Chili

Ingredients

adapted from Emeril Lagasse

Serves 6

· 1 tablespoon olive oil

· 2 pounds ground beef

· 2 cups chopped yellow onions

· 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder

· 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin

· 1 teaspoon Emeril's Southwest Essence

· 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

· 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

· 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

· 1 bay leaf

· 1 tablespoon minced garlic

· 2 (12-ounce) bottles dark beer

· 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

· 1 tablespoon tomato paste

· 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

· 1 ½ teaspoons brown sugar

· 1/2-ounce (1/2 square) unsweetened chocolate

· 2 (15-ounce) cans red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

· 1/2 cup grated Monterey jack cheese, for garnish

· 1/2 cup finely chopped green onions, for garnish

· 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

Directions

Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over high heat. Add the ground beef and brown it well, about 10 minutes. You'll want good browning for the best flavor. Add the onions, chili powder, cumin, Southwest Essence, cayenne, cinnamon, crushed red pepper flakes, and bay leaf. Cook, stirring often, until the onions soften, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Next, add the beer and cook about 1 minute, loosen any beef bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, brown sugar, and chocolate to the pot. Stir well and bring to a boil.

Reduce to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about 1 hour, stirring occasionally to prevent the chili from sticking to the bottom of the pot. If any fat has accumulated you'll want to skim it from the pot. Taste the chili and adjust the seasonings. Add the beans, return to a simmer, cover, and cook until thickened, about 1 1/2 hours longer.

Taste again and adjust the seasonings. Is it flavorful? Does it pack the punch you are looking for? Serve your chili with the shredded cheese, chopped green onions and cilantro as garnish. Add your favorite cornbread and watch the chili disappear.

There are so many seasonings in this recipe you can really adjust the proportions to your taste. Want more punch? Add more chili powder, crushed red pepper, or cayenne. You don't like red kidney beans? Substitute the beans you like. Do you want chunks of tomatoes in your chili? Use crushed whole tomatoes. The possibilities are endless!