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Chili con carne
Toast the dried chillies in a dry frying pan over medium heat for 20 to 30 seconds a side, until they soften and smell. Put them in a bowl, pour over 500 ml of the hot stock and leave 20 minutes, then blend chillies and stock to a smooth purée.
Watch: Burnt chillies make the whole pot bitter. Take them off as soon as they smell toasty.
Questions about this dish
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips.
How long does Chili con carne take?
3 hr 40 min all in — 30 min prep, 3 hr 10 min cook. Cook and rest follow the method. Leftover storage and optional extra waits are not included.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 6 bowls. Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
Medium.
How spicy is it?
Medium heat.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Nut-free.
What does it cost to cook?
A bit special — about $16–28 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
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What equipment do I need?
Frying pan, Blender, Dutch oven, Chef's knife, Cutting board.
How much salt do I put in?
The recipe lists Salt at 2 tsp.
What can I use instead?
Whole ancho and guajillo chillies → 4 tbsp pure ground ancho chilli. Use pure chilli, not a chili powder blend. Bloom it in the fat with the cumin. Quicker, with less depth. Masa harina → Fine cornmeal. Keeps the corn note. A flour slurry thickens just as well but tastes of nothing.
What should I watch for?
Burnt chillies make the whole pot bitter. Take them off as soon as they smell toasty.
Any tips from this recipe?
Push the chilli purée through a sieve if your blender leaves bits of skin. The sauce comes out silkier. For the version most of the country makes, add a 400 g tin of tomatoes with the stock, and two drained 400 g tins of kidney or pinto beans for the last 30 minutes. Texans will call it something else. It freezes well for three months.
Can I prepare this ahead?
Serve in bowls with chopped raw onion, grated cheddar and saltine crackers on the side, or cool it and reheat the next day.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.