Chipotle Beef Chili Bowls With Lime-Cilantro Crema

Cook’s Country 

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup sour cream
• 1⁄4 cup  minced fresh cilantro (divided)
• 2  teaspoons  grated lime zest (divided)
• 3  tablespoons  juice (divided)
•  salt and pepper (specified in directions)
• 1  lb lean ground beef (90 percent)
• 2  tablespoons water (used separately)
• 2  cups water (used separately)
• 1⁄4 teaspoon baking soda
• 2  tablespoons  vegetable oil (divided)
• 1  cup long-grain white rice
• 1  onion, chopped fine
• 1  red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped
• 1  tablespoon ground cumin
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 2  teaspoons  dried chipotle powder or 2  teaspoons dried ancho chile powder
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed
• 1  cup frozen corn, thawed

Directions

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position, place 4 individual serving bowls on rack, and heat oven to 200°F.
2. Whisk sour cream, 2 tablespoons cilantro, 1 teaspoon lime zest, 1 tablespoon lime juice and 1/4 teaspoon salt together in bowl; cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
3. Toss beef with 2 tablespoons water, baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pinch pepper in bowl until thoroughly combined; let sit for 20 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add rice and cook, stirring often, until edges begin to turn translucent, about 2 minutes.
5. Add remaining 2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt and bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, about 20 minutes.
6. Off heat, to the rice add remaining 1 teaspoon lime zest and remaining 2 tablespoons lime juice and fluff gently with fork to incorporate. Divide cooked rice among warmed bowls, cover with aluminum foil, and keep warm in oven.
7. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in now-empty skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and bell pepper and cook until just beginning to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add beef mixture, breaking up meat with wooden spoon, and cook until no longer pink, 6 to 8 minutes.
8. Stir in cumin, garlic and chili powder and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in tomato sauce, beans, corn and 1 teaspoon salt and cook until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.
9. Spoon chili over rice in bowls, sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro, and serve with lime-cilantro crema.