Pinto Bean And Beef Chili

Recipe Ingredients

2 cups	320g / 11oz	Pinto beans - picked over,
		Rinsed and soaked overnight
3 tablespoons	45ml	Vegetable oil
1 lb	454g / 16oz	Trimmed boneless beef chuck or shoulder - cut 1" cubes
2 cups	125g / 4.4oz	Coarsely-chopped onion
1		Red bell pepper - diced
1		Green bell pepper - diced
1 1/2 tablespoons	22ml	Minced garlic
2		Jalapeño chiles - seeded, minced
2 1/2 teaspoons	12ml	Whole cumin seeds
2 tablespoons	30ml	Mild chili powder
2 teaspoons	10ml	Dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon	0.6ml	Cinnamon
2 teaspoons	10ml	Bay leaves (large)
2 cups	474ml	Boiling water
3 tablespoons	45ml	Tomato paste
		Salt - to taste
		Freshly-ground black pepper - to taste
1/4 cup	4g / 0.1oz	Finely-chopped fresh cilantro

Recipe Instructions

Drain the pinto beans. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in the pressure cooker. Add half of the cubed meat and cook over moderately-high heat until well browned all over; transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining meat and another tablespoon of the oil. Set the meat aside.

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the cooker, along with the onion, red and green bell peppers, garlic, jalapeños and cumin seeds. Cook over moderately-high heat, stirring frequently, until the vegetables soften, about 2 minutes; scrape up any browned bits sticking to the bottom of the cooker. Stir in the chili powder, oregano, cinnamon and bay leaves, then add the drained pinto beans, the reserved browned meat and the boiling water.

Lock the lid in place and bring to high pressure over high heat. Lower the heat just enough to maintain high pressure and cook for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow the pressure to come down naturally; do not quick-release, or the meat will toughen. Remove the lid, tilting it away from you to allow any excess steam to escape.

Remove and discard the bay leaves. Stir the tomato paste into the chili and season with salt and black pepper, then simmer for a few minutes to blend the flavors. If the chili seems too soupy, set it aside for a few hours at room temperature. Alternatively, puree about a cupful of the beans and stir them back in. Stir in the cilantro just before serving.

This recipe yields 6 servings.

Source:
Food & Wine Magazine, April 1996

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