If anyone in this business could make money out of a stone, it was Uncle Denny. He had a club called the Blue Angel, which had a lab downstairs where he mixed bootleg liquor with legal liquor. He knew how to get the absolute most out of anything. He’s been credited with watering down mustard, not giving lids or straws on cups, and telling people he’s out of napkins when he had a whole supply stashed away. But his absolute best was whenever a cook was ready to pitch something, he’d look at it and say, “Put it in the chili!” It became a family joke, so how could we not name it after Uncle D!–Spike Mendelsohn
LC (Urp) Note
Unlike most chilis, this intensely flavored chili with a mellow chipotle kick isn’t exactly intended to be served on its own, but rather with Cheddar cheese and sour cream to mellow its rich, sweetly spicy heat. We also swoon to it spooned on a burger, glopped on a baked potato, slathered over fries, even dumped on spaghetti or white rice. Just pass the napkins.
Uncle D’s Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 cup diced red onion
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 15- to 16-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons Hungarian paprika
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 30-ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 cup cold water
- 1/2 a 7-ounce can chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
- 2 cups sweet, mild barbecue sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- Sea salt
- 1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese Sauce
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Directions
- 1. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the beef, stirring and breaking it up until it’s browned. Drain off the fat.
- 2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in another large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onion and green pepper and cook, stirring, until the onion is translucent and both onion and pepper are softened, about 10 minutes. Add the beans, cumin, paprika, chili powder, and black pepper. Increase the heat to medium and cook, stirring, until the mixture is fragrant, about 4 minutes.
- 3. Add the browned beef to the spice mixture and continue cooking and stirring until well mixed. Add the tomato sauce and water, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens, about 1 hour.
- 4. Meanwhile, purée the chipotles in a food processor or blender until smooth. Add the barbecue sauce, ketchup, vinegar, and molasses. Puree until smooth. Strain. You should have about 3 cups. Cover and refrigerate 2 cups of the sauce and use as a mildly hot barbecue sauce.
- 5. Stir the remaining 1 cup of the chipotle mixture into the chili. Season the chili with salt to taste. Ladle into bowls and top each with a some Cheddar Cheese Sauce and sour cream. The chili gets even better when left in the refrigerator for a day.
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This chili definitely gets better with age, as Karen mentioned. I swear it also got hotter! So, don’t skimp on the sour cream and cheese sauce. But it’s hearty enough to be a mean on it’s own—it doesn’t really need a starchy base to bulk it up (but tasty starches make it more fun!)
Also, be sure to puree those chipotles well! Ending up with a small chunk is in interesting surprise!
When I make this, I’ll probably cut back a bit on the spices and the barbecue sauce; but make it I will. Forget the hamburger patty. Just put this on a bun, top it with plenty of cheese sauce and sour cream. Heaven!
Jean, thanks for taking the time to comment. I’m starting to think we should call this “count the ways” chili… All the preparation suggestions sound good to me, including your plea for making the chili the main attraction on a bun (forget the hamburger, as you say). To accompany baked potatoes, fries… and Beth’s suggestion below of using this for a killer chili dog. I didn’t test this recipe, but now I’m thinking I’ll have to. Thanks again for stopping by—hope this ends up in your “favorites” file.
I agree, Jean. Chili, cheese sauce, sour cream and maybe a topping of green onions? Nothing better! I could even see this smothering a hot dog straight off the grill.
Cheddar Cheese? This recipe struck some familiar notes. I’ve been smearing N. African harissa paste on the most pedestrian cheddar cheese possible — leftover yellow bricks from a family BBQ. Mostly on pitas but suitable for any flat, edible surface. Fifteen seconds in the microwave — what a transformation. Heating the harissa seems to unleash it. But you can’t really eat a bowl of chili paste like you could with this recipe. To save time I’d omit the green pepper, red onion (I don’t think you need ’em), just get some kick-ass chilis. Everything below “chipotles in adobo sauce” –follow your bliss, time permitting.
Boy this sounds amazing. I love chili and love making it. I won a recipe contest a few years ago for a chili recipe so I think I know good chili. I can’t wait to try this. I have been wanting this book. This makes me want it more.
Well… after looking at this recipe almost all week finally made it this evening and it was really awesome :)
Still trying to figure out what to use the leftovers with tomorrow… hoping it is just as good then!
Excellent, Beth! If it were me, I’d do leftovers on nachos, on baked potatoes, or on potato skins. Or all three. But that’s just me…