Deluxe Camp Chili with Jerky
Submitted by yas
A trail-worthy chili made from beef jerky, chili powder, cumin seeds, and oregano simmered low and slow until the jerky rehydrates and turns tender. No fresh meat or refrigeration needed.
YIELD
2 servingsPREP
10 minCOOK
130 minREADY
140 minWhen you’re miles from the nearest fridge and all you’ve got is a heavy pot and a campfire, this is the chili that saves the day.
Beef jerky stands in for fresh ground meat here, rehydrating over a long, slow simmer until it turns tender and soaks up all that chili powder, cumin, and oregano. The whole thing cooks with shelf-stable ingredients: dried onion flakes, garlic powder, and water.
No cooler needed. No grocery run. Just a pot, some heat, and a couple hours of patience.
Let it cool once, then reheat before serving. Like all good chili, it gets better with time.
Pro Tips
- Cut the jerky into small pieces before cooking. It swells significantly as it rehydrates
- Toast the cumin seeds in the hot oil before adding the chili powder. This blooms the spice and deepens the flavor
- Add water generously and keep adding as the jerky absorbs it. You can always thicken later, but you can’t undo a scorched pot
- If you want it thicker, mix a tablespoon of flour with some hot liquid from the pot into a smooth paste before stirring it back in
Ingredients
Directions
Cut jerky into small, bite-sized pieces, remembering it will swell.
In a heavy pot, simmer jerky and cumin seeds gently in moderately hot fat/oil for one to two minutes, stirring steadily to prevent burning.
Add chili powder and continue to stir until well mixed.
(Amount of chili powder will depend on the hotness of the jerky and your taste.)
Add onion flakes, oregano, powdered cumin, garlic powder, and enough water to cover generously.
Stir.
Simmer one to two hours, adding water as the jerky takes it up.
Allow chili to cool, and reheat before serving.
If a thicker chili is prefered, add a little flour mixed to a paste with hot liquid from the pot and cook to desired consistency, stirring frequently.
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