NEIMAN MARCUS CHILI BLANCO

Servings: 8
Ingredients:

1 lb Dried great northen beans
2 lb Chicken breast
1 tb Olive oil
2    Medium onions, chopped
4    Garlic cloves, chopped
2 cn Mild green chilies 4 oz
2 ts Ground cumin
1 1/2 ts Dried oregano, crumbled
1/4 ts Cayenne pepper
6 c  Chicken broth
3 c  Montery Jack cheese, grated
Sour Cream
Salsa
Fresh cilantro, chopped

Rinse and pick over beans; place in heavy large pot. Add enough cold water
to cover by at least 3 inches; soak overnight.

Place chicken in large heavy saucepan. If time permits add cut up onions,
celery, carrots, salt and pepper for flavor. Add cold water to cover and
bring to simmer. Cook until just tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and cool.
Remove skin. Cut chicken into cubes.

Drain beans. Heat oil in soame pot over medium heat. Add onions and saute
until translucent, about 10 minutes. Stir in garlic,then chilies, cumin,
oregano, cloves and cayenne and saute 2 minutes. Add beans and stock and
bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until beans are verry tender,
stirring occasionaly, about 2 hours. Beans and chicken can be prepared 1
day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.

Bring chili bean mixture to simmer before continuing with recipe. Add
chicken and 1 c. cheese to chili and stir until cheese melts. Season to
tast with salt and pepper.

Pour cheese into large tureen. Place remaining cheese, sour cream, salsa
and cilanro in small bowls around the tureen so that gust can add whatever
toppings they want to there chili. makes 8 servings.

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