Colorado Lamb Chili Recipes

COLORADO BUFFALO CHILI

Steps:

• Brown the buffalo in a skillet over medium heat; season with 1/2 teaspoon cumin and 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste. Drain excess grease.
• Combine the buffalo, tomatoes with green chiles, tomato soup, kidney beans, chili beans, onion, garlic, Anaheim chile pepper, poblano chile pepper, chili powder, red pepper flakes, 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low overnight or 8 hours.

CHILI COLORADO

Steps:

• Spread the flour out on a plate and coat the beef cubes one by one in it, dusting off the excess. Don't skip this step because the flour also helps to thicken the sauce at the end.
• Brown the beef in a heavy-bottomed pot in the oil over medium-high heat. You want a lot of color on them because color equals flavor.
• Pour in all the spices, the tomato paste, and the water. Bring this to a simmer, season with salt and pepper, and cook low and slow for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours until the beef is tender and falling apart. A good test is to take a piece and try to mash it on your cutting board with a fork. If it falls apart, you are golden.
• Serve it just by itself with mexican rice and refried beans or use it as a burrito filling.

SPICY LAMB AND CHORIZO CHILI

Steps:

• Combine first 3 ingredients in heavy medium saucepan. Cover and simmer over medium heat until chilies soften, about 12 minutes. Puree chili mixture in batches in blender.
• Stir chorizo in heavy large pot over medium-high heat until drippings come to simmer, breaking up meat with spoon. Transfer to fine strainer set over bowl. Let chorizo drain 10 minutes.
• Return 1/4 cup chorizo drippings to same pot and heat over medium-high heat (discard remaining drippings). Add onions, garlic, oregano and cumin. Sauté until onions begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle lamb with salt and pepper; add to pot. Sauté until lamb is no longer pink outside, about 10 minutes. Add chili puree and drained chorizo. Bring chili to boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer 1 hour. Add hominy. Simmer uncovered until lamb is tender and liquid thickens, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Rewarm before serving.)
• *Sold at Latin American markets and some supermarkets.

COLORADO LAMB AND COUSCOUS CROSTINI

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Place the pine nuts on a sheet pan and toast until golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Set aside and leave oven on.
• Bring beef stock to a simmer in a small saucepan. Add the butter and stir in the couscous. Cover the pot and remove from the heat. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Fluff the couscous with a fork and place into a medium bowl. Stir in the toasted pine nuts, lemon zest and juice, tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of the chopped mint, chorizo, feta cheese and all but 3 tablespoons of the cucumber. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover and set aside to cool.
• Butterfly the loin, lay in the couscous stuffing and tie with butcher twine.
• In a small bowl combine the cumin, olive oil, salt and pepper, to taste. Brush all sides of the lamb loin with the flavored oil.
• Heat a saute pan big enough to hold the loin, brush with oil. Place the loin in the pan and cook, turning until seared on all sides, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a sheet pan to finish cooking in the oven, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small stainless bowl, mix the yogurt with the remaining mint and cucumber. To serve, slice couscous Lamb loin and place on toasted crostini.
• Garnish with Yogurt Sauce and Fresh Mint.

DUTCH OVEN CHILI COLORADO

Steps:

• Soak the ancho chiles in boiling hot water to cover for 1 hour.
• While dried chiles soak, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Season beef with salt and pepper.
• Heat a cast iron Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the beef on all sides, working in small batches, 5 to 7 minutes. Set aside.
• Drain chiles; remove stems and seeds. Place chiles, onions, garlic, ground chile pepper, salt, cumin seeds, oregano, and coriander in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to chop, then process into a thick paste. Add 1 cup beer and continue processing to blend.
• Place meat and any accumulated juices back in the Dutch oven, pour in sauce, and stir well. Cover with a sheet of aluminum foil, then place lid on top for a tight seal.
• Bake on the middle rack of the preheated oven for 1 hour; stir. Continue to bake, stirring every 15 minutes, until meat is fork-tender, 30 minutes to 1 hour more, adding more beer if sauce seems too thick.

CHILI COLORADO (THE REAL THING, LOL NO WIMPS NEED APPLY!)

Steps:

• Brown the floured beef cubes in the oil. Adding more oil as necessary. Place in an large oven safe casserole.
• Mix in the garlic, oregano, and pico de gallo.
• Cover with the red chili and enchiladas sauces.
• Taste for seasoning.
• Bring to a boil on the stove.
• Place in a pre-heated 425 degree oven cook until the sauce is reduced by half or until tender.
• Serve with rice.