Fall weather is approaching, so it's time to break out the bone-warming cuisine. I can't thing of a better place to start than with a bottle of beer and a bowl of chili!
The great thing about chili is that the ingredients are so versatile. Follow the technique, but add any kind of veggies. If you're pressed for time and money, you could even sub the veggies and hot sauce for a jar of your favorite salsa.
- Most chili recipes call for ground beef or turkey. The stew meat (or any diced beef for that matter) makes all the difference here!
- I like beans. If you don't, you can omit the beans, but you may want to add more meat.
- I love the chili pepper sauce pictured above. So, I try and find reasons to put it in recipes. Trader Joe's sells it. But of course, you could use any hot sauce, chipotle in adobo, or your favorite heat source.
- The beer adds a richness to this recipe, so I highly recommend it! (if not, just add 1 cu of water instead) As you can see, I used Sam Adam's Old Fezziwig Ale - use what you've got, but if you're going to the store, pick up an ale! It not only works well in the chili, it's delicious on the side as well!
Enough chat, let's cook!
Step Two: Brown the Beef
Place a medium sauce pan (enough to hold the finished amount of chili) over medium-high heat. In a small mixing bowl, add your stew meat and 2 T of peanut oil. Toss to coat. Add to pan and brown all sides of meat (you may have to do this in stages). Return meat to bowl.
Step Three: Veggies
Step Four: Deglaze, simmer, enjoy!
After sautéing the veggies, deglaze the pan by pouring 2/3 of the bottle of beer into the pan. You'll have a little beer leftover, I'm sure you can figure out what to do with it!
Cheers!
Return beef to the pot. Add in tomato paste, tomatoes, beans, cumin, and hot sauce. Simmer for 20 - 30 minutes (if you can stand it!). Enjoy with your favorite chili toppings - cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips - what's your favorite?
I am definitely going to put this recipe on next weeks menu! (Mine will be a vegetarian chili, though :) And I have to say, Old Fezziwig Ale is one of my wintertime favorites!
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