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The Best Chili Ever Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried dark red kidney beans
• Kosher salt
• 4 quarts water
• 3 whole Ancho, Pasilla, or Mulato chilies, seeded, and torn into rough 1-inch pieces (about 1/2 ounce)
• 2 whole New Mexico red, California, Costeño, or Choricero chilies, seeded, and torn into rough 1-inch pieces (about 1/8 ounce)
• 1 whole Cascabel, Arbol, or Pequin chili, seeded, and torn in half
• 5 pounds bone-in beef short rib, trimmed of silverskin and excess fat
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 quart low-sodium chicken broth (preferably home made), divided
• 2 whole anchovy filets
• 1 teaspoon marmite
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 1/2 tablespoons whole cumin seeds, toasted, then ground
• 1 1/2 teaspoons whole coriander seeds, toasted, then ground
• 2 whole cloves, toasted and ground
• 1 star anise, toasted and ground
• 1 tablespoon extra-finely ground coffee beans
• 1 ounce chopped unsweetened chocolate
• 1 large yellow onion, diced fine (about 1.5 cups)
• 3 fresh Thai bird chiles or 1 jalapeño, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano leaves
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1/4 cup cider vinegar, plus more to taste
• 1/4 cup vodka or bourbon
• 1 tablespoon Buffalo-style hot sauce, such as Franks RedHot (or more to taste)
• 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• For the Garnish (all suggestions optional):>
• Scallions, sliced fine
• Cheddar, Jack, or Colby cheese, grated
• Sour cream
• Jalapeño or poblano peppers, diced and seeded
• Onion, diced
• Avocado, diced
• Saltines
• Fritos

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