This Cilantro Sherry Chili is a new twist on an old favorite! The sherry adds a rich depth of flavor that compliments the spices.
Here is the story of the birth of my new favorite chili: A few afternoons ago I got a serious craving for chili, which was compounded by a lack of a desire to go to the store. No problem. I always have the ingredients for my take on my Family Chili Recipe.
I cracked open the pathetically empty refrigerator and … what? No beer?! This couldn’t be. A quality brown ale is the linchpin of my Family’s Recipe.
I scanned the kitchen for an adequate substitute and my gaze locked on the sherry bottle. The introduction of sherry opened the floodgates for new additions or tweaks to my old favorite, and Cilantro Sherry Chili was born.
Its officially my new favorite. The sherry adds a rich depth of flavor that spices cannot achieve alone.
Cilantro Sherry Chili is packed with healthy beans, meat, tomatoes and spices! It is hearty enough to stick to your ribs as a filling lunch or dinner, and it’s easy enough for a busy weeknight or weekend.
Serve with a big slice of my favorite Sweet Southern Cornbread and you will never look back! You are going to love this twist on an old favorite!
Cilantro Sherry Chili
Ingredients
- 2 cups yellow onions (diced )
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 lbs ground meat (I use a mixture of sirloin and turkey or chicken)
- 2 can Black Beans (juice from 1 can)
- 28 oz Kidney Beans
- 56 oz diced roasted tomatoes (2 cans)
- 1 15 oz tomato sauce
- 1 6 oz tomato paste
- ½ cup dry sherry (not the cooking kind. Blech!)
- 2 ⅔ tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon red cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon Hungarian sweet paprika
- 1 cup chicken broth (amazing homemade recipe here!)
- 1 cup corn (fresh or frozen)
- ½ teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat.
- Sauté onions and garlic until onions are translucent.
- Add all remaining items to the pot except cilantro. Bring to a boil over medium heat and then reduce to a simmer.
- Simmer at least 1 hour. I like to cook mine for 4 or more! Taste after 45 minutes and adjust salt, pepper, paprika and chili powder.
Do you cook/brown the meat in step1 with the onions and garlic?
Hi Steve. You can but I usually like to do the onions and garlic first, remove them and then brown the meat. You get the greatest amount of caramelization and flavor 🙂
Sounds fabulous. Do you mix the chopped cilantro in after its cooked, or is it just used as garnish?
I used it as a garnish but you could certainly mix it in after it's cooked!
Cooking sherry?
Cooking Sherry is sherry that is processed with salts and other additives to increase shelf life but it is super salty and doesn't have the complexity of flavor that drinking Sherry from Jerez has. 🙂
Looking so YUMMY. I love this. I try this recipe in my home.
Thanks! Let me know if you do!