Image Source: Texas Chili

Down in Texas they really love their chili but most of all they love their chili without beans. The following recipe is typical of the no beans Texas style chili that can be found on the menu of innumerable eating establishments throughout Texas and surrounding regions.

Ingredients:

• 1 Kg (a little over 2 Pounds) of Round Steak
• 120 Grams (¼ Pound) of Bacon
• 500 Grams (16 Ounces) of Tomato Salsa
• 250 Grams (8 Ounces) of Green Chilies
• 1 Large Red Onion
• 3 Cloves of garlic
• 4 Cups of Beef Broth (you can substitute vegetable broth or use water and stock cubes if you don’t have any beef broth available)
• 3 Tablespoons of Finely Ground Corn Meal
• 2 Teaspoons of Chili Powder
• ½ Teaspoon each of Cumin and Dried Oregano
• 1 or 2 Pinches each of Red Pepper Flakes and Cayenne Pepper
• Salt and Pepper to Taste

Method:

1. Prepare the Vegetables – Peel and dice the onion. Then peel and mince the garlic.
2. Prepare the Meat – Cut the round steak into 1¼ centimeter (½ inch) cubes and dice the bacon
3. Select a heavy bottomed pot and preheat over a medium-high heat then add in the diced bacon and cook until the fat is rendered (4½ minutes or so)
4. Now add the onions and cook until they become golden brown (around 8 minutes). Don’t forget the occasional stir.
5. Stir in the garlic and cook until it softens (around 3 minutes)
6. Add the beef and cook until browned (5 minutes or so). Remember to stir and turn the meat frequently.
7. Stir in the beef broth, tomato salsa, chilies, chili powder, oregano, and cumin. Continue stirring until the mixture begins to boil. Reduce the heat so that the chili will gently simmer. Cook uncovered until the meat is really nice and tender (40 minutes to an hour).
8. Very carefully remove ½ cup of the liquid from your simmering chili sauce. Stir the cornmeal into this liquid and keep stirring until the chili liquid and cornmeal mixture becomes nice and smooth.
9. Add your now smooth cornmeal mixture to the rest of the chili that is still simmering away in the pot. Stir well to combine and distribute evenly throughout the chili. Continue simmering until the chili thickens somewhat (around 10 minutes).
10. Stir in the red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper. Then season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper stirring all the while.

Serving:

The portions used in this recipe will comfortably cater for 8 healthy adult servings.

Enjoy!