How to Make Mexican Beanless Chile

Gourmet Your Way Personal Chef and Catering Company won People's Choice Award in Frisco, CO's 2007 Chile Cookoff with this recipe! In Mexican cuisine, red chile is traditionally served as just a seasoned ground beef in tomato sauce with all the toppings on the side. I usually serve Asadero cheese with the chile. Its a Mexican style soft white cheese that's easily grated. You can use whatever cheese you have around, as long as it melts. I also like to serve pinto or black beans on the side, onions, corn salsa, guacamole, fresh coriander, salsa verde, pickled jalapenos, sour cream and much more. The options are endless!

And don't be scared to try some new things. Get a little can of salsa verde from the Mexican food aisle of the grocery store. It adds great color and spice to the chile and it only costs about 65 cents. If you don't have all the ingredients, don't worry. Use whatever you have around the house; this chile turns out great no matter what! Just don't forget the beer, chili powder, garlic and cumin.

A veggie chile can be made using many of the same ingredients. Saute onions, pepper, corn, zucchini, squash, then add 2 cans diced tomatoes, 1 can tomato sauce, 1 small can of tomato paste, 2 small cans jalapeno salsa, 1 can of beer, (may be omitted) black beans and pintos and use the spices below. These are just the veggies I use, you can use whatever you like. As long as the vegetables can stand up to the long cooking.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 lbs Ground beef
• 2 White onions, large diced
• 1 Green or red bell pepper, large diced
• 2 15 oz cans Safeway brand petite diced tomates w/ garlic
• 1 15 oz can Safeway tomate sauce
• 1 15 oz can Safeway beef broth
• 2 Small cans Jalapeno salsa
• 2 12 oz cans Coors beer
• 1 tbsp Coriander
• 3 tbsp Chile powder
• 1 tsp Cumin
• 1 cup Pickled japapenos, chopped
• 2 packages Jiffy Corn Muffin mix

1. Saute the ground beef in a large pot until halfway cooked. Add onions and peppers and brown.

2. When meat is almost fully cooked add the diced tomatoes, jalapeno salsa and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil then add beef broth and beer. Reduce to a simmerand cook for at least 3 hours or transfer to a slow cooker. Add the seasoning afer an hour or two. The longer you let it cook the better; and chile always tastes better the next day!

3. 
    
   Chile Sides

   To make the corn bread, add 1/4 cup of butter to the batter, and follow the directions on the box. Make either muffins or a pan of cornbread, it turns it great either way. Add about a cup or so of jalapenos to taste. Canned corn and tomatos are also a great alternative. Bake according to the box.

Tips & Warnings

• I don't like beans so I make this chile without them. I serve all of the beans and things I don't like on the side, but this chile is also great if you cook the beans in the chile. But having everything seperate allows your guests to customize their dishes.