Chili

[ATLien247]

I've grudgingly volunteered to participate in the potluck for this year's office Halloween party. I figure chili is a nice hearty food fit for the fall season, but I don't want to send anyone to the hospital in gastro-intestinal distress.

So...

Which national* restaurant franchise/chain has the best chili?

*[With location(s) in the Metro SLC area]

 

[Cabages]

Chunky

 

[Kirby]

Chili is cheap and easy to make, you should do it yourself.

 

[NFS4]

I make my own -- I use this recipe:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/I...-by-George/Detail.aspx

 

[Tea Bag]

BUY it pre-made? You could whip something up that would taste better than any chain could make cheaper and the hardest thing to do is cook up the hamburger or cubed beef and mabye chop a few vegetables.. There are tons of good recipes on the interwebs that are only 2-3 steps and you could cook it the night before the potluck.

 

[ElFenix]

you want some ground chuck - fatty beef makes better chili. about 2 lbs. you could also use a beef and ground pork mixture. 2 lbs beef and 1 lb pork is probably good.
1 16 oz can of chopped or crushed tomatoes
1 large white onion (yellow is good too), minced/diced
4 or 5 cloves garlic, smashed
chili powder to taste
ground cumin to taste
ground cayenne to taste
pepper and salt to taste
6er of beer
16 oz kidney beans if you like (though some will claim adding them means you're not making chili)

slowly brown the beef with the onions, add in garlic and spices, add in tomatoes, reduce over medium heat (check seasoning when its reduced) add beer, reduce, add another beer and reduce if you like, add beans last (reduce and check seasoning). best to make it a couple days beforehand and let it all meld in the fridge.

the chili powder is your seasoning base. if you want it a bit more earthy add cumin, if you want it more spicy add cayenne. you shouldn't need to add much salt as it is probably the first ingredient in chili powder.


any recipe that has bell peppers in it is not a chili recipe. it's a spaghetti sauce recipe.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: NFS4
I make my own -- I use this recipe:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/I...-by-George/Detail.aspx

that's close to the way I make mine, only I don't use green peppers or oregano and use more cayenne pepper and garlic

make sure you cook it in the crockpot though

 

[Balr0g]

If you brought purchased "chili" to a potluck, I'd be pissed. Who does that? If you purchase anything you're bringing - it's acceptable to be like potato salad or a bucket of KFC chicken.

Otherwise get in the kitchen and cook up some chili. Be sure to put plenty of kick in it.

 

[Balr0g]

Oh and don't use any of that ground beef crap. Chili w/ ground beef != real chili.

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
you want some ground chuck - fatty beef makes better chili. about 2 lbs. you could also use a beef and ground pork mixture. 2 lbs beef and 1 lb pork is probably good.
1 16 oz can of chopped or crushed tomatoes
1 large white onion (yellow is good too), minced/diced
4 or 5 cloves garlic, smashed
chili powder to taste
ground cumin to taste
ground cayenne to taste
pepper and salt to taste
6er of beer
16 oz kidney beans if you like (though some will claim adding them means you're not making chili)

slowly brown the beef with the onions, add in garlic and spices, add in tomatoes, reduce over medium heat (check seasoning when its reduced) add beer, reduce, add another beer and reduce if you like, add beans last (reduce and check seasoning). best to make it a couple days beforehand and let it all meld in the fridge.

the chili powder is your seasoning base. if you want it a bit more earthy add cumin, if you want it more spicy add cayenne. you shouldn't need to add much salt as it is probably the first ingredient in chili powder.


any recipe that has bell peppers in it is not a chili recipe. it's a spaghetti sauce recipe.

Good recipe, but I also add:

- paprika with the other spices - absolutely essential
- worcestershire sauce
- roast sweet red peppers - blended up - ignore ElFenix this is good shit
- a few squares of dark (very dark) chocolate

The beer I don't get.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: Nitemare

Originally posted by: NFS4
I make my own -- I use this recipe:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/I...-by-George/Detail.aspx

that's close to the way I make mine, only I don't use green peppers or oregano and use more cayenne pepper and garlic

make sure you cook it in the crockpot though

I like the green peppers, they add a nice sweetness that allows you to add extra hot stuff without throwing off the balance. That recipe looks okay, fairly quick and easy for beginners, but it lacks a lot of the things that separate good chili from great chili. It needs beer, fresh hot peppers and chipotles with adobo sauce to really step it up.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

First off, do not use ground meats instead cut chops/steaks/etc into cubes.

