Barack Obama's chili recipe is circulating all over the Web -- sort of. We don't know all of the ingredients or proportions (would you share the secret details of your famous potluck go-to?). I call this version "Almost Obama's Chili" because it has all the ingredients he's revealed, but with clarified instructions, suggestions for success, and room to improvise.
Tip: Barack Obama told North Coast Journal writer Ari LeVaux that made right, his chili's "got the right amount of bite, the right amount of oomph in it and it will clear your sinuses," so add some heat with a little cayenne and hot sauce.
Serves 4 - 6.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 25 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Several cloves of garlic, chopped (try 4 to 6 cloves to start)
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 green pepper, cored, seeded and chopped
- 1 pound ground turkey or beef
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- Several tomatoes, seeded and chopped (start with about 3 1/2 cups, OR try 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes with juice)
- 1 can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- .
- For serving:
- Brown or white rice, cooked
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped onions
- Sour cream
Preparation:
In a small dish, mix together the chili powder, cumin, oregano, turmeric and basil. Set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a dutch oven or large, deep-sided, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, onions and green peppers, and saute until the onions soften and turn translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Add the ground turkey or beef and saute until brown, about 5 minutes, breaking up the meat into crumbles with a spatula or the back of a fork.
Sprinkle the spice mix evenly over the meat, and saute to blend the flavors, about 1 minute.
Add the vinegar and tomatoes, stir to combine, and bring just to a boil.
Reduce the heat and let the chili simmer, until the tomatoes reduce down and the chili thickens to your desired consistency, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Add the kidney beans, stir, and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.
Serve the chili in bowls or over cooked brown or white rice. Pass dishes of shredded cheddar cheese, chopped onions, and sour cream for garnish. Enjoy!
Vegetarian Variation: Replace the meat with a 12-ounce package of meatless veggie crumbles, such as Lightlife Smart Ground or Yves Veggie Ground Round.