• Make-Ahead
• Staff Favorite

Ingredients

1. 1 tablespoon ground coriander
2. 1 tablespoon sweet smoked paprika
3. 1 teaspoon ground cumin
4. 5 pounds cleaned and trimmed pork cheeks (see Note)
5. Salt and freshly ground pepper
6. 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
7. 1 pound slab bacon, cut into 1/2-inch dice
8. 1 onion, finely chopped
9. 3 garlic cloves, minced
10. 2 jalapeños, seeded and very finely chopped
11. 2 red bell peppers, finely diced
12. One 12-ounce bottle amber ale or porter
13. 2 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth
14. 2 cups canned whole Italian tomatoes, crushed
15. 2 canned chipotles in adobo, seeded and minced
16. 1 pound dried black-eyed peas, picked over and rinsed
17. 1 small cinnamon stick
18. Shredded smoked cheddar cheese, cilantro leaves and crème fraîche, for serving

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the coriander, paprika and cumin and toss with the pork cheeks. Season with salt and pepper.
2. In a large enameled cast-iron casserole, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add half of the pork and cook over moderately high heat, turning once, until browned, about 8 minutes. Transfer the pork to a plate. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and brown the remaining pork over moderate heat. Transfer the pork to the plate.
3. Add the bacon to the casserole and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until browned and slightly crisp, about 7 minutes. Add the onion, garlic, jalapeños and bell peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
4. Return the pork cheeks to the casserole along with any accumulated juices. Add the ale, chicken stock, tomatoes, chipotles, black-eyed peas and cinnamon stick and bring to a boil. Cover and cook over very low heat until the meat and beans are tender, about 2 1/2 hours. Season the chili with salt and pepper. Spoon off the fat from the surface and discard the cinnamon stick. Serve the chili in bowls. Pass the smoked cheddar, cilantro and crème fraîche at the table.

Make Ahead

The pork cheek chili can be refrigerated for up to 5 days.

Serve With

Toasted Cornmeal Corn Bread.

Notes

You can substitute 5 pounds of pork shoulder for the pork cheeks. Cut the shoulder into 2-inch chunks and proceed with the recipe. Add 30 minutes to the cooking time in Step 4.