Martha's Chile Con Carne

Total Time: 1 hr 40 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 3 ancho chilies (dried poblano chiles)
• 1 -3 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 4 ounces lamb, finely chopped (such as shoulder or chops)
• 2 lbs chuck steaks, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 large onion, chopped (2 cups)
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 bay leaf
• coarse salt
• 28 ounces whole canned tomatoes, briefly pulsed in a blender
• 24 ounces beer
• 1 tablespoon distilled vinegar
• 4 ripe hass avocadoes, halved lengthwise, pitted, flesh scooped whole from skin, and coated with fresh lemon juice
• 1 bunch scallion, thinly sliced
• salted corn tortilla chips
• sharp cheddar cheese, grated

Recipe

• 1 toast chiles in a skillet over medium heat, turning often, until fragrant and puffed up (2 minutes).
• 2 cut in half and remove cores, reserving seeds. transfer chiles to a bowl and cover with boiling water; set aside.
• 3 heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat.
• 4 add lamb; cook until browned, 3 minutes per side. transfer to a plate.
• 5 working in batches, cook beef until browned, 3 minutes per side, adding more oil as needed and transferring browned meat to the plate.
• 6 meanwhile, puree chiles and 1/2 cup soaking liquid in a blender.
• 7 reduce heat to medium-low. add onion and garlic, and cook, stirring often, until softened (6-8 minutes).
• 8 stir in cumin, oregano, bay leaf, 1 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons reserved chile seeds (more for heat, if desired). cook 1 minute.
• 9 add chile puree. raise heat to medium-high; cook, stirring, 2 minutes.
• 10 return meat to pot. add 2 teaspoons salt, tomatoes, and beer, and bring to a boil.
• 11 reduce heat to medium-high. simmer, stirring occasionally, 1 1/4 hours.
• 12 reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, stirring occasionally, until meat is tender and sauce is thick, about 30 minutes more.
• 13 discard bay leaf. stir in vinegar.
• 14 serve chili with avocado halves, scallions, tortilla chips, and grated cheese.