Chorizo and Chestnut Stew

I have a vile cold and have achieved nothing useful or interesting this week, apart from eating comfort food and feeling sorry for myself.

This stew is perfect for smashing colds, or for recovering after one of these sorts of walks:

(beautiful but freezing, damp and with a cutting wind screaming across)

1 onion

1 large carrot

2 sticks celery

120g chorizo (in a chunk rather than slices)

2 cloves garlic

1 tsp cumin seed, crushed in a pestle and morter

1.5 tsp thyme

small tin of tomatoes (or two large fresh tomatoes)

200g cooked chestnuts

250g chestnut puree

dried chilli flakes/fresh chillies - to taste

salt and pepper

Finely slice the onion, celery and carrot and fry in a little olive oil until the onion is soft and golden.

Cut the chorizo into cubes and fry with the vegetables for a few minutes, then add the crushed garlic.

Roughly chop the chestnuts and add them to the pan along with the tomatoes, chilli and chestnut puree.  Top up with water - for a thick stew only just cover the vegetables, for more of a soupy stew add more water.

Simmer for about 45 minutes.

Serve with polenta, couscous or huge chunks of crusty bread.  I had mine with cheesey soda bread, and munched it with a friend in front of the fire.