Dinner-Size Texas Chili Cheese Fries

Ingredients

4 very large Idaho potatoes, cut lengthwise into 6 wedges
2 tablespoons grill seasoning
2 tablespoons plus 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), plus additional, divided
2 to 2 1/2 pounds lean ground sirloin, turkey or chicken

1 large onion, chopped
3 to 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
1 jalapeo pepper, seeded and chopped
2 tablespoons (about 2 palmfuls) chili powder
2 teaspoons (half a palmful) ground cumin
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons tomato paste
Hot sauce, to taste
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 bottle dark beer, such as Negro Modelo, or 1 1/2 cups beef or chicken stock
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons yellow mustard
1 cup milk
1 cup chicken stock
1 1/2 to 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
1 seedless cucumber, chopped

Preparation

Preheat oven to 450F.

Place the potatoes onto a baking sheet. Sprinkle them with the grill seasoning and a good drizzle of EVOO. Toss to coat, then transfer to the oven and roast, until crispy golden brown, about 40 minutes. Turn them once halfway through cooking time.

While the potatoes are roasting, place a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons EVOO, about 2 turns of the pan. Add the ground meat to the pan and cook until brown, about 6-7 minutes, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks using a potato masher or back of a wooden spoon.

Push the meat to one side of the pan and add the onion, garlic, jalapeo, chili powder and cumin to the pot. Cook until the veggies soften, 5-6 minutes, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Add the tomato paste to the pot and cook for about 1 minute, until it smells sweet and has caramelized slightly. Add the hot sauce, Worcestershire and beer or stock to the pot. Bring everything up to a bubble, then reduce the heat and simmer the chili until thickened, about 10 minutes.

While the chili is simmering, place a medium-size pot over medium-high heat and melt the butter. Sprinkle the flour over the melted butter and cook it for about a minute. Stir the mustard into the butter-flour mixture, then whisk in the milk and stock. Continue whisking the sauce until it has thickened up, then remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cheese until melted. Season the cheese sauce with salt and freshly ground black pepper and reserve.

In a large salad bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup EVOO along with the red wine vinegar, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add the lettuce and cucumber to the bowl and toss to combine. To serve, divide the fries between four plates and top each one with some chili-cheese sauce and some salad alongside.

from:rachaelrayshow