Ranch Chili
By America's Test KitchenPublished on September 5, 2013
Yield
Serves 4 to 6 (Makes about 2 quarts)
Ingredients
Before You Begin
For spicier chili, boost the heat with a pinch of cayenne or a dash of hot pepper sauce, such as Tabasco. This chili tastes even better when made a day in advance. If you plan to serve it the next day, don't add the beans unitl you have reheated the chili--this will keep them nice and firm. Good choices for condiments include diced fresh tomatoes, lime wedges, diced avocado, sliced scallions, chopped red onion, chopped cilantro leaves, sour cream, and shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese.
Instructions
- Toss pork cubes with salt and pepper; set aside. Fry bacon in large, heavy soup kettle or Dutch oven over medium heat until fat renders and bacon crisps, about 10 minutes. Remove bacon with slotted spoon to plate lined with paper towels; pour all but 2 teaspoons fat from pot into small bowl; set aside.
- Increase heat to medium-high, add half of meat to now-empty pot and cook until well browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer browned meat to bowl. Brown remaining meat, adding another 2 teaspoons bacon fat to pot if necessary. Transfer second batch of meat to bowl.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and add 3 tablespoons bacon fat to now-empty pot. Add onion, jalapeños, chili powder, cumin, and oregano; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are beginning to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and brown sugar; cook until just fragrant, about 15 seconds. Add diced tomatoes and scrape pot bottom to loosen browned bits. Add reserved bacon, browned pork, and water; bring to simmer. Continue to cook, uncovered, at slow simmer until meat is tender and juices are dark and starting to thicken, about 2 hours.
- Add beans, reduce heat to low, and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and serve with condiments.
Yield
Serves 4 to 6 (Makes about 2 quarts)Ingredients
Ingredients
Ingredients
Why This Recipe Works
Ranch chili recipes, which should ideally result in chunks of rich pork and stewed beans with Southwestern spices, often come out to a disappointing bowl of tough meat and mushy beans. And the spicing is either as bland as can be or four-alarm fiery. We wanted tender meat and firm beans enlivened with a judicious blend of spices. So we skipped the tenderloin most Ranch Chili recipes recommend and went with well-marbled, inexpensive Boston Butt. We browned the meat for rich flavor and stewed it long enough to make it fork tender—two hours at least. Bacon added smoky, porky flavor. To conclude our Ranch Chili recipe, we kept the spices simple and classic: chili powder, cumin, oregano, and lots of garlic.
Before You Begin
For spicier chili, boost the heat with a pinch of cayenne or a dash of hot pepper sauce, such as Tabasco. This chili tastes even better when made a day in advance. If you plan to serve it the next day, don't add the beans unitl you have reheated the chili--this will keep them nice and firm. Good choices for condiments include diced fresh tomatoes, lime wedges, diced avocado, sliced scallions, chopped red onion, chopped cilantro leaves, sour cream, and shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese.
Instructions
- Toss pork cubes with salt and pepper; set aside. Fry bacon in large, heavy soup kettle or Dutch oven over medium heat until fat renders and bacon crisps, about 10 minutes. Remove bacon with slotted spoon to plate lined with paper towels; pour all but 2 teaspoons fat from pot into small bowl; set aside.
- Increase heat to medium-high, add half of meat to now-empty pot and cook until well browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer browned meat to bowl. Brown remaining meat, adding another 2 teaspoons bacon fat to pot if necessary. Transfer second batch of meat to bowl.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and add 3 tablespoons bacon fat to now-empty pot. Add onion, jalapeños, chili powder, cumin, and oregano; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are beginning to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and brown sugar; cook until just fragrant, about 15 seconds. Add diced tomatoes and scrape pot bottom to loosen browned bits. Add reserved bacon, browned pork, and water; bring to simmer. Continue to cook, uncovered, at slow simmer until meat is tender and juices are dark and starting to thicken, about 2 hours.
- Add beans, reduce heat to low, and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and serve with condiments.
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