Chili Thats Not Too Spicy!
Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 6:34PM 
My wife does not like spicy food. I like my wife. I wanted to make a chili that was rich in flavor for me but not too spicy for my bride. The smoked paprika adds depth with no heat like you might get from chipotle. I can always add some of this crazy hot sauce from Malawi that Carrie brought back for me a couple of summers ago. I use dried beans. Be sure to plan ahead if using dry beans. You can even cook them the night before. They cost a lot less. You can use any flavor bean you like. Go nuts, mix a couple of beans. Black and kidney are both winners in my book. Read my post about Seasoning before you start this. It will help.
Chili Thats Not Too Spicy
Set oven @ 375 90 minutes total time 30 minutes active time serves 4 Cost less than $12.00
You will need a large heavy bottomed pan. I use a 5qt Le Creuset Braiser. A big flat wooden spoon
- 1 cup dry beans soaked and cooked or 2 cans drained
- 1 onion small dice
- 2 cloves garlic, mashed
- 1/2 red pepper, small dice, peel the pepper first if you truly love the people you are cooking for
- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
- 1T chili powder
- 2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 T smoked paprika
- 1 T tomato paste
- 7 oz can diced green chilies
- 1 28oz can whole tomatoes
- 1/3 cup Balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup stock, chicken veg or beef would be fine, homemade would be more fine. Having Giada make it for you in your own kitchen would be most fine
Sweat the onion in a 1/4 cup veg oil over moderate heat until translucent
Add garlic and red pepper, cook another minute.
Add chili powder, paprika and cumin, cook another minute.
Add tomato paste and cook a few more minutes, stirring often.
Turn up the heat and add the ground beef stirring and breaking up the pieces.
Put in oven for 10 minutes.
Return to burner with the heat up high, add the Balsamic vinegar and cook until it all but evaporates.
Add the tomatoes breaking them up in your hands, add the chilis, add stock, add beans.
Bring to a simmer and return to oven for 30 minutes. Taste and adjust any seasonings
We had it with Cornbread and Cilantro Lime Sour Cream
Reader Comments (6)
My wife liked this one too! Just right for her. I kicked mine up a notch with some Atomic Habanero sauce. We both thought the lemon cilantro sour cream was nice. Another keeper.
The boys love it too! Unbelievable! Stop the presses!
Just realized: "break the tomatoes with your hands" is a little joke, isn't it? Splattered all over me and the kitchen. Yet, I keep doing it. Because Chef Gerry says so. Be careful, maestro, you wield great power...
No joke, just poke a whole with your finger to let out the juice before squeezing them. If i wanted to tell you a joke it would go something like this " My sister and two midgets walk into a bar......"
Gotcha. So, if you finish the joke, would it be something like: "My sister and 2 midgets walk into a bar. The two midgets order mojitos, while my sister asks for a can of whole tomatoes..."
a midgito,and make mine a double