The Seward-made Hot Link sausage captures flavors of the growing season—with Anaheim, serrano and padrón peppers from Sin Fronteras Farm & Food in Stillwater, Minnesota, and pork from Peterson Craftsman Meats in Osceola, Wisconsin. Both are local Community Foods producers.

Harness fresh, local pepper taste this winter by using the Hot Link as a chili starter. Below is one of our employee’s takes on super-spicy, super-tasty chili that gets its zing from the Hot Link. The Hot Link is available now at the Meat counter.

Hot Link Chili with Seward-Made Sausage

Ingredients
7-8 large tomatoes, halved and roasted
1 large red onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
Hot peppers, minced, to taste (jalapeños work)
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. unsweetened chocolate
1 bottle beer (substitution: 1 1/2-2 cups stock)
1 Tbsp. cumin
6 Tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. coriander
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
Ancho chili paste (details below)
32 oz. beef stock
2 or 3 slices bacon, chopped
1 ½ – 2 pounds ground meat (1 lb. lean ground beef and 1/2 lb. Seward-made Hot Link, which is what makes this recipe HOT!)
1 can black beans
1 can kidney beans (or substitute pinto)

Optional toppings: lime juice, sour cream, green onions, cilantro and/or shredded cheddar cheese

Method
Render the bacon, remove from pan. Brown the meat, remove from pan. Soak three dried ancho peppers for up to 30 minutes, remove their seeds and ribs, then puree with olive oil as needed to make a paste. Roast tomatoes by placing cut side down on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil and salt, cook in 400-degree oven for about 15 minutes. Sauté onion, garlic and peppers of your choice to create the base of the chili, at least 10 minutes. Combine all ingredients listed above, except for meat and beans, and let this broth simmer for about an hour.

Then, add the browned meat, cooked bacon and beans. Add additional chili powder and chocolate, to taste. Cook for two more hours on low. Finish with lime juice. Garnish with sour cream, green onions, cilantro and/or shredded cheddar cheese.