Beef Chili With Pancetta Ancho And Chocolate Recipe 41

BEEF CHILI WITH ANCHO, RED BEANS AND CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Toast the ancho chile pieces over low heat in a dry skillet until fragrant, shaking the pan so they don't scorch.
• Put the chiles in a food processor and pulse until they are powder.
• Cut the beef into large and season with salt and pepper.
• Put beef in large soup pot and add enough water to cover by one inch.
• Place over medium heat and bring to a boil.
• Skim off any foam that rises to the surface.
• Mix in onions, garlic, chipotles, and jalapeño.
• Stir in the chili powder, coriander, cumin, paprika, oregano, sugar, cinnamon, and powdered ancho chilies.
• Pour the entire can of tomatoes into a bowl and crush by hand until chunky.
• Add tomatoes and tomato paste to the pot.
• Simmer for 2 hours.
• As it cooks down you can add more water if necessary (we didn't need to but you may).
• When done, take a wooden spoon and beat chili vigorously so that meat comes apart in shreds.
• (I used two forks like I do with pulled pork).
• Stir in beans and corn meal.
• Cover only partially (so the chili doesn't get watery).
• Simmer for one hour stirring occasionally In the last 5 minutes, stir in the chocolate.
• Before serving, garnish with cheddar.

BEEF CHILI WITH PANCETTA, ANCHO AND CHOCOLATE RECIPE - (4.1/5)

Steps:

• 1. Place the dried chiles in a bowl and pour 1 cup of boiling water over them. Let the chiles soak for 10 minutes. Transfer them to a blender and purée until smooth; set aside. 2. In a large heavy-bottomed 6-quart pot or a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the pancetta and cook, stirring often, until the fat has rendered and the pancetta is crisp, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove the pancetta and transfer to a bowl. 3. Add the oil and increase the heat to high. Working in two batches, brown the beef, breaking it up using a wooden spoon, 2 to 3 minutes per batch. Remove the meat using a slotted spoon and transfer to the bowl with the pancetta. 4. Reduce the heat to medium high. Add the onions and pepper to the pot. Season with salt and cook, stirring often, until soft, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic, chile powder, oregano, black pepper, cayenne and bay leaf and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the pot is very fragrant from the spices. Add the tomato paste and reserved meat and pancetta and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Add the reserved ancho chile purée, brown sugar, beer, beans, crushed tomatoes and chocolate and simmer over medium low heat for 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1½ hours, or until the flavors have melded together. Stir in the vinegar. Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary. Serve the chili hot with avocado, cilantro, pickled jalapeños, cheddar, onion, lime and sour cream. Make ahead: Chili can be made 2 days ahead, then covered and chilled. Rewarm over low heat.

BEEF CHILI WITH ANCHO, RED BEANS, AND CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Making chili is nothing more than mounting layers of flavor and letting them all simmer together. Get in the habit of tasting recipes in stages; this way if something is not quite right, adjustments can be made on the spot.
• Toast the ancho chile pieces over low heat in a dry skillet until fragrant, shaking the pan so they don't scorch. Put the chilies in a mini food processor and pulse to a powder. This homemade chile powder will add a smoky depth to the chili. Season the beef shoulder all over with salt and pepper and then put it in a large soup pot. Add enough water to cover by 1 inch, about 3 quarts, and place over medium heat. Bring to a boil and skim off any foam that rises to the surface. Mix in the onions, garlic, chipotles, and jalapeño. Stir in the chili powder, coriander, cumin, paprika, oregano, cinnamon, sugar, and the powdered ancho chilies. Pour the entire can of tomatoes with their liquid into a bowl and hand-crush until chunky; add it to the pot along with the tomato paste. Simmer until the meat is fork-tender and comes apart with no resistance, about 2 hours. As it cooks down, add more water if necessary. When done, take a wooden spoon and beat the chili vigorously so the meat comes apart in shreds.
• Add the next layer of flavor by stirring in the beans and cornmeal. Season with salt and pepper and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Cover the pot only partially so the steam doesn't get trapped under the lid and drip down into the chili, making it watery. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, stir in the grated chocolate. Garnish each serving with the shredded Cheddar cheese and Saltine crackers.