Best Nora Ephrons Chasens Chili Recipes

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.

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 FAMOUS CHILI

Steps:

• 1. PREPARING THE BEANS: Rinse Pinto Beans in a bowl & add enough Water so that it extends 2 inches above beans. Allow to soak overnight.
• 2. Rinse off Beans & using FRESH WATER, never mind what recipe says about using that old beanie water, add the beans to fresh water into a large stock pot. Bring to boil & simmer for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. I would add water as needed if the water level gets too low.
• 3. AFTER COOKING THE BEANS 2 TO 2 1/2 HOURS: Add the Tomatoes & simmer for 5 minutes.
• 4. THEN YOU CAN SAUTE IN THE FIRST SKILLET: Heat Vegetable Oil, in a large skillet & saute Green Bell Peppers slowly for 5 minutes. Add the Onion & cook until tender, stirring frequently. Add Garlic Cloves, & Parsley.
• 5. SECOND SKILLET THE MEAT MIXTURE: in a second large skillet, melt the Butter & saute the Ground Beef & Ground Pork for 15 minutes. (get er done). Add Meat Mixture to Beans in the stock pot.
• 6. SEASONINGS: Season with the Salt, Pepper, & Cumin. Uncover & cook 30 minutes longer. Skim fat off top. (easier to do this part once you put into the refrigerator, as the fat will congeal up and can be easily scooped off). This freezes rather well.
• 7. Browsing the Internet about Chasen's Chili and saw one recipe that used the SAME SKILLET that the veggies were sauteed in to cook the meat with the butter. Hey, if you have room in that skillet you aren't going to hurt a thing. Oh, said Liz liked to have this chili shipped around the world to every set she was working at.

CHASEN'S FAMOUS CHILI

Steps:

• In 4- to 5-quart Dutch oven, place beans and enough water to cover beans by 2 inches. Heat to boiling; boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover; let stand 1 hour. Drain.
• Add 3 cups water to beans. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover; simmer 1 hour 30 minutes or until beans are tender. Stir in tomatoes; cook 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook bell peppers and onions in oil 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender. Add parsley and garlic; cook 1 minute. Add beef, pork, chili powder, salt, cumin and pepper; cook 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef and pork are thoroughly cooked.
• Stir meat mixture into bean mixture. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover; simmer 30 minutes.

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.