Chasens Chili Hollywood Nostalgia Food

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.

CHASEN'S CHILI

Steps:

• Pour the beans in a saucepan and cook until tender, adding water if necessary Heat the oil in the skillet, add the peppers and onions and cook until the onions are translucent.
• Add the garlic and parsley.
• Heat oil and butter in a pot large enough for all the ingredients.
• Add the beef and cook about 25 minutes, stirring to break up the lumps.
• Add the chili powder and cumin about halfway through the cooking process.
• Add the peppers and onions to the meat.
• Add the tomatoes, salt, and pepper.
• Simmer for 60 minutes, stirring often.
• Add the beans and water and continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes.
• Skim off fat.
• Serve with sour cream, chopped onions, shredded cheddar cheese and crackers.

CHASEN'S FAMOUS CHILI

Steps:

• Rinse beans, put in a bowl and add water so that it extends 2 inches above beans.
• Allow to soak overnight.
• Transfer beans AND water to a large stock pot.
• Simmer, covered, in the same water until tender, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
• Add tomatoes and simmer 5 minutes.
• Heat oil in large skillet and sauté green peppers slowly 5 minutes.
• Add onions and cook until tender, stirring frequently.
• Add garlic and parsley.
• In a second large skillet, melt butter and sauté beef and pork 15 minutes.
• Add meat to onion mixture, stir in chili powder and cook 10 minutes.
• Add meat mixture to beans in large pot.
• Season with salt, pepper, and cumin.
• Simmer, covered, 1 hour.
• Remove cover and cook 30 minutes longer.
• Skim fat off top.
• NOTE: This chili freezes very well.

CHILI.THE FAMOUS CHASEN'S RECIPE, LOVED BY LIZ.

Steps:

• 1. Rinse beans.Place in a large bowl add enough water to cover them by 2 inches. Soak overnight. The next day place beans and soaking water in a large, heavy pot. Then simmer, covered, until tender, about40 minutes. Add tomatoes and simmer for 5 minutes.
• 2. In a large skillet,over medium heat, saute green peppersin veg oil for 5 minutes. Add onions and cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 10 minutes..Add garlic and parsley. Remove from heat and pour into a large bowl.
• 3. In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Brown the chuck and pork pieces, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.Stir in chili powder and reserved onion mixture.. Cook for 10 minutes. Add meat and onion mixture. Season with salt pepper and cumin. Simmer, covered, for 1 hour. Remove cover and cook 30 minutes longer. Skim any fat off the top. You could serve now. BUT Chasen would let it cool, then covered and put in the cooler...overnight,for the flavors to blend. Like we do spaghetti or stews, always better the next day!
• 4. *NOTE:Often Chasen would enter the restaurant to o versee the cooking, and then would add his "SECRET INGREDIENT"...1/2 cup of KAHLUA! Like some of us, add COCOA to our chili! **If you want to, use ground beef and pork. ***CREDITS:Liz picture from: VilliageVoice.com Spice picture:from: Cookslight.com CHASEN'S CHILI pic.from:dearoldhollywoodblogspot.com ..........Nancy...10/20/12