Smoked Chili

Name: Smoked Chili
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1/3 cup diced smoked chicken-apple sausages, such as Aidells (1 link); 3/4 lb ground pork; 3/4 lb ground beef; 1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions (about 1 large onion); 1 1/3 cups chopped fennel (about 1 small bulb); 2 tablespoons chopped red chili peppers, such as Fresno peppers; 4 teaspoons minced garlic (4 to 5 cloves); 2 tablespoons chili powder; 2 teaspoons ground cumin; 1 teaspoon whole fennel seed, toasted; 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper; 1 tablespoon tomato paste; 2 teaspoons sugar; 1 (32 ounce) can crushed tomatoes with juice; 1 (25 ounce) bottle smoked beer, such as Schlenkerla Smokebeer (3 cups plus 2 tablespoons); 1/2 cup dried kidney beans, soaked overnight in water and drained; 2 teaspoons kosher salt; sour cream, for garnish; 6 scallions, white and pale green parts only, thinly sliced

20 ingredients

4 steps

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup diced smoked chicken-apple sausages, such as Aidells (1 link)
3/4 lb ground pork
3/4 lb ground beef
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions (about 1 large onion)
1 1/3 cups chopped fennel (about 1 small bulb)
2 tablespoons chopped red chili peppers, such as Fresno peppers
4 teaspoons minced garlic (4 to 5 cloves)
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon whole fennel seed, toasted
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 teaspoons sugar
1 (32 ounce) can crushed tomatoes with juice
1 (25 ounce) bottle smoked beer, such as Schlenkerla Smokebeer (3 cups plus 2 tablespoons)
1/2 cup dried kidney beans, soaked overnight in water and drained
2 teaspoons kosher salt
sour cream, for garnish
6 scallions, white and pale green parts only, thinly sliced

Directions

1

Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, pork, and beef. Cook, stirring and breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until meat is browned and no bits of pink remain, about 5 to 6 minutes.
2

Add the onion, fennel, red chile, garlic, chili powder, cumin, fennel seed, cayenne, and tomato paste, and cook until the vegetables are softened, about 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the sugar, crushed tomatoes and juice, smoked beer, and soaked kidney beans.
3

Bring the chili to a boil, cover the pot, reduce heat to low, and simmer until beans are tender, about 90 minutes. Just before serving, stir in the salt.
4

Serve the chili garnished with sour cream and sliced scallions, and, of course, with a glass of smoked beer.