This Smoked Bison Red Chili recipe and photo provided by San Luis Valley REC Board Director Creede Hargraves
6 dried ancho chilies, stemmed and seeded
6 guajillo peppers, stemmed and seeded
6 chipotle peppers, stemmed and seeded
2 pounds ground bison
2 large, sweet onions, diced
3 large jalapeños, seeded and diced fine
3 roasted poblanos, peeled, seeded and diced
3 (4 ounce) cans medium hot, diced green New Mexico chilies
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoons ground black pepper
3 tablespoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/4 cup ground cumin
2 tablespoons Mexican oregano
1/2 cup ancho powder
1/2 cup red chili powder (Valdez prefers guajillo, if you can find it)
2 quarts beef or bison stock
2 (15 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, with liquid
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, with liquid
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, with liquid
1 (15 ounce) can red beans, with liquid
1 (3 pound) bison chuck roast, smoked, pulled apart, fat removed
Optional Toppings
Queso Fresco, crumbled, to taste
Cotija cheese, to taste
Cilantro, chopped, to taste
Green onions, to taste
Take the stemmed and seeded ancho chilies, guajillo peppers and chipotle peppers, rinse them off and then place in a saucepan with just enough water to cover them. Cook until they are rehydrated and fall apart tender. Place the chiles and liquid they were boiled in into a blender and puree. Set aside the puree.
In a 12-quart stock pot, brown the ground bison, then add the chopped onions and cook until the onions are translucent. Add the jalapeños, poblanos and diced green chilies. Add all the spices. Add the 2 quarts of stock and bring to a boil. Add the diced tomatoes and all the beans. Return to a boil and let simmer for 30 minutes. Add the bison chuck and return to a boil. Add the chile puree. If you want more liquid, add more stock. If you want to increase the heat, add one 1/2 teaspoon cayenne at a time until the desired hotness is achieved. Serve with corn muffins (Valdez opts for atole corn muffins).
If this Smoked Bison Red chili tickled your fancy, try this Bison Burger recipe.