Squash And Chipotle Chili With Black Beans And Hominy

• 5 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 pounds beef chuck, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
• 2 large onions, diced
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 large jalapenos, seeded and diced
• Salt to taste
• 3 cups beef broth
• 2 12-ounce bottles dark beer
• 2 tablespoons pure ground chili, preferably New Mexican
• 2 tablespoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons oregano, preferably Mexican
• 1 large buttercup, kabocha or butternut squash, or 1 large chunk of calabaza (about 4 pounds)
• 2 to 4 canned chipotle chilies in adobo sauce
• 2 15-ounce cans black beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 15-ounce cans hominy, drained and rinsed
• Sour cream and chopped scallions for garnish

1. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in Dutch oven or heavy kettle over high heat.
2. Brown the beef, one quarter at a time, adding oil as needed.
3. Transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon.
4. Lower heat to medium-high, add remaining oil to pan and stir in onion, garlic and jalapenos.
5. Season well with salt, and saute until softened, 5 to 10 minutes.
6. Return beef to pan, and add broth, beer, chili powder and half the cumin and oregano.
7. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, until meat is very tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
8. Meanwhile, heat oven to 350 degrees.
9. Halve and seed squash, and lay cut side down on baking sheet.
10. Bake until very soft, about 1 hour.
11. Cool, then scrape out flesh and mash coarsely.
12. Add squash puree and remaining cumin and oregano to pot, and simmer 15 minutes.
13. Add water if necessary to keep mixture moist.
14. Chop 2 chipotles, and stir into pot with their sauce.
15. Add black beans and hominy, and simmer 10 to 15 minutes longer.
16. Chili should be stewlike rather than soupy.
17. Taste, and add more chipotles and salt if desired.
18. Serve in bowls garnished with sour cream and scallions.

olive oil, beef chuck, onions, garlic, jalapenos, salt, beef broth, ground chili, ground cumin, oregano, butternut squash, chilies, black beans, hominy, sour cream

Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/9571 (may not work)