Texas-Style Chocolate Stout Chili

  3.0 – 3 reviews  • Chili
Level: Easy
Total: 5 hr 50 min
Active: 1 hr 20 min
Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

  1. 4 dried ancho chiles
  2. 4 dried guajillo chiles
  3. 4 dried pasilla chiles
  4. 2 chipotle chiles in adobo plus 2 tablespoons sauce
  5. 8 ounces thick sliced bacon, chopped
  6. 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
  7. One 4- to 5-pound boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 1-inch chunks
  8. Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  9. Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  10. 2 medium onions, chopped
  11. 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  12. 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  13. 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  14. 2 teaspoons dried oregano, preferably Mexican
  15. 2 teaspoons paprika
  16. One 16-ounce can chocolate stout
  17. 3 cups low-sodium beef stock
  18. Finely chopped onion, thinly sliced scallions, sour cream and chopped fresh cilantro, for serving
  19. Finely chopped onion, thinly sliced scallions, sour cream and chopped fresh cilantro, for serving

Instructions

  1. Remove the stems and seeds from the ancho, guajillo and pasilla chiles.
  2. Heat a large skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium-high heat and toast the chiles in batches until they just start to darken and become shiny, 10 to 20 seconds per side. Remove the chiles to a large bowl. When all of the chiles are toasted, pour boiling water over them to cover and let stand until soft, about 30 minutes. 
  3. Puree the chiles with the chipotles, adobo sauce and 1/2 cup soaking water in a blender until smooth. (Reserve the remainder of the soaking water.)
  4. Cook the bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp, then drain on paper towels. Pour off the oil from the skillet and add the vegetable oil. 
  5. Sprinkle the beef all over with some salt and pepper. Working in batches, brown the beef in the fat over medium-high heat, 3 to 4 minutes per batch, and remove to a plate as it browns.
  6. Reduce the heat to medium low and add the onions to the drippings in the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are almost tender, about 6 minutes.
  7. Add the garlic and continue to cook, 2 minutes more. Add the cocoa, cumin, oregano and paprika and stir to coat the onion, about 1 minute. Increase the heat to high and add the chile puree. Cook until slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.
  8. Add the stout, bring to a boil and boil until reduced by about a quarter, about 3 minutes. Add the beef and bacon. Pour in the stock and add enough reserved chile soaking water or additional water (about 2 cups), to cover the meat by about 1 inch. Set the cover ajar and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the meat is tender, 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
  9. Serve the chili in bowls garnished with onion, scallions, sour cream and cilantro.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 of 8 servings
Calories 807
Total Fat 59 g
Saturated Fat 21 g
Carbohydrates 17 g
Dietary Fiber 5 g
Sugar 3 g
Protein 52 g
Cholesterol 175 mg
Sodium 1169 mg

Reviews

Patricia Quinn
I love this recipe. It’s involved but the results are so worth it. 
Felicia Parker
It’s different, but good. Sort of has a pseudo mole thing going on with the cocoa and chocolate stout. Next time I’ll add a habanero or 2 to the peppers for a little more heat.
Kyle Donaldson
I was looking forward to this recipe so much this past Sunday.  I went to a lot of trouble to make this recipe.  It took  most of my afternoon  and it was way to spicy to eat.  My husband loves spicy foods and even he was helping me come up with additives so that my time wasn’t wasted.  I had to add 3 cans of diced tomatoes and chicken stock so that my family could have dinner.  

 

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