Best The General Store Chili Recipes

THE GENERAL'S CHILI

Steps:

• Fry, then crumble the sausage.
• Add all ingredients except crumbled sausage and beef to a stockpot, bring to a boil. Add the beef a little at a time, so that the pieces don't stick together, and reduce to a medium simmer for about 1 hour or until beef cubes are almost tender, stirring every 15 minutes.
• Add crumbled sausage and reduce heat to a low simmer until beef cubes are tender, another ½ to 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
• The wheat bran flakes add no taste, but makes the chili thicker, and the fiber content is good for digestion.
• Most chili recipes use coarsely ground beef. This one uses ¼ inch cubes of beef, which would be like very, very coarsely ground beef. It gives the dish a unique heavier texture, and this recipe is a little soupier than most chili recipes. I now use a #22 meat grinder with a grinder plate that has 3/4 inch holes to grind the beef instead of spending the lengthy time to dice the beef into 1/4 inch cubes.

CLASSIC CHILI

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven or large soup kettle, saute green pepper, onions and celery in oil until tender, about 5 minutes. Add ground beef and cook until browned; drain. Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, Worcestershire sauce and seasonings. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 1-1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Add kidney beans. Simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes longer. If desired, serve with tortilla chips.

CLASSIC CHILI

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, coriander and oregano. Cook, stirring, until brick red, 2 minutes.
• Add the beef, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and continue to cook, stirring, until no longer pink, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes, 1 cup water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer and cook, adjusting the heat as needed and stirring occasionally, until thickened, 35 to 45 minutes. Season with salt.

GOOD OLD CHILI CON CARNE

Steps:

• Place a large casserole over medium-high heat, and add 1/4 cup olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the onions, garlic, carrots, celery and red bell peppers. Stir, and add chili powder, cumin, cinnamon and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Stir every 30 seconds for about 7 minutes, until softened and lightly colored.
• Add the garbanzo beans, kidney beans, tomatoes and ground beef, stirring to break up the meat. Fill one of the tomato cans with water and then add the water to the pan. Coarsely chop the cilantro leaves and refrigerate until needed. Finely chop the stems and add to the pan. Add balsamic vinegar and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer, partly covered, for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Transfer to a warmed serving bowl or individual bowls, and garnish with cilantro leaves. If desired, serve with basmati rice, crusty bread, baked potato or couscous, accompanied by yogurt, guacamole and slices of lime.

THE BEST CHILI

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until just browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate with a slotted spoon.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly golden, about 10 minutes.
• Add the jalapeno and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add the chili powder, cumin, paprika, cayenne, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the tomato paste. Cook, stirring frequently, until coated and fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Stir in the beef broth and crushed tomatoes and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in the cooked ground beef and any accumulated liquid, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer the chili, partially covered, until the beef is tender and the sauce is slightly thickened, about 30 minutes.
• Stir in the beans and their liquid and simmer uncovered until the beans are softened and the chili is thickened, about 30 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper.
• Top with sour cream, Cheddar and scallions. Serve with tortilla chips.

THE GENERAL STORE CHILI

Steps:

• In a large, heavy pot set over medium-low heat, brown the beef, stirring it if it starts to stick to the bottom and breaking up any clumps, about 20 minutes.
• Add the onion, jalapeño and garlic and cook until the onion is translucent, about 4 minutes.
• Add the chili powder and stir well. Cook for about 5 minutes over low heat, stirring occasionally.
• Add the tomatoes and tomato paste. If using a can, add about 1/4 cup water to the can to remove excess paste and add it to the pan. Stir vigorously to incorporate and let simmer for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add the beans and their liquid, stirring gently so as not to break them. Simmer over very low heat for 1 1/2 hours.
• Turn off the heat and stir in the cocoa powder and sugar. Add the salt and pepper, taste and season as needed. Serve with buttered cornbread if desired.