Wheat& Meat Chili
Rugged, no-bean chili made with ground beef and chewy wheat berries simmered in a smoky chile, tomato, and cumin broth. A Southwestern twist on Texas red that’s hearty enough to stick to your ribs.
YIELD
6 servingsPREP
10 minCOOK
1 hrsREADY
1 hrsForget the beans. This chili swaps them out for whole wheat berries that soak up all that spiced, tomatoey broth while keeping a satisfying chew that beans just can’t match.
Ground beef gets seasoned right in the bowl with ground chile, garlic, cumin, and oregano before it hits the pot. That means the spices cook into the meat from the start, not just floating around in the liquid.
Green chiles, caribe, and tomato paste build layers of heat and smokiness that deepen over the hour-long simmer. This is a bowl of chili that means business.
Chef Tips
- Presoak the wheat berries overnight and boil them for an hour before adding; they need time to soften up
- Save the wheat berry cooking liquid and add it back if the chili gets too thick during the simmer
- Render the suet or lard slowly over medium heat for a clean, rich base flavor that oil can’t replicate
- Serve with warm cornbread, a squeeze of lime, and a cold beer
Ingredients
Directions
In a heavy saucepan, boil the presoaked wheat, covered, for 1 hour in the water used for soaking.
Add more water as the kernels cook, if necessary.
Melt the suet or lard in a lrge heavy pot over medium-high heat.
Remove the rendered suet pieces, add the onions to the pot, and cook until they are translucent.
Combine the beef with the ground chile, garlic, oregano, cumin, and salt to taste.
Add this beef-and-spice mixture to the pot with the onions.
Break up any lumps with a fork and cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is evenly browned.
Stir in the caribe, green chiles, tomato paste, and tomato juice.
Drain the wheat, reserving the liquid, and stir in the kernels.
Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer uncovered, for 1 hour.
If the chili begins to get too dry, add some of the liquid the wheat was cooked in.
Taste and adjust seasonings.
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