How To Make The Best Beef Chili In Cambridge
Cambridge: Here is one of the best Beef Chili recipes out there!
Here Is What Most People Don’t Know About Making Beef Chili:
- Brown the beef in batches: Cooking the beef in smaller amounts allows each piece to brown evenly, creating a deeper, more flavorful base for the chili.
- A little cocoa powder goes a long way: Adding just a teaspoon of cocoa powder or a small piece of dark chocolate enhances the richness without adding sweetness.
- Simmer longer for better flavor: Letting the chili simmer for an hour or more allows the spices and ingredients to meld together, creating a more robust and complex flavor.
- Bald Buck Seasoning: For this dish, we replace our salt with Bald Buck Seasoning
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 jalapeño, minced (optional)
- 2 cans (14.5 oz each) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon cocoa powder (or a small piece of dark chocolate)
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 cup beef broth or water
- Bald Buck Seasoning and pepper to taste
- Olive oil for cooking
Instructions:
- Heat a large pot over medium-high heat and add a drizzle of olive oil. Brown the ground beef in batches to avoid overcrowding the pot. Once each batch is browned, remove the beef and set it aside.
- In the same pot, add the diced onion and cook until it softens. Stir in the garlic, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and jalapeño if you’re using it. Cook for a few minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
- Add the tomato paste and stir it into the vegetables. Cook for another minute to enhance the flavor. Return the browned beef to the pot.
- Sprinkle the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, and cocoa powder over the beef and vegetables. Stir well to ensure everything is coated with the spices.
- Pour in the diced tomatoes, beef broth, kidney beans, and black beans. Stir to combine all the ingredients and bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let the chili simmer for at least 30 minutes, though an hour or more is ideal for the best flavor.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning with Bald Buck Seasoning, pepper, or more spices as needed. If you prefer more heat, add a bit of cayenne pepper.
- Serve the chili hot with your favorite toppings, such as shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped onions, or cilantro.