The Great Chili Debate: Beans or no Beans?

[gsdx]

Beans! 3 kinds...red kidney beans, chili beans, and pork & beans.

I use 3 types as well: red kidney beans (2 tins), beans in tomato sauce (2 small tins without pork), and chick peas (1 tin).

The chick peas were an accident. I bought the wrong type by mistake and decided to put the in the chili anyway. I loved it and I put them in all the time now.

 

[FuryOfFirestorm]

Yes, that's what basically it is; a spicy but not "hot" meat sauce. With all that chili powder, cumin, and paprika, you don't want to serve it with pasta, lol.

But I do like to serve it with beans, Pintos, cooked and served separately. Put some beans in your bowl, then the chili. Put some shredded Monterey Jack cheese on the top, serve with saltines and beer...lots of beer.

In some places, they serve chili on spaghetti and cover it with shredded cheddar cheese.

 

[FuryOfFirestorm]

I use 3 types as well: red kidney beans (2 tins), beans in tomato sauce (2 small tins without pork), and chick peas (1 tin).

The chick peas were an accident. I bought the wrong type by mistake and decided to put the in the chili anyway. I loved it and I put them in all the time now.

I've done that too. If you like chickpeas in chili, try using hominy. It has a similar taste and texture.

 

[FuryOfFirestorm]

Must have beans.

And be made with steak chunks, not ground beef.

And adobo.

And some bittersweet chocolate.

- - - Updated - - -

Must have beans.

And be made with steak chunks, not ground beef.

And adobo.

And some bittersweet chocolate.

Yes on everything, but I like both ground beef and steak chunks. Every used Mexican chocolate in lieu of bittersweet? It's not sweet at all and has hints of almonds and cinnamon.

 

[zoltanspawn]

No tomatoes.

The recipe I make consists of

lean beef
olive oil
bay leaves
chili powder
salt
up to 10 cloves chopped garlic
cumin (comino)
oregano
marjoram
red pepper
black pepper
sugar
paprika
flour or corn meal

You know anybody who uses whole dried chilis instead of chili powder? Or, at least, like, ancho chili powder? I'm not a Texan, but I like to add a mix of dried peppers.

And be made with steak chunks, not ground beef.

Agreement.

and the flames went higher

I like it lipsmacking hot.

And don't tell my friend New Mexico, but Texas makes a better Frito Pie.

 

[zoltanspawn]

Yes on everything, but I like both ground beef and steak chunks.

You mean, together? Haven't tried that.

 

[jaysizzles]

I'm not familiar with Mexican chocolate...will have to search around to see if/where it's available. I do put a tbsp or 2 of cocoa powder in my pot of chili....love the way it turns the sauce a nice rich dark color.

 

[MissAnne]

Ive been making a veggie chili for quite sometime. The recipe does call for beans, but I NEVER put bean in it. I realy dont enjoy kidney beans or most beans for that matter.

When I do have beans they are baked vegetarian.

 

[gsdx]

I've done that too. If you like chickpeas in chili, try using hominy.

I don't think that is even sold up here. It's not even in my spell-check dictionary.

 

[zoltanspawn]

Coffee? Cigar ashes? Bourbon? Smoked cinnamon? Venison? Cane syrup?

 

[rareboy]

I'm not familiar with Mexican chocolate...will have to search around to see if/where it's available. I do put a tbsp or 2 of cocoa powder in my pot of chili....love the way it turns the sauce a nice rich dark color.

Perfectly good subsitute. We also use it for gravies.

 

[FuryOfFirestorm]

I'm not familiar with Mexican chocolate...will have to search around to see if/where it's available. I do put a tbsp or 2 of cocoa powder in my pot of chili....love the way it turns the sauce a nice rich dark color.

It's available in most stores, either in the exotic foods section or the sugar and flour aisle. It comes in little discs, not squares.

 

[blackbeltninja]

We don't do chili here in .za.

We do bolognese or arrabiata with pasta, and that's about as far as it goes.

it's easier to spice it up than mild it down.

Full-fat or double-cream yoghurt or (sour) cream is the easiest way to take the heat out of something. Or coconut milk, but I suspect that will screw too much with the flavours you have already. Works well to de-heat Thai food, though.

-d-

 

[FuryOfFirestorm]

I don't think that is even sold up here. It's not even in my spell-check dictionary.

It comes in cans and is usually found next to the canned corn.

 

[doctorsun]

No beans. That's real chili.

In any case, I prefer Cincinnati chili, which is always without beans in the chili itself. Beans are only added as a topping if one desires.

 

[star-warrior]

All of you need to try my Chili recipe with extra beans.I like to call it Chili ala Hiroshima

I bet it winds up as Krakatoa when it emerges at the other side..

 

[gsdx]

It comes in cans and is usually found next to the canned corn.

In 6 decades, I have never seen it for sale up here. If grits aren't the same thing, I haven't seen that for sale, either.

I guess it's as popular up here as poutine is popular down there.

 

[G-Lexington]

I had a bad incident once where I made myself a pot of super spicy gumbo. after eating it for an entire long weekend, my lips were raw and in pain from the spice... ever since, I appreciate having post-cooking spice options and it's easier to spice it up than mild it down.

Actually, it's easier to dump the whole bottle in, and try to belittle and guilt-trip people into eating it.

Lex

 

[Audio Tech]

I actually didn't care for chili in general, until my dad accidentally put mint in it instead of whatever it was that looked similar.

Dear god, I couldn't eat enough of it! Now we always put some mint into chili. Beans or not.

 

[ixthrock]

Beans. I use dried kidneys or maybe black beans or pintos (or a combo if I've got leftovers), and for many years made Vegetarian Chili.

My chili is usually spicy in the "flavor" sense rather than blister-the-tongue sense. I'm with you, Lex; I like to taste the melange of flavors. I never use a recipe - the combo of beans, tomatoes, peppers, cumin, paprika and cayenne varies but it's always "chili" to me.

Now you guys have got me in a mood to make some.

I've been wanting to make a Green Chili with tomatilloes rather than tomatoes. Maybe that's what I'll do.