2 tbsps McCormick's Montreal Brand steak seasoning .
1/2 lb baby portabella mushrooms, sliced .
2 canned chipotle chiles in adobo, sliced (with their juices) .
1 (12 oz) bottle imported beer (Stella Artois) .
2 tbsps Worcestershire sauce .
2 lbs ground sirloin .
1 (15 oz) can crushed tomatoes .
8 oz smoked gouda cheese, shredded .
1 c beef broth .
1 large red bell pepper, sliced .
2-3 tbsps fresh thyme leaves .
3 tbsps extra-virgin olive oil .
1/4 lb shiitake mushroom caps, sliced
Directions
Step #1 Heat a large pot over high heat; add 2 tbsps olive oil & the meat; season it with grill seasoning & sear it, browning & crumbling it, for 3-5 mins.
Step #2 Transfer meat to a plate & return the pot to the stove.
Step #3 Decrease the heat to med-high & add the remaining tbsps olive oil.
Step #4 Add in the mushrooms & begin to brown them before adding the other veggies.
Step #5 After 2-3 mins the mushrooms will begin to shrink & soften.
Step #6 Push the mushrooms off to one side of the pot & add all the remaining veggies to the opposite side of the pot.
Step #7 Once the onions, celery, bell peppers, & garlic have been working for a few mins, mix the veggies with the mushrooms.
Step #8 Return the meat to the pan, & season this with the Worcestershire sauce, chipotle, & cumin.
Step #9 Add the beer to deglaze the pot, scraping up all the pan drippings.
Step #10 Reduce the beer by half, 2 mins.
Step #11 Add the black beans, tomatoes, broth, & thyme to the chili; simmer for 10 mins to let the flavors mix.
Step #12 Taste to adjust the seasonings.
Step #13 Top bowlfuls of the chili with shredded smoked Gouda & finely sliced raw onions.