River Run Chili Recipes

RIVER RUN CHILI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Brown the ground beef in a six-quart dutch oven over medium heat. If your beef is very lean, you may need to use a few tablespoons of oil. Remove browned beef with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Brown the cubed pork in batches in the drippings from the beef. Be sure to allow enough space between the cubes so that they brown instead of steam. Remove each batch of browned pork to the same dish as the beef as you go.
• Once the last batch of pork has been removed, saute the onion and pepper in the drippings. If there is too much fat, drain some off so that a there is still about a tablespoon. Stir the onion and pepper until softened, about seven minutes. Stir in the garlic until it releases a scent. Add the chili powder, cumin and oregano and stir until the vegetables are evenly coated.
• Pour in the beer and deglaze the pan. Add the meats back to the pot, along with the stock, tomatoes and tomato paste. Stir well to combine.
• SLOWLY bring the mixture just to the boil. Do not let it boil hard. Put the pot in the oven and cook slowly for three hours. Add the beans (drained and rinsed) and return to the oven for 30 minutes.
• Cool the chili and refrigerate it overnight. The next day, skim the fat off the top and discard. Stir in the masa harina and reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat.
• Serve topped with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and or minced onion and jalapeno with a side of corn bread.

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.