Join me on the carpet for one of TV’s greatest recipes…Kevin’s Famous Chili from The Office!
While there was never a recipe, Kevin left plenty of clues as to how he makes the dish that has been passed down from Malones for generations. Enjoy my version of Kevin’s Famous Chili!
2 lbs chuck steak (cut into app 1” cubes)
3 dry ancho chili peppers
2 fresh poblano peppers
4 cups beef stock (I prefer unsalted)
1 cup black coffee (room temp)
6 oz tomato paste
2 bell peppers, diced (yellow and red)
1 large shallot, diced
1 large white onion, diced
6 cloves fresh garlic sliced
14 oz kidney beans
3 tomatoes diced
2 tbsp cup chili powder
1/2 cup bakers or dark semi sweet chocolate bar, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
1 beer (Yuengling if you can for “authenticity”)
-Toast whole ancho chilis in a dry pan until slightly pliable and fragrant, moving constantly to not burn
-Once toasted, rip off stem and take seeds out
-Soak in warm water for at least 30 minutes or until soft
-Turn flame on stove on high and place whole poblanos directly onto the fire and char all the way around until completely blackened.
-Once charred, place in a paper or plastic zip top bad to steam for at least 20 minutes or more and set aside
While waiting on peppers to finish:
-Heat a heavy bottom pot with 3 tbsp olive oil
-Salt the cubes of chuck liberally
-brown beef in pot just til it browns on the outside slightly, then remove and drain pot
-return pot to heat and add 3 tbsp olive oil over medium heat
-add bell peppers, shallots, garlic and half your diced onions, sweat down until they become translucent
-add chili powder and tomato paste, stir and cook for a minute or 2 until incorporated
-Add half a bottle of your beer to deglaze pot and cook down for 3-4 minutes on medium heat until alcohol is cooked off
CHILI PASTE:
-wash off the burnt skin of the poblanos and remove their stems/seeds and add them to your blender with your now softened ancho chilis
-add coffee, pinch of salt, half of the beans and chili flakes to blender
-blend on high into a smooth paste
ASSEMBLE:
-In your pot with the cooked veggies, add fresh tomatoes
-Add cooked chuck (and its juice)
-add chili paste
-put beef broth in your blender to get the rest of the chili paste out, then add to pot
-add rest of your whole beans
-Stir, cover pot and put on low heat for as long as you can (5 hours is best)
-Once it has cooked on low, remove from heat and add remaining onions
-Chop up the chocolate and add to pot
Stir and let rest for a few minutes before serving.
NOTE: If you can make a day in advance, it will come out even better after you refrigerate overnight and reheat on low the ext day!
ENJOY! I love adding corn bread crumbles and sour cream when serving!