My NO BEAN Texas Chili Recipe (modified from several web-based recipes)
1/4 pound bacon
2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into small squares
1.5 pounds of lean ground beef (95% or so)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
3 cups chopped onion (one large red, one large white onion)
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
4 finely chopped jalapeño peppers
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup dry red wine
1/4 cup white vinegar
5 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons dried oregano
1 (14 1/4-ounce) can low-salt beef broth
1 can diced (20 ounces?) tomatoes
1 (12-ounce) can beer (dark or Mexican)
4-6 tablespoons corn meal
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup chopped onion (optional)
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream (optional)
Cook bacon in large pot until clear. Add beef cubes with salt and pepper, cook until brown. Remove beef cubes, add ground beef, salt, pepper, cook until browned. Remove from pan.
Add 3 cups onion to pan; sauté 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Add cumin, jalapeño, and garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add wine, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Return beef to pan.
Stir in vinegar and next 5 ingredients (vinegar through beer); bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until beef is tender, stirring occasionally. Uncover and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Stir 4-6 tablespoons of corn meal to thicken, as needed
Stir in cilantro, cook a few minutes more, serve with onion and sour cream, if desired
Also, FTR, I’m a lot more concerned with people adding sugar, brown or otherwise. Unless it’s the Cincinnati greek spaghetti version, which isn’t real chili anyway, so have at it.
Yes, I know I’m talking out of both sides of my mouth. That’s why I have two sides, thankyouverymuch!
If chili isn’t supposed to have beans, then why is there such a thing as “chili beans”?
Personally, I don’t feel strongly one way or th’other, but I’ve always put beans in my chili.
In fact, one year for Christmas, when trying to satisfy the diverse culinary requirements of various family members (one stepkid is a vegan, one is allergic to chicken, one won’t eat beef because she’s afraid of getting mad cow disease, a mother-in-law who refuses to eat any of that weird vegan cooking… you get the idea) I made an awesome batch of 3-bean chili, no meat in it at all. Everybody was happy.
Hey - when we want your input on how to fry cheap white fish, or make those little meat pie thingies, or just boil meat until it is overcooked - we will start a thread for you.
Until then, the making of Chili is purely a 'Merikin fight.
and 