Authentic Texas Chili Recipe

Authentic Texas Chili Recipe

Chili is a dish typically made with ground beef, tomatoes, and chili peppers. There are many different ways to make chili, but the most common way to make it in Texas is with beef, tomatoes, and chili peppers. This dish is usually served with rice or beans and can be made as mild or as spicy as you like.

Ingredients Breakdown

• Ground Beef: Beef is a key ingredient in Texas chili, providing flavor and texture to the dish.
• Olive oil: Olive oil is a healthy choice for this recipe.
• Yellow onion: Yellow onions add a savory but slightly sweet flavor to this dish.
• Garlic cloves: The Deep savory flavor of garlic is essential to the taste of chili and helps to make it more enjoyable.
• Green bell pepper: The green bell pepper provides a subtle bitterness that helps to balance out the dish.
• Celery: It adds a distinct savory yet slightly sweet flavor to this dish.
• Jalapeño pepper: The heat and flavor that jalapeños add to chili make it special. If you want to make an authentic Texas chili recipe, include some jalapeños!
• Chili powder: Chili powder gives the dish its characteristic flavor and heat to this dish.
• Paprika: Paprika provides a subtle heat with a bit of sweetness that enhances the flavors in the dish.
• Cayenne pepper powder: The powder provides a unique blend of fiery heat and earthy flavors essential to any authentic Texas chili recipe.
• Cumin: It has a strong, nutty flavor.
• Bay leaf: It adds an earthy, slightly sweet flavor to the dish.
• Italian seasoning: Italian seasoning comprises various herbs and spices, including oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, and garlic. These flavors create a complex taste that is perfect for Texas chili when they come together.
• Black pepper: Black pepper adds peppery goodness to the chili.
• Salt: Salt ensures your chili has a flavor and is not bland.
• Tomato paste: Tomato paste gives it a richer flavor.
• Fire tomatoes: The role of fire tomatoes in Texas chili is essential to the dish's signature taste. These tomatoes add a smoky touch to this dish.
• Beer: Beer is often used as a deglazing agent, which helps to loosen up all the flavorful bits stuck to the pot's bottom.
• Unsweetened cocoa powder: cocoa powder may seem like an unusual ingredient, but it gives the dish its characteristic flavor and color.
• Beef stock: It adds flavor and body to the dish and makes it heartier and more filling.
• Sharp cheddar cheese: It adds flavor and texture to the dish and its sharpness pairs well with the spices in chili. Sharp cheddar is also a good melting cheese, so it helps to bind the ingredients together.

Tips to remember while making Texas Style Chili

When it comes to Texas Chili Recipe, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. These are: 

• This is one dish where you get what you pay for in terms of beef quality. Use good quality ground beef for your chili, and you can taste the difference.
• Don't be afraid to go heavy on the spices when it comes to chili. This is a dish where more is better. Add plenty of chili powder, cumin, and other spices for the best results.
• The longer you cook your chili, the more flavor it will have. So be patient and let it simmer for a while.
• You can make it cream b adding sour cream or heavy cream while serving.

How to store Texas Chili?

It’s important to ensure the chili is completely cooled before storing it. Once the chili is cooled, it can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

If you want to store it for longer, you can freeze it for up to 3 months.

Texas Chili – The Recipe

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 20 minutes

Total time: 35 minutes

Servings: 14

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. Ground Beef (90% lean)
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup green bell pepper, chopped
• ½ cup celery, chopped
• 1 jalapeño pepper, ribs and seeds removed, chopped
• 2 Tbsp. chili powder
• 2 tbsp. tomato paste
• 1 can fire tomatoes
• 1 cup beer
• 1 cup beef stock
• 1 ½ tsp. cocoa powder, unsweetened
• 1 Tsp. Paprika
• ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper powder
• 1 Tbsp. cumin powder
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp. Black pepper
• ½ tsp. salt
• ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Preparation

1. Pour oil into a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shot, reduce heat to medium, add bell pepper, celery, onion and jalapeño pepper, and cook for 4 to 7 minutes until soft, stirring rarely. Then add garlic and cook for another minute.
2. At this stage, add beef and cook for 7 to 10 minutes; use a spatula to break crumbles while stirring rarely.
3. Once beef turns brown, add paprika, chili powder, cayenne pepper powder, cumin, bay leaf, Italian seasoning, black pepper and salt, and cook for 1 more minute.
4. Then add fire tomatoes, tomato paste, beer, cocoa powder and beef stock. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat to low and continue cooking for 25 to 30 minutes.
5. Once ready, sprinkle shredded cheese on top, remove from heat and serve hot with your favorite toppings.