Southwestern Black Bean Jerky Chili

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 1 (96 ounce) can black beans or 3 cups uncooked dried black beans
• 3 lbs raw ground beef
• 1 lb beef jerky, shredded
• 2 large yellow onions, diced
• 1/2 cup fresh garlic, chopped
• 8 small green bell peppers, diced
• 2 chipotle peppers, from can chopped (note very spicy)
• 2 cups chili sauce, in can
• 2 cups tomato paste
• 2 quarts beef stock or 2 quarts chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon mild chili powder
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1/2 tablespoon ground black pepper
• kosher salt, to taste (because you get saltiness from the beef jerky)
• 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 2 cups smoked mozzarella cheese or 2 cups monterey jack cheese, shredded

Recipe

• 1 brown ground beef in large skillet or dutch oven.
• 2 drain off fat from ground beef.
• 3 return beef to same pan and add diced onions.
• 4 saute for 2 minutes on medium heat.
• 5 add garlic, jerky and green bell peppers.
• 6 carmelize vegetables.
• 7 add tomato paste and deglaze with beef or chicken stock.
• 8 add chili sauce and then remaining ingredients except for the cilantro.
• 9 simmer on medium low heat for one hour or until all seasonings are fully incorporated into the chili.
• 10 season chili to taste at the end and take off the heat and add the fresh chopped cilantro.
• 11 you want to try to keep the cilantro as green as possible.
• 12 serve the chili with shredded smoked mozzarella cheese or monterey jack.
• 13 note: use very little salt in chili since you will get most of your needed salt from the jerky.
• 14 also, keep in mind that chipotle peppers are very spicy and you need just a little bit.
• 15 another suggestions: the chili could be served with fried tortilla chips or warm flour tortillas or flat bread would be nice as well.