Make Ahead

Championship Elk Chili

by:
January 11, 2010
4
4 Ratings
Championship Elk Chili
  • Serves 6-8
Author Notes

OK, so my Longhorns did NOT win the BCS championship. At least we had good chili to cry over. If you do not happen to have a nephew whose girlfriend's mom recently shot an elk and shared, then lean beef, bison, or venison will work. This is proof that chili does not have to be heavy and greasy!!! —aargersi

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • thick slices of onion
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound ground elk
  • 1/2 yellow onion - chopped
  • 5 cloves minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 2 teaspoons smoked sweet paprika
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 ancho chili
  • 1 dark beer (I used Abita Oktoberfest)
  • 8 ounces unsalted tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons masa harina
  • 1 can red kidney beans - rinsed
  • 1/2 cup beef or veal stock
  • additional beer
  • pickled jalapenos
  • shredded sharp cheddar
  • chili cheese Fritos (don't laugh - they're awesome!)
Directions
  1. Put your slices of onion in a container and cover them with water - stick them in the fridge for later
  2. Soak the ancho chili in the beer. When it is soft (I nuke mine for a couple of minutes to speed things up) remove the stem and seeds and chop it up. SAVE THE BEER!
  3. Heat the oil in a large pot to med-high. Add the elk, season with a bit of salt and pepper, and brown it for 7-8 minutes until the pink is gone.
  4. Add the chopped onions (not the ones in water in the fridge!) and cook for several more minutes, then the garlic and 2-3 more minutes.
  5. Add the cumin, chili powder, paprika, tomato sauce ancho chili and beer. Then add the rinsed beans.
  6. Dissolve the masa harina in the stock and add that to the pot too. If it's looking really thick (it should be a little soupy at this point) add some more beer. Drink what doesn't go into the chili.
  7. let the chili simmer until you are ready to eat (half time!). When it's time, pull the onions out of the fridge, drain the water and pat them dry. Chop em up. Makes for a sweeter crunchier topping!
  8. Serve up a bowl, top with cheese, onions, jalapenos, and chili cheese Fritos. Get a cold beer (or a Texas Tea if you don't drink!) and have at it!
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  • Sean Michael Sullivan
    Sean Michael Sullivan
  • Shawn Stratford
    Shawn Stratford
  • Brian Thur
    Brian Thur
  • wssmom
    wssmom
  • aargersi
    aargersi
aargersi

Recipe by: aargersi

Country living, garden to table cooking, recent beek, rescue all of the dogs, #adoptdontshop

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12 Reviews

zinser39@gmail.com
[email protected] March 21, 2022
It really reads like a great recipe, i use elk and similar ingredients in my award-winning "Texas Road-Kill Chili" but, and there's almost a but, no respectable, and certainly no Native Texan, would even THINK of ruining his/her chili with beans! Only Yankees do that.
 
aargersi
aargersi March 22, 2022
Haha WELL I’m born in California and raised in Rhode Island so … there ya go! All hail beans in chili!
 
Sean M.
Sean M. January 17, 2021
This recipe elevated my chili! Thank you so much, i really loved the spice combo and use of masa harina!
 
Shrinkrap
Shrinkrap February 7, 2016
Made it.....with a few adjustments, of course. In addition to the pound of ground elk, I added four elk sausages I'd made with the same ground elk, some pork fat, and some spices. Son defrosted both, said he was makin chili, then dissappeared. I also used crushed tomatoes and some "trinity" from jambalaya I made a few days ago, rather than tomato sauce, and guajillo rather than ancho chilis. A work in progress, but I wanted to keep the thread alive.
 
Shawn S.
Shawn S. February 6, 2016
Apparently resurrecting a long dead thread here, but I am trying this recipe for the first time and need to know the time frame for preparation.
 
aargersi
aargersi February 6, 2016
Give it at least a couple of hours, or if you can make it a day ahead, better still. The flavors meld with additional time. Good luck!
 
Brian T.
Brian T. February 23, 2014
I used Guinness and a Mexican style chili powder. It is delicious.
 
aargersi
aargersi February 24, 2014
That's great! Thanks for trying it! Did you serve with Fritos?
 
wssmom
wssmom January 25, 2012
So glad to see this in the contest!
 
deeprootsfarm
deeprootsfarm January 12, 2012
We made this chili tonight and it was fantastic. We made it with elk steak, thinly sliced, and it was perfectly chunky and delicious. Next time I'll soak the dried chili for much longer, but the porter we used was so flavorful.
 
wssmom
wssmom March 24, 2011
Beans in chili??!!?? Perish the thought!! (j/k sounds delish!!!)
 
aargersi
aargersi July 22, 2011
I just saw this! You're funny :-) Seriously - beans in chili can get you beat up in some corners of Texas, but I am willing to take that risk - I love beans!