1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained with juice reserved
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 jalapeño chiles, stemmed and coarsely chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 pounds onions, chopped fine
1 tablespoon ground cumin
7 cups water
2/3 cup medium-grind bulgur
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
1. Bring 4 quarts water, 3 tablespoons salt, and beans to boil in
large Dutch oven over high heat. Remove pot from heat, cover,
and let stand for 1 hour. Drain beans and rinse well. Wipe out
pot.
2. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 300
degrees. Arrange anchos and New Mexican chiles on rimmed
baking sheet and toast until fragrant and puffed, about 8
minutes. Transfer to plate and let cool, about 5 minutes. Stem
and seed anchos and New Mexican chiles. Working in batches,
grind toasted chiles, mushrooms, and oregano in spice grinder
or with mortar and pestle until finely ground.
3. Process walnuts in food processor until finely ground, about
30 seconds. Transfer to bowl. Process drained tomatoes, tomato
paste, jalapeño(s), garlic, and soy sauce in food processor until
tomatoes are finely chopped, about 45 seconds, scraping down
bowl as needed.
4. Heat oil in now-empty Dutch oven over medium-high heat
until shimmering. Add onions and 1 1/4 teaspoons salt; cook,
stirring occasionally, until onions begin to brown, 8 to 10
minutes. Lower heat to medium and add ground chile mixture
and cumin; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1
minute. Add rinsed beans and water and bring to boil. Cover pot,
transfer to oven, and cook for 45 minutes.
5. Remove pot from oven. Stir in bulgur, ground walnuts, tomato
mixture, and reserved tomato juice. Cover pot and return to
oven. Cook until beans are fully tender, about 2 hours.
6. Remove pot from oven, stir chili well, and let stand,
uncovered, for 20 minutes. Stir in cilantro and serve. (Chili can
be made up to 3 days in advance.)
Note- We prefer to make this chili with whole dried chiles, but it
can be prepared with jarred chili powder. If using chili powder,
grind the shiitakes and oregano and add them to the pot with
1/4 cup of chili powder in step 4. We also recommend a mix of
at least two types of beans, one creamy (such as cannellini or
navy) and one earthy (such as pinto, black, or red kidney). For a
spicier chili, use both jalapeños.
Serving
Suggestions
Serve the chili with lime wedges, sour cream, diced avocado, chopped red onion, and shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese, if desired.
Originally Submitted
1/5/2014
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