Beefy Tomatillo Chili
Shake it up, baby! Who says chili has to be the same thing, every time, every pot? Come cold weather, every couple of weeks, you'll find a big pot of chili simmering away here in our kitchen. To shake it up, to not get bored, we mix up the chili recipes. Often, of course, we follow no recipe, just kinda make it up as we go along. Luckily, chili likes that! We were enamored with tomatillo chili, the distinct "sour" of tomatillos really works in chili. So maybe you want to follow this recipe (it's a good one, I promise) or maybe you just want to tuck some tomatillos into your own make-it-up-as-you-make-chili. Either way, tomatillos belong in chili.
RECIPE for BEEFY TOMATILLO CHILI
Hands-on time: 40 minutes
Time to table: 7 hours
Makes 16 cups
MEAT
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into bite-size pieces
Salt & pepper
VEGETABLES & BEANS
Splash water
1 large onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1/2 poblano chili, diced small
1 pound fresh tomatillos, husked and quartered
1 tablespoon garlic
28 ounces canned diced tomatoes
15 ounces canned black beans, drained and rinsed
15 ounces canned spicy chili beans with liquid
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
15 ounces canned tomatillos, drained, rinsed and puréed in a blender
TO SERVE
Fresh cilantro
MEAT In a large Dutch oven (or a large skillet if using the slow cooker later), heat the oil until shimmery, add as much meat as can be cooked in a single layer (it should sizzle) and season with salt and pepper. Let the pieces brown on one side for two to three minutes before tossing, repeat until all sides are browned. (Really let the meat brown, a few pieces can even take on a little burn.) Set aside (in the slow cooker if cooking in a crockpot). Repeat with remaining meat pieces.
VEGETABLES & BEANS In the same pot, heat the water, then add the onion, pepper and tomatillos as they're prepped and cook just until soft. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
To COOK in the OVEN Set oven to 200F/100C. Add the meat back into the pot, then stir in tomatoes, beans, cumin, chili powder and canned tomatillos. Stir together and bring to a boil. Transfer to the oven to slow cook for 5 – 6 hours. About an hour before serving, check the chili; adjust the seasoning and if needed to thicken, uncover for the last hour.
To COOK in a CROCKPOT In the slow cooker, combine the cooked meat and the onion-poblano-tomatillo mixture, then stir in tomatoes, beans, cumin, chili powder and canned tomatillos. Cook on high for 6 hours or 8 - 10 hours on low. About an hour before serving, check the chili; adjust the seasoning and if needed to thicken, uncover for the last hour.