Without.....It Ain't Real Chili

all this wisdom on the humble bowl of red , why has no one mentioned the green chile or chile verde ? , made with pork , taters , tomatillos and green chiles . some really good stuff . add a side of crunchy corn bread . mmm

all this wisdom on the humble bowl of red , why has no one mentioned the green chile or chile verde ? , made with pork , taters , tomatillos and green chiles . some really good stuff . add a side of crunchy corn bread . mmm

quote:

Originally posted by fred c doobs

all this wisdom on the humble bowl of red , why has no one mentioned the green chile or chile verde ? , made with pork , taters , tomatillos and green chiles . some really good stuff . add a side of crunchy corn bread . mmm

Sounds great! What time's dinner? (The cornbread is what reeled me in.)
Chili seems to me to be the equivalent of stew or goulash in some cultures. I'm a Cincinnati chili fan myself, but if I'm out of the Cincy area and see it on the menu somewhere, nine times out of ten I'm going to give it a try. If someone considers it chili, that's good enough for me.

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=378
Verde is much more regional, I think.

quote:

Originally posted by Bushie

hawkeyejohn, in the CASI (Chili Appreciation Society, International) competitions, you are correct; chili with beans will NOT be judged. In ICS (International Chili Society) sanctioned events, they allow anything.

Sorry, but thats incorrect. I'm an active cook in both organizations and "fillers" to include beans and pasta are not allowed in ICS or CASI. ICS is more lenient on using fresh ingredients, but generally chopped so fine that by turn in time they are indistinguishable in the sauce. In CASI if there is something floating around the bowl that doesn't look like meat your out.

Contest chilis are contest chilis and then there are the rest of them. I'm not knocking all-meat chilis, but I like a little "junk" in mine. In addition to the meat and beans, I add diced zucchini, summer squash, and corn, posole, or canned hominy

I make, for lack of a better term, a buffalo chili stew. I do not use chili powder. Instead, I use a variety of dried chiles such as pasilla, ancho, New Mexican chiles, chipotle and piquin. I stem and seed them, reconstitute them in hot water, and blend them into a paste. This paste gets added to my sauteed onions, garlic and squash, and then ground buffalo is added to the vegetable-chili mix and allowed to cook for a while. During this time I will add the dry spices, which will include oregano and cumin and a couple of other secret ingredients.

I will then add water or stock, the beans and corn (or canned hominy or posole) and check seasonings from time to time. I may or may not add tomatoes. Sometimes I don't find this necessary. The beans and the hominy will thicken the broth very nicely.

This is my version of my grandma's feast stew. It has evolved from when she cooked it to when my mom made it and now how I make it. This is an Indian version that was designed to feed a lot of people.

I'll put it up against anyone's People's Choice entry.

I enjoy chili but with beans knocks my stomach sideways.

I do not do chile with beans or any thing else with beans. Beans are the musical fruit that does you know what.

Basic chili with a mild sauce does it just fine. I do enjoy lotsa onions, peppers and spices.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Nachise, The Chili you describe sounds like Kentucky Burgoo and some versions of Brunswick Stew I have enjoyed. Most of them are spicy, but not burning pepper-hot.

Paul, Despite what the purists think, Midwestern Chili is great, and beans are an integral part of the recipe. Eating Chili without Beans causes one to lose protein and,over time, your hair tends to fall out at an early age...Just ask Bushie.

I don't know about that, Mr. Mayor. I've been eating chili without any of that foreign stuff for many years and I have a full head of hair, except for the bald spots.

Even if my hair falls out, I am not doing beans. My immediate neighbors will suggest that I move

My chile will remain without beans. Forever.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

With all due respect, there ain't no beans in chili. If you make chili with beans you have some sort of Mexican stew, but it ain't chili, never was, never will be.

There is also no ground beef in chili, yes you really do have to cut the beef by hand into 1/4 inch chunks. Tomatoes are also banned along with all other fruits and vegetables other than onion and garlic.

