Simple Beef Chili From Americas Test Kitchen Food

AMERICA'S FAVORITE CHILI

Steps:

• Heat a large pot over medium heat and add oil. Add beef and sprinkle with baking powder. Brown beef, stirring to break up into smaller chunks, until no longer pink, 5 to 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove beef to a bowl.
• Add onions to pot and turn heat down to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in chile powder, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne and oregano and cook for another 2 minutes to bloom. Add garlic and saute for 30 more seconds. Add beef stock, demi-glace, tomatoes and beans. Add beef back in along with any reserved juices and simmer, partially covered and stirring frequently, for 2 hours. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Garnish with scallions, cilantro, sour cream, pickled jalapenos and aged Cheddar.

BEEF CHILI WITH KIDNEY BEANS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed nonreactive Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering but not smoking.
• Add the onions, bell pepper, garlic, chili powder, cumin, coriander, pepper flakes, oregano, and cayenne and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes.
• Increase the heat to medium-high and add half the beef. Cook, breaking up pieces with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink and just beginning to brown, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add the remaining beef and cook, breaking up pieces with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add the beans, tomatoes, tomato puree, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour.
• Remove the lid and continue to simmer 1 hour longer, stirring occasionally (if the chili begins to stick to the bottom of the pot, stir in 1/2 cup water and continue to simmer), until the beef is tender and the chili is dark, rich, and slightly thickened.
• Adjust the seasoning with additional salt.
• Serve with lime wedges and condiments (see note), if desired.

BEEF SATAY

Steps:

• Cut flank steak in half lengthwise and freeze for 30 minutes.
• Combine soy sauce and all other ingredients in a measuring cup, set aside.
• Remove flank steak from the freezer and slice each piece across the grain into 1/4 inch thick strips.
• Weave meat onto individual bamboo skewers.
• Dunk meat end of each skewer in the marinade to coat.
• Lay the skewers in a shallow dish, propping up the exposed ends of the skewers to keep them clean.
• Pour the remaining marinade over the meat.
• Refrigerate for EXACTLY one hour (any more and the meat will start to get mushy.).
• Adjust an oven rack to the top position and heat the broiler.
• Lay the skewers in a single layer on a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet and cover the skewer ends with foil. (May have to broil 2 different sets.).
• Broil 6-7 minutes, flipping the skewers halfway through, until meat is browned.
• Serve immediately.

AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN RAGU ALLA BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Combine chicken broth and beef broth in bowl; sprinkle gelatin over top and set aside. Pulse onion, carrot, and celery in food processor until finely chopped, about 10 pulses, scraping down bowl as needed; transfer to separate bowl. Pulse pancetta and mortadella in now-empty food processor until finely chopped, about 25 pulses, scraping down bowl as needed; transfer to second bowl. Process chicken livers in now-empty food processor until pureed, about 5 seconds; transfer to third bowl.
• Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add beef, veal, and pork; cook, breaking up pieces with spoon, until all liquid has evaporated and meat begins to sizzle, 10 to 15 minutes. Add chopped pancetta mixture and sage; cook, stirring frequently, until pancetta is translucent, 5 to 7 minutes, adjusting heat to keep fond from burning. Add chopped vegetables and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until rust-colored and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in wine, scraping pan with wooden spoon to loosen fond. Simmer until sauce has thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in broth mixture and return to simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook at bare simmer until thickened (wooden spoon should leave trail when dragged through sauce), about 1½ hours.
• Stir in pureed chicken livers, bring to boil, and remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste; cover and keep warm.
• Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Reserve ¾ cup cooking water, then drain pasta and return it to pot. Add half of sauce and cooking water to pasta and toss to combine. Transfer to serving bowl and serve, passing cheese separately.
• TECHNIQUE - BUILDING A MEATY, SATINY-TEXTURED BOLOGNESE: 1. COOK the ground meats; add depth by sautéing the chopped mortadella, pancetta, and sage in the rendered fat. 2. ADD the soffritto and sweat it until softened and then add concentrated tomato flavor in the form of tomato paste. 3. DEGLAZE the pot with wine; stir in the broth plus the bloomed gelatin to develop luxurious silky texture. 4. STIR in the pureed chicken ­livers for subtle but rich taste.

SIMPLE BEEF CHILI FROM AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN

Steps:

• 1. Heat oil in large heavy-bottomed nonreactive Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering but not smoking, 3 to 4 minutes. Add onions, bell pepper, garlic, chili powder, cumin, coriander, pepper flakes, oregano, and cayenne; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high and add half the beef; cook, breaking up pieces with wooden spoon, until no longer pink and just beginning to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add remaining beef and cook, breaking up pieces with wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 4 minutes. 2. Add beans, tomatoes, tomato puree, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; bring to boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. Remove cover and continue to simmer 1 hour longer, stirring occasionally (if chili begins to stick to bottom of pot, stir in 1/2 cup water and continue to simmer), until beef is tender and chili is dark, rich, and slightly thickened. Adjust seasoning with additional salt. Serve with lime wedges and condiments if desired. Slow Cooker Option: At the end of step 1, transfer the cooked beef mixture to a slow cooker; add the rest of the ingredients as directed in step 2. Cook the chili on the high setting for four hours.