Chicken Chorizo Chili!

I wanted to make something yummy for dinner last night and decided on chicken chili. I decided to “kick it up a notch” by adding some chorizo to it! This chili is easy to make, which is one of those things that I really like!

I am really particular about the type of chorizo I use because most of the chorizo that one finds in the grocery store is made from the salivary glands of either the pig or the cow. Doesn’t sound appealing to me…The brand that I buy is from Mulays Sausage Company. I discovered their chorizo (and they have some mighty tasty sausages too!) at a food show years ago! Their chorizo cooks up beautifully, is not overly greasy, and is made from pork shoulder. It is not too spicy either. It is great mixed with scrambled eggs, and cooked with chicken, as I did here in this recipe!

Preview

Ready to head into the kitchen?

Ingredients – 6 servings

1# Mulay’s Chorizo
2 TBS extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
6 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1# boneless chicken breast, cut up into small cubes
1 15 oz. can of diced petite tomatoes
2 chipotle chiles in adobo (not cans, just two of the chile’s from the can)
1 15 oz. can each of pinto, red kidney and black beans, drained and rinsed well
1 TBS Mexican chili powder (available in the specialty food section)
1 TBS cumin
1 tsp. Mexican oregano
1 24 oz. bottle of Mexican beer (I used Modelo)
Salt and pepper to taste
1/3 cup of corn flour
1 lime, juiced
2 cups medium cheddar, shredded
cilantro

First, cook up the chorizo. When I put this in the pan, I break it up as I add it to the pan. When just cooked through, drain on paper towel. Be sure to blot the top! Set aside.

Next, heat your oil in a soup pot. When hot add the onion and garlic and cook until just transparent. Then add the chicken and cook until the chicken turns white. Then add in the chorizo and stir to combine.

Cooked chicken with chorizo added

Then add in the chipotle chiles, tomatoes, beans, chili powder, cumin, and oregano. Stir this up to combine and then slowly add in about 3/4 of the beer.

The chili is ready to cook for an hour

Reserve the rest. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to simmer and cook for about an hour.

Next we will use the corn flour. A quick note on corn flour: Do not use corn meal, which is gritty. I find my corn flour in the regular baking aisle of the grocery store. It should be a powder and you can use this too for making tortillas!

Corn flour

If you are in the UK, do not confuse this with what we here in the U.S. call corn starch! It is not the same!

Add the corn flour to a bowl. Then slowly add in the rest of the beer and combine making sure you do not have any lumps. Then add the mixture to the chili slowly.

Corn flour and beer mixture added to chili

This will thicken up the chili. Next follow this by adding in the lime juice, then stir well. Bring this back to a boil, then turn down to simmer. Cook another 20 minutes.

Then serve it up! I like to put some of the cheddar at the bottom of the bowl, then top with the chili. On top, put more of the cheddar, a dollop of sour cream and a few of the cilantro leaves for zest!

Dinner is served!

Each bite is lovely! This chili is a bit spicy because of the chipotle chiles and the Mexican chili powder! By adding that beer at the end with the corn flour, the flavor of the hops in the beer really makes a good show!

Any takers on making this? Joe? Conor over at One Man’s Meat?

Have a great Friday! And, thank you for taking the time to drop by! Be well! ^..^

Serve with