Holiday Recipe: STARs Café Mexican Chili

Pepe Martinez, who runs STARs Café with his wife, Lydia Martinez Madjdisova, shared this recipe for Mexican Chili. While it’s not technically a holiday recipe, what could be better for those home gatherings, impromptu potluck invitations, or to keep you going during these busy times?

Mexican Chili is a staple on the STARs menu that offers about seven different soups daily.

“We love this chili sprinkled with cheese or a dollop of sour cream,” Martinez told us.

Grab your kitchen scale for this recipe, and cook like a professional chef weighing ingredients to improve accuracy.

[Editor’s note: Thank you, Pepe and Lydia! As we all prepare for holiday gatherings, we’re happy to share recipes from members of our Island Directory. To find out where to go and what to do here all winter long, use this form to sign up for our free weekly Life Between the Ferries newsletter.]

Mexican Chili

(Serves 15-20)

Ingredients

• 5 pounds of ground beef
• 3 oz. of garlic
• 2 onions cut into medium squares
• 2 green chilis cut into medium squares
• 6 cans (15.5 oz.) crushed tomatoes
• 3 cans (15.5 oz.) kidney beans
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Cayenne pepper to your heat preference
• 3 bay leaves
• 3.5 oz. ground cumin
• 3.5 oz. chili powder
• 2 oz. of Worcestershire sauce
• 2 oz. oregano
• 1lb. bacon (for fat)

Method:

1. Place ground beef in a skillet over medium heat to brown
2. Once cooked through, pour meat into a strainer to drain excess oil
3. Cook bacon and set aside
4. Place a large soup pot on medium heat and add 2 large tablespoons of the bacon fat with the garlic to brown
5. Add onions and peppers to gently soften
6. Next, add the salt, pepper, bay leaves, and oregano; cook for 5-8 minutes or until tender and seasonings are well blended and fragrant.
7. Add crushed tomatoes and cook to warm tomatoes through
8. Add the ground beef plus the cayenne, cumin, chili powder, and Worcestershire sauce
9. Cook to reduce flavors, about one hour
10. Add beans and warm through
11. Taste to test for salt, pepper and other seasoning

Special order soups, chili, or desserts

You can place orders for soups or chili for the holidays. In addition, Lydia is taking orders for pies and custom cakes/cupcakes. Sign up on the clipboard at the checkout counter.

“I’m doing apple, strawberry rhubarb, chocolate cream, and pecan pies this year — Yule logs and my signature shortbread and gingerbread holiday-themed cookies,” Lydia said.

Place your custom orders by Friday, December 17. She said that anything placed afterward might not be accommodated, depending on the volume of orders.