This one is an old favorite. I don’t make it very often, but the weather promises to be much cooler tonight, so I had to take advantage of it! It’s not a quick meal but the flavors are worth the wait. The addition of the cinnamon stick is noticeable, but it is probably my favorite flavor note in this chili. The cinnamon’s sweetness/spiciness makes this dish so unique! Please don’t shy away from it 😉
Yum! This was so good and my husband was very appreciative of this dinner. It makes the house smell wonderful – so good, there should be a candle in the scent! 😉 The long simmer makes the meat fall apart tender and there is a pleasant kick to it. It’s not the tongue burning type, but the kind that you feel in the back of your throat. I used two jalapenos, one I left with the seeds and membrane and the other I scooped out to guard against the taste bud searing heat. Thankfully, the sour cream cools it down nicely and the cornbread I made for this (to be in a later post) is perfect crumbled over top the chili. Thanks for reading, enjoy!
Chunky Beef Chili – adapted from Martha Stewart
- 2 pounds sirloin steak, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 12 ounces sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 onion, coarsely chopped
- 1 to 2 jalapeno chiles, (ribs and seeds removed for less heat, if desired), diced
- Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 can (28 ounces) whole peeled tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon yellow cornmeal
- 1 whole cinnamon stick
- 3 dried bay leaves
- 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- Toppings, such as shredded Monterey Jack cheese, pickled jalapeno chiles, sliced red onion, sour cream, fresh cilantro leaves, or hot sauce, for serving (optional)
Directions
- Heat a Dutch oven (or a heavy 5-quart pot with a tight-fitting lid) over high heat until a drop of water sizzles upon contact. In three batches, cook sirloin until no longer pink; remove each batch with a slotted spoon. Set aside.
- Add sausage, breaking it up into small pieces; add onion and jalapenos. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until sausage and onion are browned, about 5 minutes.
- Return sirloin to pot. Stir in chili powder, cumin, oregano, tomatoes (with juice), cornmeal, cinnamon, bay leaves, and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer. Cover; cook until sirloin easily breaks apart with a spoon, about 2 hours.
- Stir in beans; cook until heated through, about 5 minutes. Discard cinnamon and bay leaves. Serve.
Mom-Makes... 
Oh yummy love the idea of the cinnamon in the chili. Have a great weekend!
🙂 Thanks!
Pingback: Re-Post: Pumpkin Bread | Mom-Makes...