Make that Presidential Hopeful Chili.
Presidential hopeful Barack Obama just wrapped up a weeklong vacation to his boyhood hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii and while he was in paradise he dined on a local favorite—-Hawaiian-style chili. Not once, but twice, according to news reports. I don’t blame the U.S. Senator from Illinois. Like Obama I was born and raised in Hawaii and it’s no secret that the Islands are home to some of the best chili in the world. (And unlike here in the Midwest fast food chains don’t yank the hearty dish from its menus during the summer months.)
What makes Hawaiian-style chili different than most other versions is its inclusion of Portuguese sausage. Its official name is linguica and is basically cured pork sausage seasoned with onions, garlic, and paprika. Outside of Portugal and Brazil, linguica is very popular in New England, California and Hawaii. Portuguese sausage is such a staple in Hawaii that all McDonald’s restaurants in the state serve Portuguese sausage for breakfast (paired with eggs and rice).
If you want to eat like a presidential hopeful then consider making the following recipe for Hawaiian-style Chili. If you are not a big fan of sausage I have included another chili recipe that has been a staple in my family for years.
HAWAIIAN-STYLE CHILI
Ingredients:
3 slices bacon, chopped
5 ounces Portuguese sausage, sliced
1/2 cup diced onion
1 pound ground beef or turkey
1 clove garlic, minced
1 can (10-1/2 ounces) tomato soup
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
2 cans (15 ounces each) chili beans
1 teaspoon chili powder
Salt to taste
Directions:
In a large saucepan, saute bacon. Add Portuguese sausage and onion; cook until onion is transparent.
Add ground beef and cook until well browned; drain excess fat.
Add remaining ingredients and simmer for at least 30 minutes.
Serves 4.
STEAK AND BLACK BEAN CHILI
Ingredients:
1 pound steak, diced medium
2 Cans cooked black beans, drained
1/2 onion, diced small
1/2 green pepper, diced small
1 tablespoon garlic, chopped
1 tomato, diced
1 quart chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 Jalapeno, diced
Pepper Jack cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste
Directions:
Place 2 tablespoons of olive oil in large pot heat over high heat.
Season steak with salt and pepper, place into hot pan cook for 1 minute until browned.
Puree half of the beans to thicken soup.
Add remaining beans, peppers, onion, garlic, jalapeno and broth.
Simmer for 30 minutes.
Stir in seasonings and tomatoes.
Top with grated pepper jack cheese.
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