This ain't yo Momma's chili!

[CZfool68]

I am a bit of a Tex Mex addict. From brisket to fajitas I'll eat it all. Probably should have married a little chicita from New Mexico or Texas. So I have been dying to make some authentic chili for a while now. My wife likes beans, and has no interest in real chili. She's like most of us East Coasters. Gotta have beans. Luckily she has been out of town with the eldest Fool offspring. But if you spend some time in the SW you'll find real chili has no beans. So here is a picture heavy thread on Tex Mex chili, and my first batch of savory goodness.

 

[CZfool68]

Some venison to start

 

[CZfool68]

Added some cubed stew beef so that there is some good fat content

 

[CZfool68]

Some dried chili's. Arbol and what looks to be a typical New Mexican pepper. These are what the store had so I went with it. But of course when you're a fool you need more peppers than that...

 

[CZfool68]

A few peppers getting some smoke on the grill. Shooting for a little smokey flavor in this concoction.

 

[CZfool68]

The dried peppers from the store after some time in the food processor and spice grinder. The aroma from these is awesome. No 6 month old flavorless stuff here.

 

[CZfool68]

Meat browned, whole chopped onion cooked in, fresh ground peppers added. Also chopped the peppers that were smoked on the grill. Little bit of salt, oregano and cumin thrown in for good measure. Added some tomato sauce. Cover it all with water and bring to a boil.

 

[CZfool68]

Just about done after simmering about 3 hours. Added a whole sliced jalapeno and a little sweet red pepper with about an hour to go. Gave it just a hint of masa flour to give it some thickness.

 

[GymB]

No beans!! Pot looks good, when you think it'll be ready?

BTW, I believe that making your own chili powder is an art unto itself.

 

[CZfool68]

So the big question is how does it taste? Very good. Thought it was going to be too spicey at first due to the strong aromas from the fresh ground and smoked peppers. But the heat level is just about perfect. A bowl will warm you up, but not hurt you. I always cook chili a little milder than I want it, and then let the eater add hot sauce or pepper to their liking.

I much prefer this to typical bean chili. Very filling and the meat comes out nice and tender. The freshly ground peppers add a depth and flavor you don't get from store bought mixes or old spices from your cabinet. I think I am going to use the heck out of my spice grinder from now on. I'll try this agin with some ground beef or turkey to see how that goes.

From now on just say no to typical east coast bias chili. The authentic version is really a great change of pace.

 

[CZfool68]

No beans!! Pot looks good, when you think it'll be ready?

BTW, I believe that making your own chili powder is an art unto itself.

This was from yesterday. I held off posting due to the site work here. I used 4 different peppers and that does add some good flavors.

 

[Geezer]

Man, that looks good. Thanks for sharing that.

 

[skiles]

That looks awesome. I may have to give something like that a try. I love stews and chilis.

 

[Stick]

Man,I just ate and you are making me hungry all over again. Plus inspiration for my next pot of chili. Thanks!

 

[foopid stucker]

gots some chili over here on the stove.... plenty of beans, yours sure looks good and I'm with you on tempering the heat. plenty of afterburner sauces for those who need to ruin a flavor

 

[Bailey Boat]

Why such a small pot??? When I make Chili it's in a 2.5 gallon pot and costs about 60.00 in ingredients.....

 

[CZfool68]

Why such a small pot??? When I make Chili it's in a 2.5 gallon pot and costs about 60.00 in ingredients.....

Other than an old beer making pot I have that is the largest pot I own. Plus my wife and kids aren't having any so it is basically me and what I give to my neighbor. After a 2-3 days the thrill of a new chili batch starts to wear off.

And that was all the venison I have. Will have to raid the neighbors freezer this week.

 

[trcubed]

That looks great! I too hate chili with beans...

 

[CZfool68]

That looks great! I too hate chili with beans...

I don't hate beans, but this version is meatier so that's a win.

 

[Bailey Boat]

Why such a small pot??? When I make Chili it's in a 2.5 gallon pot and costs about 60.00 in ingredients.....

Other than an old beer making pot I have that is the largest pot I own. Plus my wife and kids aren't having any so it is basically me and what I give to my neighbor. After a 2-3 days the thrill of a new chili batch starts to wear off.

And that was all the venison I have. Will have to raid the neighbors freezer this week.

We'll just have to start a GoFundMe page to remedy that situation. I usually only make one batch per year and that's why I make so much at one time. We'll have it a couple of times the same week and then put 4 ladles worth in a ziplock and freeze for later. It takes me almost 6 hours to make the stuff so it isn't something you want to do more than once in a while....

 

[CZfool68]

Why such a small pot??? When I make Chili it's in a 2.5 gallon pot and costs about 60.00 in ingredients.....

Other than an old beer making pot I have that is the largest pot I own. Plus my wife and kids aren't having any so it is basically me and what I give to my neighbor. After a 2-3 days the thrill of a new chili batch starts to wear off.

And that was all the venison I have. Will have to raid the neighbors freezer this week.

I usually freeze some too, but right now both my freezers are jam packed. I've got a huge bag of chicken wings from Costco plus large containers of turkey soup and meat sauce that I made big batches of in the last few weeks. My wife's Costco runs are killing me. We have enough waffles for the kids to last until they have kids. Plus all my vacuum packed smoked goodies I normally have.

 

[GoWolfpack]

Nothing wrong with beans, but if you have more space in your chili why not just fill it with more meat?

 

[trcubed]

Nothing wrong with beans, but if you have more space in your chili why not just fill it with more meat?

That is EXACTLY my thought.