Beef Chili Cheese Fries

Source: Emeril Lagasse

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups chopped yellow onions
Salt and cayenne to taste
2 pounds ground beef
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
Crushed red pepper to taste
2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
3 cups peeled, seeded, and chopped fresh or canned tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3 cups beefsteak or beef broth
2 tablespoons Masa Harina
Vegetable oil for deep frying
2 large Idaho potatoes, peeled and cut into shoestrings,
    rinsed in cool water and patted dry
1/2 pound grated Cheddar cheese
1/2 pound grated Monterey jack cheese
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup sliced pickled jalapenos

Heat the vegetable oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the onions, season with salt and cayenne, and cook, stirring, until they begin to wilt, about 2 minutes.

Add the beef, chili powder, cumin, crushed red pepper and oregano. Season with salt and cayenne, and cook until all the pink in the meat disappears, 5 to 6 minutes.

Add the garlic, tomatoes, tomato paste and 2 1/2 cups beef stock; bring to boil, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer, uncovered, until the meat is tender, about 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Skim off any fat that rises to the surface.

Combine the Masa Harina with the remaining 1/2 cup stock and mix to blend. Slowly add to the pot, stirring to blend. The mixture will thicken. Cook for 30 minutes, then season again with salt and cayenne. It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

In a heavy, deep pot or an electric fryer, heat 4 inches of vegetable oil to 360 degrees F. Fry the shoestring potatoes in batches until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels, then season with salt and cayenne.

Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Cover the bottom of a large, glass rectangular baking pan with the shoestring potatoes.

Combine the Cheddar and jack cheeses. Sprinkle the cheese over the fries.

Bake just until the cheese melts, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and spoon the chili over the top of the fries. Garnish with the sour cream and jalapenos. Serve immediately.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.