writing on a Mary Berry recipe fan website, they said: 'I even skipped the mango chutney because I figured, how much difference could it make? Spoiler: a lot. Once I stuck to the recipe properly... I finally got it. Deep, rounded flavour, tender beef, and a warmth that lingers.'
Another chef, Anabelle Mclean, described the chutney as 'a delightful twist on the classic chili', adding that it 'adds the tangy sweetness of mango chutney, enhancing the robust flavours of the chili and creating a harmonious balance between spicy and sweet.'
