2475. SWEET CHIPOTLE CHILI CON CARNE with BACON

serves six


3 dried red chiles
1 cup pitted prunes
boiling water
4 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon paprika
2 pounds ground beef
2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (28 ounce) can crushed roasted tomatoes

Place red chiles and prunes in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Soak for 15 minutes, then reserve 1/3 cup of liquid and drain. Reserve.

Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat for about 7 minutes, then remove from pan and add onion, garlic, and paprika to skillet. Cook for another 8 minutes. Then add ground beef to skillet with onions and cook for another 5 minutes, until browned.

In a blender or food processor, process the soaked chiles and prunes. Add chipotle peppers, tomato paste and the 1/3 cup liquid from soaking the chiles, and pulse to combine. Add the mixture to the beef and onions.

Add remaining ingredients, along with the reserved bacon, and bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat for at least 20 minutes, then serve.


bacon recipe courtesy of: "ChefLuigi" of North Carolina, for Man Tested Recipes, Reader's Digest Association Limited, 413 Pine Street, Suite 500, Seattle, Washington 98101, May 11, 2011