Ingredients
1 cup Cajun Trinity (onion, celery, green pepper — can be found in your grocer’s produce section or freezer)
1 cup mirepoix blend (onion, carrots, celery — can be found in your grocer’s produce section or freezer)
1 heaping tablespoon minced garlic
2 pounds ground chuck (just my preference, please use what you love)
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon paprika
2 tablespoons ground cumin
1⁄4 cup chili powder, divided (I sometimes use a blend of ancho chile and mild chili powder)
2 cans petite diced tomatoes (chili-ready tomatoes are great, too)
2 cans tomato sauce
1 can seasoned black beans
1 can red kidney beans
Cheese, sour cream, Fritos, jalapenos optional for garnish
Cooking oil to coat bottom of pot
Directions:
1. Heat a small amount of oil in the bottom of a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot that has a lid.
2. Once the oil is heated, saute the vegetable blends and garlic until slightly soft. The veggies should still have some slight crunch. Remove from pot and set aside.
3. Add ground meat to the pot and cook until browned. Drain as much grease/fat from the meat possible, but don’t take it all — a little fat is good for the simmer.
4. Add the cooked veggies and garlic back to pot and stir to combine.
5. Season the cooked vegetables and meat with salt, pepper, paprika, cumin and half of the chili powder. Stir to combine.
6. Add canned tomatoes and canned sauce and stir to combine. Drain the canned beans, add to the pot and stir to combine. Add the remaining chili powder and stir thoroughly to combine.
7. Cover and simmer for a minimum of 30 minutes. Serve garnished with cheese, sour cream or Fritos.
Note: For an extra kick, top with jalapenos or use hot chili beans.
Candace is Midwestern-born and bred wife, mom, daughter, sister and bacon lover.She resides in Indianapolis with her San Francisco 49er-loving husband Eric and their super giggly daughter, Madison. She is a self-taught home chef who loves to make family recipes and cultivate new flavors. She shares food for your belly and food for your and soul at foodlovetog.com.