True chili relies on meat, grease, chili peppers both dried and fresh, spices and herbs, water and that is it.

True chili takes all day to simmer slowly so it isn't soupy.

True chili has a great depth of flavor and good color because you have used several types of ground peppers from the mildest and most colorful to the hottest you can stand.

All that other stuff you are tempted to throw into the chili pot, serve separately on the side.
You can have beans if they are a side dish. You can have rice with the chili over it, that's a classic Shanghai Jimmy. You can have pasta, again serve the chili over it.

I make only classic and historical chilis, but am not adverse to the 30s Chili Queen innovations that brought the extra stretcher ingredients to chili. I just label them for what they are, 30s Chili Queen stew. To understand chili, you have to know its origins and history.

Chili began way before the 30s Chili Queens. The native people of the Americas invented chili. It began with pemmican, hot peppers and water.

Chili came into its own in the late 19th century with the Texas cattle drives. Plenty of fresh beef on the hoof was available. Hot pepper was readily available, even on the trail as well as onion and garlic, thus cowboy chili was born. This is what is considered as true chili, although even this stands on the shoulders of pemmican chili.

Chili is a specific as well as an historical recipe and should be regarded as such. Would you even think of changing a classic recipe such as chicken cordon bleu? Maybe you could replace the chicken with the other white meat, pork. Going further, you could replace the cheese with peanut butter. Expensive ham, Hell, Spam works just as well. You could call it chicken cordon bleu, but it would not be chicken cordon bleu.

I would just like the same respect given to traditional American recipes as is given to traditional French recipes.

AMEN! I will now pass the plate and lead the choir in Texas our Texas!

quote:

Chili began way before the 30s Chili Queens. The native people of the Americas invented chili. It began with pemmican, hot peppers and water.

My mother and grandmother were some of those native peoples. Pemmican was dried buffalo, or venison or other game that was pounded out, mixed with berries and sundried. It was often reconstituted in stews.

Indian people, as a whole, often did not have a lot of meat at their disposal, and what game they got had to feed a lot of people. Hence, the practice of mixing meat and chiles with beans and whatever else was available or donated for a feast stew.

The tradition of a meat-only chili is a modern-day Texas invention, and chili manufacturers,cooks and ranchers prompted legislation declaring that the only true chili in Texas is one with just meat, chilis and spices. It ain't necessarily so.

If this is the case, there is Texas chili, and then there are all the rest of the chili recipes. I make mine and offer it up to my guests in the spirit of my mother, grandmother, and the rest of my ancestors.

It's good eats without any leftovers.

I was raised in Indiana and our chili had beans. I then moved to South Carolina and they dont use beans, now I am in Texas and still no beans....but I have to say real chili HAS beans! By the way the Texans are really enjoying my chili cheese dogs with beans.

What MUST be in it for us: black beans, red beans, pinto beans, sausage, 1 dried habernero, a few jalapenos, oregano, garlic garlic and more garlic, onions, preferably fresh tomatoes, tomato paste, black pepper, 1 beer, Worcestershire sauce and cooked all day on low in the crock pot!

Yah it is good!

Andrea

quote:

If this is the case, there is Texas chili, and then there are all the rest of the chili recipes. I make mine and offer it up to my guests in the spirit of my mother, grandmother, and the rest of my ancestors.

no such thing as "real" Chili............... Chili is a food like soup. You can throw the kitchen sink in it and call it "real" if you like, but soup is soup and chili is chili no mater what the hell is in it.......... "Real" like beauty is only in the eye of the beholder or in this case on the tongue of the beholder...............
One more caveat........ Chilies are native to South America and unless Texas is located some were close to the equator or Texas Chili parlors were established by native Inca or Aztecan indigenous people then we just don't have "real" chili here in North America
And to think that natives of North American invented "real" chili is ludicrous.

