Description
Ina Garten’s chili con carne blends robust beef, aromatic spices, and hearty beans into a comforting Southwestern classic. Warm and satisfying, this dish brings rich flavors to your table, inviting friends and family to savor each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) ground beef
- 2 cans (28 oz/794 g each) whole peeled plum tomatoes in puree, undrained
- 2 cans kidney beans, pinto beans, or black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 cups chopped onions (2 onions)
- ¼ cup chili powder
- 1 cup chopped red bell peppers (1 pepper)
- 1 cup chopped yellow bell peppers (1 pepper)
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp ground coriander
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- sour cream (optional)
- grated Cheddar cheese (optional)
- chopped scallions (optional)
Instructions
- Vegetable Foundation: Ignite olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté onions, red and yellow bell peppers, and garlic until they soften and release their aromatic essence, roughly 8-10 minutes.
- Meat Integration: Introduce ground beef, fracturing it into delicate crumbles using a wooden spoon. Roast the meat until it transitions from pink to a deep, caramelized brown, approximately 8-12 minutes.
- Tomato and Spice Fusion: Crush plum tomatoes directly into the pot, blending their puree. Sprinkle a bold spice constellation of chili powder, cumin, coriander, kosher salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to create a complex flavor profile.
- Simmering Transformation: Momentarily escalate heat to trigger a gentle boil, then immediately reduce to a low simmer. Allow the concoction to meld and intensify for 35-40 minutes, occasionally stirring to prevent potential scorching.
- Bean Incorporation and Final Refinement: Fold thoroughly rinsed kidney and black beans into the simmering mixture, ensuring uniform distribution. Continue simmering 15-20 minutes until the chili achieves a luxuriously thick consistency.
- Culinary Presentation: Ladle the steaming chili into serving bowls. Elevate the dish with optional garnishes: a lavish dollop of sour cream, sharp cheddar cheese, and delicate scallion ribbons to introduce textural complexity and vibrant flavor dimensions.
Notes
- Optimize Vegetable Sautéing: Take time to properly soften onions, peppers, and garlic over medium heat to build a rich flavor foundation for the chili.
- Master Meat Browning Technique: Break ground beef into small, uniform pieces and cook thoroughly to develop deep, caramelized flavors and prevent clumping.
- Control Simmering Process: Maintain a low, gentle simmer to allow spices to meld and develop complexity without burning or becoming bitter.
- Bean Integration Strategy: Rinse and drain beans completely to remove excess sodium and ensure a clean, fresh taste in the final dish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg