Chili Ideas and Inspiration

Chili has many different variations and incarnations. You can use
your
own ideas to custom create a chili recipe that fits your taste and
your
pantry.
Studio 5 Contributor Laura Wolford shares some ideas to come up
with
your own custom made chili.

Basic Bean and Beef Chili
1 Tbl oil
1 onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 lb ground beef
1 28oz can diced tomatoes
1 Tbl tomatoe paste
2 tsp cumin
1 Tbl chili powder
1 tsp oregano
1-2 cups water or beef broth
Salt and pepper to taste
2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, seeded and minced plus 1 Tbl adobo sauce
1 15 oz can each black beans, kidney beans and pinto beans, drained and rinsed

Heat oil in large pot. Add onion and bell pepper, sauté over medium heat for 3-5 minutes.
Add beef and brown over medium heat, breaking up into small pieces, cook until meat is
no longer pink. Add tomatoes, paste and seasonings and 1 cup of water; add more water to
reach desired consistency. Simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally. Cook aprox 30
minute. Stir in beans and continue to cook 15 minutes. Season to taste. Serve with desired
garnishes, crackers or cornbread.

Texas Style Chili
6 slices bacon
2 lbs boneless sirloin, cubed
1 white onion, chopped
2 jalapeño’s minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbl chili powder
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
1 28oz can crushed or diced tomatoes
2 Tbl tomato paste
3 cups beef stock
3 chipotle chilies in adobo sauce, minced


Cook bacon in large pot to crisp, remove and drain on paper towel. Leave fat in pot and add
meat, sear and cook until no longer pink. Add onions, jalapeño, garlic, chili powder, cumin,
paprika and oregano, cook for aprox 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, paste and beef stock,
and stir and reduce heat to simmer. Add the meat, cover partially and cook 3 hours, add
additional stock or water as needed to keep desired consistency. Serve with bacon and
other garnishes.
Texas Style Chili
6 slices bacon
2 lbs boneless sirloin, cubed
1 white onion, chopped
2 jalapeño’s minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbl chili powder
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
1 28oz can crushed or diced tomatoes
2 Tbl tomato paste
3 cups beef stock
3 chipotle chilies in adobo sauce, minced

Chili Ideas and Inspiration
Basic Chili Seasonings for 1 lb beef
1 tsp – 2 Tbl Chili powder, also try chipotle chili powder
½ tsp – 1 Tbl Oregano
½ tsp – 2 Tbl cumin
¼ tsp coriander
¼ tsp allspices
¼ tsp cinnamon
1 tsp – 1 Tbl unsweetened cocoa powder
1-2 cloves minced garlic
2 -4 tsp paprika
Peppers and Chili’s
1-3 chipotle chilis’ in adobo sauce seeded and chopped; add 1 Tbl or so of the sauce too
1-2 Serrano peppers, stemmed and minced
1-3 jalapeño seeded and minced
1 green or red bell pepper, diced
Meats
Ground beef, chuck, or sirloin
Cubed sirloin, chuck roast, boneless pork shoulder or boneless skinless chicken thighs
Chorizo sausage, this is usually added along with another meat
6 strips bacon, rendered down to crisp removed and set aside as garnish; use fat to brown
meat
Beans
Black, kidney, pinto, chickpeas, red or white bean
Vegetables
Frozen corn kernels
Onion, diced
1 28 oz can crushed or minced tomatoes
2 carrots minced
For a vegetarian chili replace meat with cubed butternut squash, beans, chickpeas, several
types of peppers, and other favorite vegetables
Toppings/Garnish
Fresh minced cilantro
Finely chopped white onion
Shredded cheddar cheese
Sour cream
Lime wedges
Avocado
Minced scallions

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