Simple Chili

Who doesn't love a delicious bowl of chili? This healthy and hearty chili is made with simple, wholesome ingredients. It is inexpensive to make and feeds a large group. Enjoy a warm bowl of comfort tonight, freeze dry it for your next outdoor adventure, or both! 

Ingredients

• 2 cups uncooked Red Kidney Beans 
• 2 cups uncooked Pinto Beans
• 2 lbs. ground Pork
• 1 large Onion, diced
• 6 cloves Garlic, minced
• 6-8 medium Roma Tomatoes, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
• 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
• 3 teaspoons Seasoning Salt
• 8 Tablespoons Chili Powder
• 1 teaspoon Cumin
• 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
• 8 cups Chicken Broth

Instructions

1. Prepare the Beans:  Soak the uncooked Red Kidney Beans and Pinto Beans overnight in water. Rinse and drain them. Then cook the beans in a large pot with water until tender. Drain and set aside.
2. Cook the Pork: In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the ground pork over medium heat until browned and fully cooked. Drain any excess fat.
3. Sauté' the Aromatics: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the pot with the ground pork. Cook until the onion is translucent and fragrant, about 5-7 minutes.
4. Add the Tomatoes: Stir in the chopped Roma tomatoes and cook for another 5 minutes, allowing them to soften.
5. Season the Chili: Add the black pepper, smoked paprika, seasoning salt, chili powder, cumin, and Italian seasoning. Stir well to combine, ensuring the spices coat all of the ingredients evenly. 
6. Combine the Beans and Pork: Add the cooked red kidney beans and into beans to the pot. Stir to combine all the ingredients. 
7. Add the Chicken Broth: Pour in the 8 cups of chicken broth. Stir well to ensure everything is evenly distributed. 
8. Simmer the Chili: Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let the chili simmer for 1-2 hours. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
9. Adjust Seasoning: Taste the chili and adjust the seasoning if needed. Add more salt, pepper, or chili powder to suit your taste preferences.
10. Serve: Once the chili is fully cooked and the flavors have melded together, serve it hot. Garnish with your favorite toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped cilantro or sliced jalapenos. 

Enjoy your hearty and flavorful chili! Feel free to customize the recipe with your favorite ingredients and spices.

FREEZE-DRYING INSTRUCTIONS

1. Pour cooked mixture evenly on trays lined with silicone mats. Make note of the weight of the trays with food.
2. Process according to freeze-dryer instructions.
3. When finished freeze-drying, note the weight of the trays. The difference in weight of the trays before and after freeze-drying is the recommended amount of water needed to reconstitute.

TO RECONSTITUTE

Add recommended amount of hot water. Stir and let sit a few minutes until fully reconstituted. 

Recipe acknowledgement: Mountain Springs Homestead, a Prep4Life Affiliate. This recipe is featured in their Freeze Dried Friday's series -Freeze Dried Chili.