Alton Brown Chili Recipes

BEEF AND BEAN CHILI

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over high heat. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Add half the beef to the pot in a single layer and cook, turning, until browned, about 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a bowl. Add 1 more tablespoon vegetable oil to the pot and brown the remaining beef; remove to the bowl.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and browned, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and jalapeno and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes.
• Add the chili powder, cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the tomato paste; cook, stirring, until deep red, about 2 minutes.
• Add the beef and any juices from the bowl, the tomatoes, beef broth and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat so the liquid simmers. Cook, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot occasionally, until the meat is fork-tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Add the beans with their liquid and simmer until the chili is thickened, 20 to 30 minutes. Season with salt, pepper and more chili powder. Top as desired.

AB'S CHILI POWDER

Steps:

• Place all of the chiles and the cumin into a medium nonstick saute pan or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, moving the pan around constantly, until you begin to smell the cumin toasting, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Set aside and cool completely.
• Once cool, place the chiles and cumin into the carafe of a blender along with the garlic powder, oregano, and paprika. Process until a fine powder is formed. Allow the powder to settle for at least a minute before removing the lid of the carafe. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

PRESSURE COOKER CHILI

Steps:

• Place the meat in a large mixing bowl and toss with the peanut oil and salt. Set aside.
• Heat a 6-quart heavy-bottomed pressure cooker over high heat until hot. Add the meat in 3 or 4 batches and brown on all sides, approximately 2 minutes per batch. Once each batch is browned, place the meat in a clean large bowl.
• Once all of the meat is browned, add the beer to the cooker to deglaze the pot.
• Scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the meat back to the pressure cooker along with the salsa, tortilla chips, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, tomato paste, chili powder, and ground cumin and stir to combine. Lock the lid in place according to the manufacturer's instructions. When the steam begins to hiss out of the cooker, reduce the heat to low, just enough to maintain a very weak whistle. Cook for 25 minutes. Remove from the heat and carefully release the steam. Serve immediately.

ROASTED CHILE SALSA

Steps:

• Heat broiler to high and place rack in top position.
• Squeeze the tomato halves, reserving the juice and seeds.
• Set aside 2 of the tomatoes and 1 of the jalapeños. Toss the remaining jalapeños, tomatoes, garlic, ancho chiles, onion and red bell pepper in a large bowl with the tablespoon of oil, then spread in a shallow roasting pan or sheet pan with a lip. and toss the rest of the produce in a large bowl with the tablespoon of oil then spread in a shallow roasting pan or sheet pan with a lip.
• Broil for 20 minutes, stirring often for even browning.
• Move the roasted vegetables to the work bowl of a food processor and add the reserved tomatoes, jalapeño, lime juice, kosher salt, and chili powder. Pulse several times until mixture reaches salsa consistency. If mixture is too dry, add part or all of the reserved tomato juice.
• Stir in cilantro, parsley, or scallions and refrigerate 2 hours before serving.

SALSA

Steps:

• Heat the broiler to high and move an oven rack to approximately 6 inches underneath it. Place the whole jalapeño on a pie plate and set it under the broiler. Using tongs, turn the chile every 2 to 3 minutes until the skin is black and crisp. Let the jalapeño cool slightly, then peel away the skin, remove the seeds, and mince.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine the roasted jalapeño with the seeded and minced jalapeño, tomatoes, garlic, bell pepper, onion, acho chile, olive oil, lime juice, salt, black pepper, chili powder, and herbs. Place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour for flavor infusion.
• Serve with tortilla chips.

ALTON BROWN'S CHILI POWDER

Steps:

• Toast the chiles and cumin seeds in a cast iron skillet for a few minutes. Don't let them cook too long and inhale the smoke, because you'll get a nasty chemical burn in lungs, nose and throat.
• let the chiles and seeds cool.
• place all the ingredients into a blender and blend on the highest speed you blender can dish out.
• store in an airtight jar.
• be sure to wash you blender carafe a few times after doing this or you fruit smoothy or margarita will taste like chiles.

ALTON BROWN CHILI

Steps:

• Dry beef cubes with paper towels.
• In a large mixing bowl, toss the beef cubes with the vegetable oil and salt; set aside.
• Turn 6.5-quart Instant pot onto saute function. When the display reads "hot", add the beef in 3 batches and brown on all sides. Remove browned beef to a bowl and continue with remaining beef.
• Stir the beer into Instant pot and scrape up all the brown bits on the bottom of the pan (do not skip or the burn light may turn on).
• Add the browned beef back to the instant pot along with salsa, tortilla chips, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, tomato paste, chili powder, and ground cumin and stir to combine.
• Place the lid on and set the "steam release" knob to "sealing". Press the "Manual" button and set to pressure cook on low for 25 minutes. Then turn the steam knob to venting to release the remaining pressure.
• After the pin drops, carefully open lid away from you (there will likely still be remaining steam). Stir the chili. Adjust seasoning, ladle into individual bowls and top with desired toppings.