Cafeteria Style Chili Recipes

CHASEN'S ORIGINAL CHILI RECIPE

Steps:

• A secret ingredient added by a chef (after Dave Chasen stopped making the chili himself) is a quarter cup or 4 tablespoons of Kahlua liqueur. I heard someone won a chili championship with the recipe, including that addition.
• *Chasen's used the best beef chuck, center cut, trimmed completely of fat. The restaurant used a special meat grinder, but for the home cook, meat chopped into one-quarter to one-half-inch chunks is much better than ground meat for this chili. Alternatively, ask the butcher to put the meat through a "chili plate" ONE time - this is a very coarse grind, and works well for chili.
• ** Chasen's used Gebhardt's Chili Powder and Farmer Bros Cumin. Sometimes cumin seed is used in place of the ground cumin. It's a matter of personal preference. You might toast the seeds in a dry skillet, and crush them before adding to the recipe.
• Rinse the beans, picking out debris. Place beans in a Dutch oven with water to cover 2' above beans. Boil for two minutes. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand one hour. Drain off liquid.
• Rinse beans again. Add enough fresh water to cover beans. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer covered, for one hour or until tender.
• Stir in tomatoes and their juice. Simmer five minutes. In a large skillet, sauté bell pepper in oil for five minutes. Add onion and cook until tender, stirring frequently. Stir in the garlic and parsley. Add mixture to bean mixture. Using the same skillet, melt the butter and sauté beef and pork chuck until browned. Drain. Add to bean mixture along with the chili powder, salt, pepper and cumin.
• Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for one hour. Uncover and cook 30 minutes more or to desired consistency. Chili shouldn't be too thick - it should be somewhat liquid but not runny like soup. Skim of excess fat and serve.
• NOTE: You can freeze this chili for several months. When reheating refrigerated leftover or frozen chili, add a few tablespoons of water to regain proper consistency.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILI

Steps:

• Brown the ground chuck in skillet and pour off excess grease.
• Stir in flour and brown sugar.
• Combine tomatoes, tomato paste, and chili beans.
• Place all ingredients into a 2 quart cooking pot, adding the onions, chili powder and salt.
• Cook over low heat for at least 2 hours.

LUBY'S CAFETERIA CHEESE ENCHILADAS WITH CHILI SAUCE

Steps:

• To make sauce, brown ground beef in a large saucepan or Dutch oven along with the onions, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
• Drain meat on paper towels.
• Return meat to saucepan and add broth, tomatoes, chili powder, paprika and cumin.
• Mix well, breaking up tomatoes with a spoon.
• Bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for one hour.
• In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water until cornstarch is completely dissolved.
• Gradually add the cornstarch mixture to the chili sauce, stirring constantly.
• Continue cooking sauce for about 5 more minutes.
• For enchiladas, heat oven to 350°F.
• Heat about 1/2-inch vegetable oil in a small skillet, until hot but not smoking.
• Quickly fry each tortilla in hot oil to soften, about 2-4 seconds on each side; drain on paper towels.
• In a large bowl, combine Cheddar cheese and onions.
• Mix well.
• Spoon 1/3 cup cheese mixture down the center of each warm tortilla.
• Roll up and place seam side down into two 11X7-inch baking dishes.
• Top enchiladas with chili sauce.
• Cover each dish with foil.
• Bake for 10 minutes or until hot.
• Remove foil.
• Sprinkle with american cheese and continue baking 2 minutes or until cheese melts.