Now that that's clear lets all move on to what is "Real" Spaghetti Sauce ?

quote:

Originally posted by fpczyz

quote:

If this is the case, there is Texas chili, and then there are all the rest of the chili recipes. I make mine and offer it up to my guests in the spirit of my mother, grandmother, and the rest of my ancestors.

no such thing as "real" Chili............... Chili is a food like soup. You can throw the kitchen sink in it and call it "real" if you like, but soup is soup and chili is chili no mater what the hell is in it.......... "Real" like beauty is only in the eye of the beholder or in this case on the tongue of the beholder...............
One more caveat........ Chilies are native to South America and unless Texas is located some were close to the equator or Texas Chili parlors were established by native Inca or Aztecan indigenous people then we just don't have "real" chili here in North America
And to think that natives of North American invented "real" chili is ludicrous.

Now that that's clear lets all move on to what is "Real" Spaghetti Sauce ?

You just say that because you have never had real chili....just busting your chops!

Without getting into the Purist argument, just a simple thing for anyone who likes pasta or mac mixed in their spicy ground meat soup/stew that some are presumptuous enough to call chili...

Put uncooked spaghetti in a wide bowl and keep pushing and crushing it in the bowl until it's in about 1/4 in. pieces. Add these segments to the somewhat watery broth till cooked.

The advantage to this particular "chili-mac" is that unlike macaroni, the spaghetti doesn't swell up and absorb all the liquid as leftovers. It stays about the same.

Of course beans are essential.

Again, people will laugh here but in Wisconsin chili usually but not always has noodles in it. I guess its our way of trying to make it a full course meal or make it go further. I wish everybody though didnt put beans in it because I dont like beans. I dont mind a little spice. Spice is good.

No beans.
No tomatoes.
No cinnamon.
No chocolate.
No coffee.

I use flank steak, smoked for a couple hours @225 over oak. I chop it into 1/2" squares, add spices, beef broth, garlic and masa harina. Let it simmer for 3 hours and it's good to go.

This is a nice change from using chili powder. Take 3 ozs of dried ancho chiles, seed and stem them then soak in 1 qt of hot water for 30 minutes. Puree the chiles and water in a blender and then add to your chili.

First Post.. (Sorry if this has been covered before)

First and formost, there is no beans in chili.. AT ALL. You don't make chili to put on hot dogs, noodles, etc. you make chili to eat as THE meal. Maybe with some bread, maybe crackers, but not as a topper. Beans are something you use when you run out of ideas and need something to "fill" it. I believe that the top chili cook off rules and regulations state NO BEANS OR PASTA. Just an opinion..

Hook'em Horns!! GO TEXAS!

quote:

Originally posted by alexis0714

First Post.. (Sorry if this has been covered before)

First and formost, there is no beans in chili.. AT ALL. You don't make chili to put on hot dogs, noodles, etc. you make chili to eat as THE meal. Maybe with some bread, maybe crackers, but not as a topper. Beans are something you use when you run out of ideas and need something to "fill" it. I believe that the top chili cook off rules and regulations state NO BEANS OR PASTA. Just an opinion..

Hook'em Horns!! GO TEXAS!

http://www.cactushill.com/TCP/menu/default.htm

The horror!!!! Texas Chili Parlor in Austin not only puts beans in their chili but offers a Five-Bean Vegetable Chili.. Maybe you need to hop on ol I-35 and go have a talk with these folks.

quote:

Originally posted by dgschroeder

quote:

Originally posted by alexis0714

First Post.. (Sorry if this has been covered before)

First and formost, there is no beans in chili.. AT ALL. You don't make chili to put on hot dogs, noodles, etc. you make chili to eat as THE meal. Maybe with some bread, maybe crackers, but not as a topper. Beans are something you use when you run out of ideas and need something to "fill" it. I believe that the top chili cook off rules and regulations state NO BEANS OR PASTA. Just an opinion..

Hook'em Horns!! GO TEXAS!

http://www.cactushill.com/TCP/menu/default.htm

The horror!!!! Texas Chili Parlor in Austin not only puts beans in their chili but offers a Five-Bean Vegetable Chili.. Maybe you need to hop on ol I-35 and go have a talk with these folks.

