Basic Texas Red Recipes

TEXAS RED CHILI

Steps:

• Toast dried chiles in a dry skillet over medium-high heat until fragrant and blistered, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove stem and seeds; discard. Transfer chiles to a large measuring cup or bowl, and cover with hot water. Keep chiles submerged with a small bowl, and let soak for 30 minutes. Remove from water, and puree in a blender with 1/2 cup soaking liquid.
• Heat a large heavy pot over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil. Season beef with 2 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Brown beef in batches, adding more oil as needed, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Add remaining tablespoon oil, the onions, garlic, and minced chiles to pot, and cook over medium-high heat until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. (If the pan gets too dark, add a little water, and scrape up browned bits with a wooden spoon to deglaze.) Add cumin and oregano, and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Stir in browned beef and chile puree. Add tomato puree, water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer gently, partially covered, until meat is very tender and juices are thick, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. (Check pot once an hour for excessive evaporation; if chili seems dry, add a little water.) Season chili with salt, and stir in vinegar. Serve immediately (or refrigerate for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months; reheat in a pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally).

EASY TEXAS CHILI

Steps:

• Cook and stir the beef, onion, and bell pepper in a large pot over medium heat until the beef is brown and onion and pepper are tender, about 10 minutes. Drain grease from beef.
• Stir in beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, jalapenos (if using), chili powder, red pepper flakes, black pepper, salt, and garlic powder. Bring mixture to a slow boil; cover and reduce heat. Simmer chili at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally so that it does not stick. This chili can be simmered for several hours; the longer you simmer, the more flavor you will get.

FRANK X. TOLBERT'S ORIGINAL BOWL OF RED

Steps:

• Break off the stems of the chiles, and remove the seeds.
• Place chiles in a small saucepan and cover them with water.
• Simmer for 30 minutes.
• Purée the chiles in a blender with a tiny bit of cooking liquid to make a smooth, thin paste.
• Use as little liquid as possible, unless you want the chili to be soupy.
• Pour the chile purée into a Dutch oven or large, heavy pan.
• In a heavy skillet, sear the meat in two batches with the beef suet until the meat is gray.
• Transfer each batch to the chile purée, then pour in enough of the chile cooking liquid to cover the meat by about 2 inches.
• Bring the chili to a boil; reduce heat to a simmer.
• Cook for 30 minutes.
• Remove the chili from the heat, and stir in the rest of the ingredients.
• Return chili to the heat, cover and resume simmering for 45 minutes, keeping the lid on except to stir just occasionally.
• (Too much stirring tears up the meat) Add more chile liquid only if you think the mixture will burn otherwise.
• After 45 minutes, you may add the masa harina, if you wish.
• The masa adds a subtle, tamale-like taste, but it also thickens the chili.
• Cover the chili again and simmer for another 30 minutes.
• Do a lot of tasting to see if seasoning suits you.
• Add more seasonings as you like, but go easy on the oregano to avoid ending up with a spaghetti sauce flavor.
• Take the chili off the heat, and refrigerator overnight.
• Skim as much fat as you wish from the chili before reheating it.
• Serve hot.

TEXAS RED AND A LONG NECK

Steps:

• Brown stewing beef in large skillet until done, I like to use an iron skillet.
• Add chopped onions, green pepper, garlic and cook until tender.
• Stir in tomato paste and water.
• Stir in jalepeno peppers, spices and beans.
• Simmer for 45 minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally.