Chihuahua Chili Recipes

CHIHUAHUA CHILI

Steps:

• In large pot, heat oil. Saute onion until transluscent, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and saute 2 minutes more. Add tomatoes, enchilada sauce, beer, beans, cumin and chili powder. Bring to boil. Simmer, partially covered, until slightly thickened and flavors have mingled, about 1 hour on the stovetop. (You can cook this all day in the crockpot.).
• Serve with toppings.
• If freezing, divide into dinner portions suitable for your family. Cool, label and freeze. To serve: Defrost and reheat. Serve with cheddar cheese, sour cream and chopped cilantro. Shepherd's bread with butter is a great accompaniment.
• * If you'd like, you can omit the beer, just add water or broth if the chili is too thick without the beer.

THE BEST CHILI

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until just browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate with a slotted spoon.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly golden, about 10 minutes.
• Add the jalapeno and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add the chili powder, cumin, paprika, cayenne, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the tomato paste. Cook, stirring frequently, until coated and fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Stir in the beef broth and crushed tomatoes and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in the cooked ground beef and any accumulated liquid, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer the chili, partially covered, until the beef is tender and the sauce is slightly thickened, about 30 minutes.
• Stir in the beans and their liquid and simmer uncovered until the beans are softened and the chili is thickened, about 30 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper.
• Top with sour cream, Cheddar and scallions. Serve with tortilla chips.

CHIHUAHUA-TOMATO SOUP WITH CRISPY LIME-CHILI TORTILLAS

Steps:

• Saute onion in olive oil until slightly browned.
• Add garlic, cumin and oregano; cook for 10 more minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add tomatoes, vegetable broth and pasilla chile.
• Bring to a boil, then lower heat slightly and add masa harina (if using; I like the flavor and it adds a little more"body" to the soup), stirring well until it's dissolved.
• Simmer gently 30 minutes.
• In the meantime, heat vegetable oil in a skillet.
• Carefully add tortilla strips; sprinkle with salt and chili powder and fry until lightly crispy (you may need to turn on your range fan for this event!).
• Sprinkle with the juice of 1/2 lime and set aside.
• And here's the important part- try not to eat all the tortilla strips before the soup is done!
• LOL!
• Squeeze the juice of 1 lime into the soup after it's simmered for 30 minutes; heat 10 minutes more.
• To serve, place cheese in soup bowls; ladle soup over and top with crispy tortilla strips.

CHIHUAHUA-STYLE SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Combine the tomatillos, jalapenos, lettuce, garlic, cilantro, cumin, salt, and pepper in a blender or food processor; process until chopped to desired consistency.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat; cook the onions in the melted butter until clarified, about 5 minutes. Pour the tomatillo mixture and the chicken broth into the sauce pan; cook, stirring occasionally, until the salsa begins to thicken, about 20 minutes.

SALTY CHIHUAHUA

Steps:

• Wet the rim of an old fashioned glass with lime juice, then dip in salt. Fill glass with ice. Pour in tequila and lemonade. Squeeze and drop in the lime wedge. Stir.