Ancho Beef Chili Food

HEALTHY BEEF CHILI WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Put the ancho and guajillo chiles in a medium saucepan with the beef broth and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover, remove from the heat and allow to sit until softened, about 15 minutes. Remove the stems and seeds from the chiles and place the chiles in a blender along with the beef stock. Blend until smooth, then set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the beef, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, stirring once or twice, until the beef is browned, about 10 minutes. Remove the beef with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate. Add the onions to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin and oregano and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste, diced tomatoes, chile puree, beef, 2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until the beef is tender and can easily be cut with a fork, about 1 hour.
• Add the butternut squash and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Serve with sour cream, Cheddar and cilantro.

BEEF CHILI WITH ANCHO, RED BEANS, AND CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Making chili is nothing more than mounting layers of flavor and letting them all simmer together. Get in the habit of tasting recipes in stages; this way if something is not quite right, adjustments can be made on the spot.
• Toast the ancho chile pieces over low heat in a dry skillet until fragrant, shaking the pan so they don't scorch. Put the chilies in a mini food processor and pulse to a powder. This homemade chile powder will add a smoky depth to the chili. Season the beef shoulder all over with salt and pepper and then put it in a large soup pot. Add enough water to cover by 1 inch, about 3 quarts, and place over medium heat. Bring to a boil and skim off any foam that rises to the surface. Mix in the onions, garlic, chipotles, and jalapeño. Stir in the chili powder, coriander, cumin, paprika, oregano, cinnamon, sugar, and the powdered ancho chilies. Pour the entire can of tomatoes with their liquid into a bowl and hand-crush until chunky; add it to the pot along with the tomato paste. Simmer until the meat is fork-tender and comes apart with no resistance, about 2 hours. As it cooks down, add more water if necessary. When done, take a wooden spoon and beat the chili vigorously so the meat comes apart in shreds.
• Add the next layer of flavor by stirring in the beans and cornmeal. Season with salt and pepper and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Cover the pot only partially so the steam doesn't get trapped under the lid and drip down into the chili, making it watery. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, stir in the grated chocolate. Garnish each serving with the shredded Cheddar cheese and Saltine crackers.

BEEF CHILI WITH ANCHO, RED BEANS AND CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Toast the ancho chile pieces over low heat in a dry skillet until fragrant, shaking the pan so they don't scorch.
• Put the chiles in a food processor and pulse until they are powder.
• Cut the beef into large and season with salt and pepper.
• Put beef in large soup pot and add enough water to cover by one inch.
• Place over medium heat and bring to a boil.
• Skim off any foam that rises to the surface.
• Mix in onions, garlic, chipotles, and jalapeño.
• Stir in the chili powder, coriander, cumin, paprika, oregano, sugar, cinnamon, and powdered ancho chilies.
• Pour the entire can of tomatoes into a bowl and crush by hand until chunky.
• Add tomatoes and tomato paste to the pot.
• Simmer for 2 hours.
• As it cooks down you can add more water if necessary (we didn't need to but you may).
• When done, take a wooden spoon and beat chili vigorously so that meat comes apart in shreds.
• (I used two forks like I do with pulled pork).
• Stir in beans and corn meal.
• Cover only partially (so the chili doesn't get watery).
• Simmer for one hour stirring occasionally In the last 5 minutes, stir in the chocolate.
• Before serving, garnish with cheddar.

ANCHO CHILI-RUBBED BEEF ROAST

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees F. Combine rub ingredients; (all ingredients following the roast listed, minus the oil) and reserve 2 Tbs. for potatoes. Press remaining rub onto the beef. Use beef round tip roast.
• Place roast on rack in a shallow roasting pan. Insert oven proof meat thermometer so tip is centered in thickest part of the beef, not resting in fat. (Do not overcook.).
• Meanwhile, mix reserved rub and oil and toss with potatoes. Roast Potatoes in a greased baking pan, covered for 1 hour. After 1 hour stir potatoes and leave pan uncovered and cook for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
• Put the potatoes in the oven during the last hour before roast should be done. I figure in resting time for roast or you can keep the potatoes warm in your convection oven which is what I do, cover back on.
• Remove the roast when the meat thermometer registers 140 degrees for medium rare; 155 degrees for medium. Let stand for 15 minutes and then carve the roast. Season with salt to your taste.
• Important - Let the roast stand and rest before cutting or it for 15 minutes or it won't cut nicely!
• Serve with potatoes.