Down Dirty Chili Recipes

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.

DOWN & DIRTY CHILI

Steps:

• 1. In a large pot, preferably cast iron, cook the diced bacon over medium-high heat, until the fat begins to render.
• 2. Add the onions, and continue to cook, until the onions soften, about 6 minutes.
• 3. Add the ground sirloin, and cook until browned.
• 4. Add the chili powder, ground cumin, garlic, and cayenne pepper, and stir until the spices begin to bloom, about 2 minutes.
• 5. Chef's Note: I really, really, really, like Mexene Chile Powder... It's really got great flavor.
• 6. Add the canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, and water. Stir to combine.
• 7. Allow to simmer, uncovered for about an hour... two if you have the time.
• 8. Chef's Note: If you want to thicken up the sauce a bit, and add some flavor... Take a tablespoon or two of masa (ground corn) about thirty minutes into the simmer...
• 9. Serve with sour cream, cheese, and some crackers, or homemade bread.
• 10. It's down... It's dirty... But it tastes great on a cold Autumn's evening.

UPTOWN DOWN-HOME CHILI

Steps:

• Heat a deep, large skillet or a pot over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil and the meat. Season it with grill seasoning and sear it up, browning and crumbling it, for 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer meat to a plate and return pot to stove. Reduce heat to medium- high and add another tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil. Add the mushrooms and begin to brown them before adding the other veggies. After 2 or 3 minutes the mushrooms will begin to shirk and soften. Push the mushrooms off to one side of the pot and add all the remaining veggies to the opposite side of the pot surface. Once the onions, celery, peppers and garlic have been working for a few minutes as well, mix the veggies with the mushrooms. Add the meat back, season with Worcestershire sauce, chipotle in adobo or chipotle powder and cumin. Add in beer to deglaze the pot, scraping up all the pan drippings. Reduce the beer by half, about 2 minutes. Add the black beans, tomatoes, stock and thyme to chili and simmer 10 minutes for flavors to combine. Taste to adjust seasonings. Top bowls of the chili with shredded smoked Gouda and finely chopped raw onions.

DOWN HOME CHILI

Steps:

• In a heavy-bottomed 6-quart pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions, garlic, chili powder, cumin, Creole seasoning, salt, and pepper, and cook, stirring, until the onions are softened, about 4 minutes. Add the beef and cook, stirring, until the meat is brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes, breaking up any clumps. Spoon off and discard the rendered fat.
• Crush the tomatoes with your hands and add them to the pot along with their juices. Add the tomato paste, brown sugar, and stock; stir well and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until thickened, 50 to 55 minutes. Keep warm until ready to serve.