Recipe - All-Beef Texas Chili

1/3 cup (approximately) corn oil
6 pound Beef chuck; in 1/2inch
cubes
cup Minced onion
1/3 cup Minced garlic
3 cup (approximately) beef broth
3 cup Flat beer
1 One half cup Water
One fourth cup Highquality chili powder;
or more, to taste
6 pound Tomatoes (three 2 lb. cans);
drained and chopped
1/3 cup Tomato paste
1 One half tablespoon Minced fresh oregano
3 tablespoon Cumin seed
Salt; to taste
Cayenne pepper; to taste
Masa harina or cornmeal; if
needed

1. In a large heavy skillet over moderately high heat, warm 3 tablespoons
of the oil. Brown beef in batches, adding more oil as necessary and
transferring meat with a slotted spoon to a large stockpot when well
browned. Do not crowd skillet.

2. Reduce heat to moderately low. Add onion and garlic and saute until
softened (about 10 minutes). Add to stockpot along with broth, beer, the
water, chili powder, tomato, tomato paste, and oregano.

3. In a small skillet over low heat, toast cumin seed until fragrant; do
not allow to burn. Grind in an electric minichopper or with a mortar and
pestle. Add to stockpot.

4. Over high heat bring mixture to a simmer. Add salt, cayenne, and more
chili powder to taste. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook, partially
covered, until beef is tender (about 1One half hours). Check occasionally and
add more broth if mixture seems dry. If chili is too thin when meat is
tender, stir in up to 2 tablespoons masa harina. Cook an additional 5
minutes to thicken. Serve chili hot.

NOTES : No Texan worth his or her tengallon hat would put beans in chili.
This one's all beef, calling on beer and freshly ground cumin to give it
distinction. Masa harina, the finely ground corn used for corn tortillas,
is often used to thicken soups or chili. It is available in Latin markets
and some supermarkets.
Posted to recipeludigest Volume 01 Number 576 by "catspaw@inetnow.net"
catspaw@inetnow.net on Jan 22, 1998