Kevin’s Classic Chili

Ingredients:

Cooking Oil

1 large yellow onion, diced

1 pound ground beef, I used 80% lean

2 ½ Tbsp chili powder*

2 Tbsp ground cumin

1 6oz can tomato paste

3 garlic cloves

1 tsp salt

½ ground black pepper

1 ½ cups beef broth

1 15 oz can diced tomatoes, drained

1 16 oz can red kidney beans, drained

1 16 oz can black beans, drained

1 4 oz can diced green chiles

(optional) sprinkle red pepper flakes to increase the heat

*A note about chili powder. You may have noticed that 2 ½ Tbsp is quite a lot of any ground spice -- and you would be correct! This is the main flavor in the dish, and the brand and types of chili(s) used in the powder you get will be instrumental in how the chili tastes. For this reason, I recommend not using the cheapest chili powder you can find but instead look for something that originates in the Texas-New Mexico-Mexico region of the world. Currently I am using ‘Spice Appeal New Mexican Chili Powder’ and I like it much better than that famous brand every store carries. A final thing to mention: different chili powders may be spicy! Get to know your chili powder before you add any more hotness to the recipe!

Instructions:

1. Add the cooking oil to a soup pot and raise to medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and cook until translucent and browning, about 4 minutes.

2. Add the ground beef and break it apart as you cook it. Cook, stirring and breaking the large chunks, until it is in raspberry-sized pieces and you can no longer see any pink.

3. Add chili powder, cumin, tomato paste, garlic, salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Stir until well combined.

4. Add everything else; beef broth, kidney beans, black beans, diced tomatoes, and diced green chiles. Stir well.

5. Bring to a low boil, then reduce the heat to gently simmer for 20-25 minutes and stir occasionally.

6. Remove from the heat and let it cool for a few moments before serving. Serve with cheddar cheese and tortilla chips, or whatever you like with your chili!

Variations:

This recipe by no means needs to be followed to the letter (though you should the first time, so you know what adjustments you’d like to make). Some ideas I have tried and enjoyed include

different types of beans

adding more beef and/or having no beans

using no diced tomatoes

adding a can of corn

even subbing the beef for chicken is good!

With love, El Kevin