Chef John's Italian Sausage Chili

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons ancho chile powder 
• 30 ounce .5 can cannellini beans drained and rinsed canned
• 0.5 teaspoon chipotle chile powder 
• 1  bell pepper diced green
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin 
• 1 teaspoon ground pepper black
• 1.3 pounds sausage italian hot
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• 1  onion chopped
• 0.5 teaspoon oregano dried
• 1 teaspoon paprika 
• 1  bell pepper diced red
• 6 servings salt to taste
• 1.3 pounds mild sausage italian
• 1 cup tomato purée 
• 2.5 cups water or as needed

Equipment

• pot
• wooden spoon

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Cook and stir hot Italian sausage, mild Italian sausage, onion, and a pinch of salt together in the pot, breaking up sausage with a wooden spoon. Cook until sausage is browned and crumbly, and most of the liquid is evaporated, about 10 minutes.
2. Stir ancho chile powder, paprika, cumin, ground black pepper, chipotle chile powder, and oregano into sausage mixture; saute until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
3. Pour water and tomato puree into sausage mixture, bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook on a steady simmer until sausage is tender, about 45 minutes.
4. Add water as necessary and skim any fat that floats to the top.
5. Stir cannellini beans, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper into sausage mixture. Simmer until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes. Season with salt to taste.