Nick Mangold's C.B.C. (Chorizo Bacon Chili)

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
6 strips of thick-cut bacon, diced
1 large onion, chopped
1 pound Mexican chorizo sausage, removed from casings
2 pounds ground sirloin
Salt and ground black pepper
6 large cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 orange bell pepper, chopped
2 serrano peppers, finely chopped

4 ribs of celery, chopped
1 cup frozen corn
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
2 teaspoons coriander
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups beef stock
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
Your favorite chili toppings

Yields: 6-8 servings

Preparation

Drizzle oil into cast-iron pot over medium to medium-high heat.

Add the bacon to the pot and brown. Remove and set it aside for later, leaving drippings in the pot.

Add the onion to the pot and cook slightly. Add chorizo into the pot and crumble it with a spatula as it cooks. When the chorizo is almost done, add in the ground beef, salt, ground black pepper and garlic.

Once everything is cooked, add in the peppers, celery and corn. Let the veggies sweat for a couple of minutes then add all the spices in and stir to combine. Add the beef stock, scraping up any bits off the bottom of the pot. Add the crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce, taste and adjust seasonings accordingly. Add the reserved bacon and stir to combine. Bring up to a bubble, then reduce to a simmer. Let the pot simmer and serve when ready (the longer the simmer the better).

Garnish with your favorite chili toppings, like parsley, shredded cheddar cheese and a good helping of hot sauce.