Chef John's Italian Sausage Chili

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 90 min
Servings: 6
Yield: 6 servings

Description

Chef John's Italian sausage chili combines cannellini beans, red and green bell peppers, and onion for comforting dish with a spicy kick.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/4 pounds hot Italian sausage, casings removed
1 1/4 pounds mild Italian sausage, casings removed
1 onion, chopped
salt to taste
2 tablespoons ancho chile powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 1/2 cups water, or as needed
1 cup tomato puree
2 (15 ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced

Directions

1 Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Cook and stir hot and mild Italian sausage, onion, and a pinch of salt in hot oil until sausage is browned and crumbly, and most of the liquid is evaporated, about 10 minutes.
2 Stir in ancho chile powder, paprika, cumin, black pepper, chipotle chile powder, and oregano; sauté until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
3 Pour in water and tomato purée; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook at a steady simmer until sausage is tender, about 45 minutes. Add more water as needed and skim any fat that floats to the top.
4 Stir in beans and bell peppers. Simmer until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes. Season with salt.