Austin? You mean Moscow-on-the-Brazos? Austin ain't Texas, it's where we send the liberals, hippies, freaks, commies and other misfits.

quote:

Originally posted by Photokirk

quote:

Originally posted by dgschroeder

quote:

Originally posted by alexis0714

First Post.. (Sorry if this has been covered before)

First and formost, there is no beans in chili.. AT ALL. You don't make chili to put on hot dogs, noodles, etc. you make chili to eat as THE meal. Maybe with some bread, maybe crackers, but not as a topper. Beans are something you use when you run out of ideas and need something to "fill" it. I believe that the top chili cook off rules and regulations state NO BEANS OR PASTA. Just an opinion..

Hook'em Horns!! GO TEXAS!

http://www.cactushill.com/TCP/menu/default.htm

The horror!!!! Texas Chili Parlor in Austin not only puts beans in their chili but offers a Five-Bean Vegetable Chili.. Maybe you need to hop on ol I-35 and go have a talk with these folks.

Austin? You mean Moscow-on-the-Brazos? Austin ain't Texas, it's where we send the liberals, hippies, freaks, commies and other misfits.

I sincerely hope that your comments were in jest! Obviously you know that Austin is Texas and the folks that reside there would not appreciate you comments.

I would suggest that you calm your comments.

Paul E.
Ssmith
Moderator
Knoxville, TN

chili is simply good beef(burger and cubed,tomato fillets,tomato sauce, beef broth,cumin,chili powder,oregano,salt,pepper,garlic,& cayenne to taste.

quote:

Originally posted by drsmoke02

chili is simply good beef(burger and cubed,tomato fillets,tomato sauce, beef broth,cumin,chili powder,oregano,salt,pepper,garlic,& cayenne to taste.

Dont forget the elbow macaroni and beans...LOL

quote:

Originally posted by Parses6

quote:

I sincerely hope that your comments were in jest! Obviously you know that Austin is Texas and the folks that reside there would not appreciate you comments.

I would suggest that you calm your comments.

Paul E.
Ssmith
Moderator
Knoxville, TN

I must disagree with you Paul and agree with Photokirk. I was in Austin once and there was a large proportion of limp wristed, light in the loafer, ivory tower, limosine liberal misfits. An unpleasant experience to say the least.

Geesh guys... I was just teasing Alexis about being from Dallas and saying chili shouldn't have beans (which I agree) only to find it happening just down the road in Austin. I do believe there is another forum here if you want to debate wrist strength, shoe preference,political leanings and choice of vehicle.

quote:

Originally posted by dgschroeder

quote:

Originally posted by Parses6

quote:

I sincerely hope that your comments were in jest! Obviously you know that Austin is Texas and the folks that reside there would not appreciate you comments.

I would suggest that you calm your comments.

Paul E.
Ssmith
Moderator
Knoxville, TN

I must disagree with you Paul and agree with Photokirk. I was in Austin once and there was a large proportion of limp wristed, light in the loafer, ivory tower, limosine liberal misfits. An unpleasant experience to say the least.

Geesh guys... I was just teasing Alexis about being from Dallas and saying chili shouldn't have beans (which I agree) only to find it happening just down the road in Austin. I do believe there is another forum here if you want to debate wrist strength, shoe preference,political leanings and choice of vehicle.

Dallas??? Dallas is worse than Austin. We call Dallas "the Boston of Texas" - full of uppity people and the roads are always under construction.

Let me add a bunch of smilies so that there is no mistake that I am joking -

Paul - I live in Texas, Houston to be exact. The folks in Austin are well aware of my comments. They have similar disparaging things to say about us gun-owning, meat-eating, knucle-dragging Houstonians. Texas is a place of friendly rivalries. I'm pretty sure my comments didn't cause any Austinites to spill their bongwater on to their copies of the Communist Manifesto.

Just dont start talking trash about Fort Worth........jk