The Ultimate Chili Recipe

Name: The Ultimate Chili Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 2 h 30 min
Total time: 3 h
Cuisine: American, TexMex
Ingredients: 2.5 pounds 85% lean ground beef; 2 teaspoons salt; ¾ teaspoon baking soda; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1 large yellow onion (or 2 small), minced; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 1 red bell pepper, minced; 2 tablespoons ancho chile powder; 1 tablespoon chipotle chile powder; 1 tablespoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; ½ teaspoon ground coriander; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; ¼ teaspoon cinnamon (optional, for a sweeter chili); 2 tablespoons cornmeal; 3 cups beef broth; 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes; ¼ cup tomato paste; 1 tablespoon molasses, such as Grandma's Original (optional, for a sweeter chili); 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, from 1 lime; Cilantro, lime wedges, sour cream, cheese, scallions