Texas red

The finest bowls of red imaginable. Freshly ground chile de arbol powder imparts a nuclear detonation of heat.

Method

Slice the round steak into 1/2 inch hunks. Dry-off the hunks with paper towels. Chop the onion and garlic finely.

In a Dutch oven, sear the steak in hot, bacon grease. Degrease the pan. Stir in the flour, chile powder and cumin. Throw in the onions and water to barely cover the meat, Stir. Add the Mexican oregano and garlic. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Stir the pot until the ingredients are well-incorporated. Bring the liquids to a hard boil, cover the pot, cut the heat to a slow simmer and braise for 1 1/2 - 2 hours. Stir the pot - on occasion. Serve the chili in small bowls with tons of cheese grated overtop and tortillas, tortilla chips or crackers - on the side.

note

If the chile de arbol powder does not convey a desirable level of color to the chili, spike it with a small amount of tomato purée (2 Tbl - 1/4 cup) or 1 Tbl of tomato paste.