Chef Michael Mina's Rocky Mountain Chili Recipe
Rewritten Article:
Michael Mina's Rocky Mountain Chili from Handle Bar in Jackson Hole is a wild game hit! This badass dish packs a punch with elk, beans, tomatoes, spices, and a bloody brilliant addition of dark chocolate.
Meal Prep Strategy: This chili dish is a legend’s stew, as it tastes even better with some time to settle. It's a perfect dish to whip up ahead of time.
Read about our backyard bash with Chef Mina now.
- Serves: 8 to 10 devilishly delicious portions
- Difficulty: Easy-peasy
- Total Time: Approx 3 hours
Ingredients (23)
For the chili hoo-ha:
- 4 strips bacon, diced like a boss
- 5 lbs ground elk, or lean (15% fat) ground beef chuck
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 4 tbsp ground cumin
- 2 tbsp ancho chile powder
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tbsp sweet paprika
- 2 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp ground coriander
- 1 tbsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 2 large onions, diced like a pro
- 6 small cloves of garlic, minced finely
- 4 cups coffee brewed like a barista
- 2 tbsp dark chocolate, broken into pieces
- 2 (28-oz) cans of crushed tomatoes
- 3 chipotles in adobo sauce, finely chopped for some heat
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 (15-oz) cans of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- Freshly ground black pepper
To garnish:
- 10 oz cheddar, grated like cheese pros do
- 1/2 cup scallions, thinly sliced
- 1 1/2 cups sour cream
- Fritos
Instructions
- Heat the Dutch oven or big pot over medium heat. Brown the bacon until the fat melts, taking about 5 minutes. Add the ground elk or beef and cook it till it's got a nice brown hue, about 8 minutes.
- Add brown sugar, cumin, ancho chile powder, chili powder, paprikas, coriander, and measured salt. Stir to blend evenly and cook till the spices are deep brown and aromatic, roughly 10 minutes. Add the diced onions and minced garlic, and cook till the onions start caramelizing, about 10 minutes.
- Add coffee, chocolate, tomatoes, chipotles, and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and let it cook, uncovered, and stir occasionally for 2 hours.
- Add the beans and cook for an extra 30 minutes, uncovered and stirring occasionally. Add more salt and pepper as desired.
- Serve with cheddar, scallions, sour cream, and Fritos for a chili party in your mouth.
- Prepare Michael Mina's Rocky Mountain Chili by following the given instructions, which include cooking elk or lean ground beef chuck to a brown hue, sautéing onions and garlic, simmering a combination of coffee, dark chocolate, tomatoes, spices, and chipotles for two hours, and adding kidney beans for an additional 30 minutes.
- This chili recipe, derived from Chef Mina's dish at Handle Bar in Jackson Hole, offers a nutritional fact-filled tailgate meal that serves between 8 to 10 individuals, with a total preparation time of approximately 3 hours.
- To elevate your chili party experience, garnish your serving with grated cheddar cheese, thinly sliced scallions, sour cream, and Fritos, as suggested in the ingredient list and instructions provided by aussiedlerbote.
