cookaz

Mexican recipes

Authentic Texas chili con carne

4 (1) 140 min Serves 6 Mexican
This is the authentic Texas chili recipe. Unlike many other chili recipes, this recipe does not use tomato sauce or red kidney beans. The use of bacon fat gives a distinct flavour to the dish.

Ingredients

  • 3 lb beef shoulder (chuck or round steak, trimmed off fat and then ground or cut into 1/2 inch cubes)
  • 2 to 3 strips of bacon
  • 1–3 tbsp dried chili pepper flakes (adjust quantity to desired heat level)
  • 3 cup water
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 tbsp cumin seeds (crushed)
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1–2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 clove garlic (crushed)
  • 2 tbsp corn flour (use masa harina if possible)

Method

In a heavy frying pan or skillet over medium heat add the bacon and fry for a few minutes. Discard the bacon and leave the fat. Add the beef and fry in the bacon fat, stirring constantly, until brown.

Add the dried chili pepper flakes and cook for 1 - 2 minutes, then  add the 3 cups of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a slow simmer, cover and cook for 30 minutes.

Add the oregano, cumin seeds, salt, cayenne pepper and garlic, cover again and simmer for 45 minutes more. Uncover and stir in the corn flour or masa harina. Stir well until the corn flour is well combined with the rest of the ingredients. Cover, reduce heat to very low and cook for 30 minutes more, stirring occasionally. If the mixture is too thick, add small amounts of hot water and stir.

Serve with fresh coriander leaves and sour cream.

Comments (12)

Miss D Sep 1, 2009

Nice,but not as good as mine!!!

Tom Gore Dec 25, 2009

Substitute beef broth for the water and you'll be glad...

Joey Sep 9, 2010

I think the word authentic should only be credited to MEXICO, where chile con carne originates & where there are hundreds of variations are made, 32 states different styles. And yes there are many variations in the US, but it's just a style, not authentic. Give credit to where something originates. Oh ya a tortilla is not a wrap...

geezo Sep 15, 2010

Cheer up man. Nobody claims that chile con carne is American. Why don't you post a comment on the recipe instead of nagging about a word in the recipe title?

Linda Nov 21, 2010

Learn some history - chili con carne IS an American dish which was originally made in Texas, NOT Mexico ;)

rachat de credit Nov 22, 2010

Man, really want to know how can you be that smart, lol...great read, thanks.

gonzo Apr 10, 2011

Actually the actual origin of chili con carne remains unclear. Some say Texas, others say Northern Mexico. What IS clear is that there is an original Mexican dish called Chile Colorado that has been in Mexico cooked for hundreds of years that seems to be the progenitor for what is known in Texas and the rest of the US today as chili con carne.

BigLee Sep 27, 2011

Just to let yall know. Chili con Carne is actually the official dish of Texas. So Im pretty sure that if we like it enough to claim it, that it can be Authentic Texas Chili

Walter Hensbridge the Third Oct 15, 2011

Chili is not Mexican. It has it's origins in San Antonio Texas. Of course there are Mexican influences, but the complete dish is just not Mexican.

The Cook Jan 8, 2012

Actually, many of you are wrong about the origins of not only chili, but the fact that Texas WAS a part of Mexico just like many other US states were before the Guadalupe Peace Treaty was violated. So in essence, yes, the chili is from Mexico, and not Texas as some have stated. <br /><br />At any rate, the chili recipe itself is about an 8 on a scale of 1-10.

Spepleoppok Jan 27, 2012

Thank you very much!

Marina Aug 1, 2012

Please people it's a recipe! Does everything have to be a controversy?

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