The Best Chili You’ll Ever Make (Restaurant-Quality) | Epicurious 101

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is lower in fat, while ground pork is often less expensive.

kidney beans

🥗Healthier: black beans

💰Cheaper: canned beans

Black beans are more nutritious, while canned beans can be more budget-friendly.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Avocado oil is healthier, while vegetable oil is often cheaper.

Toast 2 teaspoons of cumin seeds in a hot dry pan over medium heat until aromatic.

Toast 1 teaspoon of coriander seeds in the same manner until fragrant.

Grind the toasted cumin and coriander seeds using a mortar and pestle or spice grinder until finely ground.

Add 1 tablespoon of paprika, 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika, less than 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper to the ground spices and whisk together.

Preheat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add enough olive oil to barely cover the bottom of the pan.

Add chopped onion to the Dutch oven and sprinkle with salt; sweat for about 5 to 7 minutes until softened.

Add minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until aromatic, being careful not to burn it.

Add diced red bell pepper and diced jalapeno to the pot, cooking until slightly tender and glossy.

Add the prepared chili powder mixture to the pot, ensuring it touches the hot surface to bloom the flavors.

Add tomato paste to the pot and brown it slightly to deepen the flavor.

Add ground beef to the pot, breaking it up as it cooks to ensure even browning.

Once the beef is browned, add red kidney beans and fire roasted tomatoes to the pot.

Stir everything together and let it simmer to combine the flavors.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: