Black Bean And Beef Chili With Green Sour Cream Recipes

BLACK BEAN AND BEEF CHILI

Steps:

• Bring 1 cup water to a boil and pour over the dried cherries in a small bowl. Steep the cherries until plump and soft, about 20 minutes. Puree the water, cherries and tomatoes in a blender and reserve.
• Sprinkle the beef cubes with salt and pepper. Heat the oil a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the beef, in two batches, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 7 minutes per batch. Remove the beef to a plate.
• Reduce the heat to medium, add the onions and peppers and cook, stirring, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the chili powder and oregano, stirring until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in the tomato-cherry sauce, the soy sauce, chipotle and 2 cups water. Return the beef to the pot and simmer the chili until the meat is tender, about 3 1/2 hours, adding water if necessary to keep the beef submerged.
• Add the black beans and bean liquid to the chili during the last 30 minutes of cooking. Serve with rice and sprinkle with Cheddar.

BEAN-AND-BEEF CHILI

Steps:

• Heat 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Pat the beef dry and season with salt and pepper. Brown in batches, about 4 minutes, adding more oil as needed. Transfer to a plate.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add 1 1/2 tablespoons oil to the pot. Add the onions and garlic; cook, stirring, until golden, about 6 minutes. Add 1/3 cup chili powder, the oregano and tomato paste; cook, stirring, 30 seconds.
• Return the meat to the pot and stir in the tomatoes with their juices, broth, espresso and pinto beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the beef is tender, about 2 hours.
• Stir the remaining 2 tablespoons chili powder into the chili. Divide among bowls. Top with cheese, sour cream and/or avocado.
• Hot:
• This base recipe is relatively tame; a last-minute hit of chili powder adds just a touch of heat.
• Hotter:
• Add 5 crumbled dried arbol chiles to the pot with the tomato paste, then continue as directed.
• Hottest:
• Add 5 crumbled dried arbol chiles with the tomato paste and continue as directed, omitting the beans. Stir in 1 cup chopped pickled jalapenos before serving.

BEEF AND BLACK BEAN CHILI WITH GREEN ONION CORN CAKES

Steps:

• In a large deep skillet or pot, brown ground beef in oil over high heat. Season meat with salt and pepper, then add Worcestershire sauce. Reduce heat to medium high when the meat is browned and crumbled, then add onion, garlic, red peppers, jalapeno. Season veggies and meat with chili powder and cumin. Cook veggies and meat together 5 minutes. Stir in broth and scrape up pan drippings. Stir in diced and pureed tomatoes and black beans. When the mixture comes to a bubble, reduce heat to simmer and stir in cilantro, optional.
• Mix together 2 packages of corn muffin mix with 1 cup milk, 2 beaten eggs, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil and sliced scallions. Batter should be thick. Heat a nonstick skillet or griddle pan over moderate heat. Nest a pat of butter into folded paper towel and wipe hot pan surface with it to lightly grease. Pour corn cake batter into the hot griddle pan or skillet in 3 or 4-inch rounds. Cook 2 or 3 minutes on each side, until golden. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining batter.
• To serve, top bowls of beef and black bean chili with green onion corn cake toppers. Eat the chili and corn toppers as you would a pot pie, grabbing some of the corn cake with each spoonful of chili.