GREEN CHILI: Colorado’s Official Autumn Dish

When the green chile stands start to appear, it is officially fall in Colorado! As the roasters pop up along the roads and in our farmers’ markets, their smoky-spicy aroma is as much of our autumn experience as the aspens changing. While green chili’s origins lie with our southern neighbors (thanks, New Mexico), Colorado has its own distinct approach: the meatier and thicker the chili, the more Coloradan it is!

Making green chili at home may become your new fall tradition. Don’t shy away from buying a bushel of chiles. Considering how well it freezes, you could top burritos, enchiladas, and egg scramble for months (or take a bowl to your next party). While the different recipes are endless (and even regional – depending on where you live in CO), this simple recipe from DenverGreenChili.com (author, Anita Edge) is the perfect starter. You can even add other ingredients to make it your own! But here’s how to get started:

INGREDIENTS

– 2.5 cups of green chiles diced (about 20 chiles)
– 2 lbs of pork cubed
– 1 tbsp of garlic (about 2 cloves) minced
– 3 tbsp of flour
– 2 cups of fresh tomatoes (or one 14-oz can) diced
– 1 can of chicken broth (14.5 oz)
– 1 cup of water
– 2 cups of onion diced
– Salt & pepper to taste.

INSTRUCTIONS

1) Set a crock pot or large pot on your stove to low heat.
2) In a skillet, add the pork, garlic and pepper. After the pork has browned, add flour and brown it as well.
3) Put the pork, tomatoes, water, green chiles and onion in the crock pot and stir. 
4) Let it simmer for two hours and serve:
The chili needs an hour to simmer before you can get an accurate taste. Then you can modify it to your preference (adding chiles, tomatoes, and such).

Too thick? Add water. Too thin? Add flour.

WHAT GOES GREAT WITH COLORADO GREEN CHILI?

– Fries / Fried Potatoes
– Hash Browns / Mashed Potatoes
– Beans and Rice
– Chili Rellenos
– Cheeseburgers
– Huevos Rancheros
– Eggs (scrambled, omelets, frittatas)
– Biscuits and Gravy
– Tacos / Quesadillas / Enchiladas
– Nachos

Sources: tjstaste.com, Denver Gazette, onlyinyourstate.com, denvergreenchili.com, kekbfm.com