Firehouse Chili with Beans

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
• 1/2 pound bulk pork sausage
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 large onions, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup chili powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1 bottle (12 ounces) lager beer
• 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 2 cups beef broth
• 2 cans (15 ounces each) kidney beans, drained
• 1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, drained
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Shredded cheddar, sour cream and diced onion, for serving

Before you cook

• Dice the onions and both bell peppers.
• Drain and rinse all the beans.
• Measure the chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika and cocoa into one small bowl.

Steps

1. Heat the oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat.
2. Add the ground beef and sausage and break them into chunks with a wooden spoon.
3. Brown the meat for 12 minutes without stirring too often, so real crust forms on the bottom.
4. Tip the pot and spoon off all but about 2 tablespoons of the rendered fat.
5. Add the onions and both bell peppers and cook for 8 minutes, until soft.
6. Stir in the garlic and the bowl of spices and cocoa and cook for 90 seconds, until the pot smells strongly of chili.
7. Add the tomato paste and stir it for 2 minutes, until it darkens.
8. Pour in the beer and scrape the bottom of the pot clean.
9. Boil the beer for 3 minutes to cook off its foam.
10. Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes and beef broth.
11. Season with the brown sugar, salt, black pepper and cayenne.
12. Bring the chili to a simmer and cook uncovered for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
13. Add all the drained beans and simmer for another 25 minutes.
14. Taste and adjust the salt, cayenne and sugar until it is balanced.
15. Ladle into bowls and let everyone add cheddar, sour cream and raw onion.