Spicy Texas Style Chili With Chocolate Stout Food

TEXAS-STYLE CHOCOLATE STOUT CHILI

Steps:

• Remove the stems and seeds from the ancho, guajillo and pasilla chiles.
• Heat a large skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium-high heat and toast the chiles in batches until they just start to darken and become shiny, 10 to 20 seconds per side. Remove the chiles to a large bowl. When all of the chiles are toasted, pour boiling water over them to cover and let stand until soft, about 30 minutes.
• Puree the chiles with the chipotles, adobo sauce and 1/2 cup soaking water in a blender until smooth. (Reserve the remainder of the soaking water.)
• Cook the bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp, then drain on paper towels. Pour off the oil from the skillet and add the vegetable oil.
• Sprinkle the beef all over with some salt and pepper. Working in batches, brown the beef in the fat over medium-high heat, 3 to 4 minutes per batch, and remove to a plate as it browns.
• Reduce the heat to medium low and add the onions to the drippings in the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are almost tender, about 6 minutes.
• Add the garlic and continue to cook, 2 minutes more. Add the cocoa, cumin, oregano and paprika and stir to coat the onion, about 1 minute. Increase the heat to high and add the chile puree. Cook until slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the stout, bring to a boil and boil until reduced by about a quarter, about 3 minutes. Add the beef and bacon. Pour in the stock and add enough reserved chile soaking water or additional water (about 2 cups), to cover the meat by about 1 inch. Set the cover ajar and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the meat is tender, 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
• Serve the chili in bowls garnished with onion, scallions, sour cream and cilantro.

TEXAS STYLE CHILI

Steps:

• In a large heavy pot (such as a cast iron Dutch oven), heat the fat or oil over high heat. Add the meat and sear, stirring, until no longer pink. Lower the heat to medium-high. Add the onions, jalapenos, garlic, chiles, and chili powder, and cook, stirring constantly, until the onions are wilted and start to color, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper, and cook until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the beer and tequila and cook, stirring, to deglaze the pan. Add the chipotles and adobo sauce and 4 cups of the stock, stir well, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer partially covered, stirring occasionally, until the meat is very tender, 2 to 3 hours, adding the remaining cup of stock as needed if the chili becomes too dry or thick. When the meat is tender and the chili is ready, add the masa harina 1 teaspoon at a time to thicken to desired consistency, stirring well and cooking after the addition of each before adding more.
• Remove from the heat and correct the seasoning, to taste. Skim any fat from the surface.
• Ladle into bowls and garnish each with cilantro, chopped onions, and a dollop of sour cream. Serve with hot cornbread.

TEXAS-STYLE CHILI

Steps:

• Toast the chiles in a small dry saucepan over medium heat until pliable, 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add 1 cup water, cover and let soften, 5 minutes. Transfer to a blender and puree.
• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Toss the meat with 2 teaspoons each salt and pepper. Brown the meat in batches, about 5 minutes; remove. Add more oil if the pot is dry. Add the onion and a pinch of salt. Cook until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cumin.
• Add 3 cups water, the beef broth, chile puree, meat, tortilla and brown sugar; stir. Reduce the heat, partially cover and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until the meat is very tender, 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes. If the chili is not thick enough, uncover, increase the heat and continue to simmer. Stir in the vinegar and season with salt and pepper.

CHILI HOTDISH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil. When the oil is hot, add the ground beef, season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper and cook, crumbling it with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 6 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion and bell peppers. Cook until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the chili powder and garlic and stir to incorporate. Add the tomatoes, beans with their liquid, corn and broth. Increase the heat to bring to a rapid simmer and cook until thickened, about 3 minutes.
• Pour the mixture into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Top with the fries. Bake until the fries are browned and crisp, 30 to 35 minutes. Sprinkle with the Cheddar and bake until the cheese is bubbly, 5 to 7 minutes more. Serve topped with scallions and sour cream.

CHOCOLATE STOUT CHILI

Steps:

• In small bowl, mix brown sugar, chile pepper powder, cinnamon and cumin; set aside.
• In 4-quart Dutch oven, cook beef, bell pepper, onion and garlic in oil over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until beef is thoroughly cooked and vegetables are crisp-tender; drain. Add spice mixture; stir until blended.
• Stir in tomatoes, beans, 1 cup of the beer, the coffee and chocolate. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer 15 to 30 minutes until chili is desired thickness. Add some or all of the remaining 1/2 cup beer, if necessary. Check seasoning and heat level; adjust to taste.
• Serve chili with corn chips, cheese, sour cream and limes.

TEXAS-STYLE CHILI

Steps:

• In a small heavy skillet, toast cumin and coriander seeds until fragrant. In a mortar and pestle, or in a coffee grinder, grind to a powder and set aside.
• Meanwhile, roughly cut beef into 2-inch cubes, or slice it against the grain into pieces about 1/4-inch thick by 1 1/2 inches square. Sprinkle with salt.
• In a large, heavy pot over high heat, heat oil until shimmering. Working in batches to avoid crowding the pan, brown the meat, turning occasionally until crusty. Adjust heat to prevent scorching. As it is cooked, remove the meat to drain on paper towels. Add more oil as needed for browning, but do not clean out the pot.
• To the empty but crusty pot, add onion, garlic, jalapeños, masa harina or tortilla (if using), chile powder, cumin-coriander powder and oregano. Cook, stirring, until onion has softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add meat, beer, tomatoes, chocolate, whole dried chiles and 1 quart water. Bring to a gentle simmer and simmer about 1 1/2 hours, or until meat is fork-tender. Remove the dried chiles. Taste and add salt if necessary.
• Serve immediately or let cool and refrigerate. The chili tastes best one or two days after it is made.
• Reheat over low heat if necessary and serve in bowls, sprinkled with chopped onion and cilantro. Add Fritos for crunch, or dip tortillas into the spicy gravy.

TEXAS CHILI

Steps:

• Place a Dutch oven or other large pot over medium heat. Add the oil and heat until shimmering. Add the meat and sauté until browned, then transfer to a plate.
• Add the onion to the pot and stir for 1 minute. Take two large sips from the beer, and pour the rest into the pot. Stir in the tomatoes, coffee and tomato paste.
• Add the brown sugar, chile sauce, cocoa powder, hot pepper, cumin, coriander, cayenne, salt and kidney beans. Return the meat to the pot. Reduce heat to low and simmer, partly covered, for 1 hour.
• Add the white beans to the pot and simmer over very low heat, partly covered and stirring occasionally, for 1 to 2 more hours. (Longer cooking improves the flavor.) Adjust salt and cayenne pepper as needed and serve.