My general chili goes something like this:

1 Sirloin steak (usually 1.5 lbs or so) cut into small bite sized cubes
2-3 chicken/pork breasts/chops cut into cubes
2 beefsteak tomatoes (easier than using smaller ones which I like more)
1 can of tomato sauce
1-2 cans of chopped/crushed tomatoes
2 white/red onion diced
2 cans of red kidney beans (can be left out if you don't want beans)
1 habanero pepper minced
Garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, other spices based on taste.
Red wine (not too much, but helps with some flavor especially if the meat is marinated in it)
Beer (whatever I have available)
Thrown some whiskey in before as well and turned out great.

I cook the onions in a pan and oil
I then add tomatoes
Then add meat
Then add beans (if I put them in)
Then add spices to taste along with alcohol

 

[Injury]

Injury's simple chili recipe: (Adjust seasonings to your taste, just be advised that I don't necessarily measure when I make my chili so you may have to know what different flavors and ingredient has to adjust.)

Start at least the day before, break out the crock pot and put it on low.

- Put about 3lbs stewing beef, one coarsely chopped onion, and a spoonfull of salt in a skillet. Brown it VERY VERY lightly (just to get a little grease out) and use tongs to put the beef and onions in crock pot. Don't dump it in because you don't want the grease in there.

- Throw in the following:
-- 2 cans of Tomato SAUCE (not paste, not pasta sauce)(Roughly 16oz if you aren't sure.)
-- 1/2 cup of water
-- 1 cup of chili powder
-- 1/2 cup pepper
-- 1 spoon full of salt
-- 1/4 cup ground cumin

The following are optional but highly suggested:
-- 2 cans of pinto beans, drain the goop that they come in and rinse them in cold water for a few minutes.
-- 1 can of kidney beans, drain the goop that they come in and rinse them in cold water for a few minutes.
-- 1 Green Pepper, coarsely chopped. (Make sure you don't use the core/seeds)
-- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels
-- 1/2 to 1 full cup hot sauce (I use Frank's)

Optional Ingredients based on your preference are:

-- 1/2 cup corn
-- 1/2 cup celery
-- 1/2 cup black beans
-- 1 cup rice, washed
-- 1 chopped stewed tomatoes
-- coarsely chopped peppers of choice, if you have small peppers with serious punch you may want to toss them in a blender with the water before you add it just so they're well mixed

I would greatly suggest only adding 1-2 of the ingredients from the 3rd set as too many of them may give the chili too many conflicting flavors.


All you have to do is toss it all in the crock pot the night before and let it sit overnight.

One great tip is that if you start a few days early and throw it in the fridge before you go to work... heat it back up in the evening it becomes more flavorful. I don't know why, but chili tastes better the more times it is re-heated.

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
any recipe that has bell peppers in it is not a chili recipe. it's a spaghetti sauce recipe.

I like to add a green pepper to my chili for appearance. You really can't taste the difference with or without it, but you'd be surprised how much more appetizing people find it if it has chunks of green pepper in it.

 

[foghorn67]

Get the Carrol Shelby mix. It's actually, pretty good.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Atheus

Good recipe, but I also add:

- paprika with the other spices - absolutely essential
- worcestershire sauce
- roast sweet red peppers - blended up - ignore ElFenix this is good shit
- a few squares of dark (very dark) chocolate

The beer I don't get.

brits wouldn't know chili if it slapped them in the face (srsly your excuse for 'tex mex' is awful, stick with the indian food)


the beer provides liquid for the chili to reduce and help the flavors meld. otherwise you'd be adding water. which isn't as fun. plus you can drink them while waiting for the cooking. you should use something easy drinking like lone star (that's carling for you brits!)

Originally posted by: Injury

Originally posted by: ElFenix
any recipe that has bell peppers in it is not a chili recipe. it's a spaghetti sauce recipe.

I like to add a green pepper to my chili for appearance. You really can't taste the difference with or without it, but you'd be surprised how much more appetizing people find it if it has chunks of green pepper in it.

people in ohio also put their 'chili' on top of spaghetti. you know what that makes it?

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Atheus

Good recipe, but I also add:

- paprika with the other spices - absolutely essential
- worcestershire sauce
- roast sweet red peppers - blended up - ignore ElFenix this is good shit
- a few squares of dark (very dark) chocolate

The beer I don't get.

brits wouldn't know chili if it slapped them in the face (srsly your excuse for 'tex mex' is awful, stick with the indian food)


the beer provides liquid for the chili to reduce and help the flavors meld. otherwise you'd be adding water. which isn't as fun. plus you can drink them while waiting for the cooking. you should use something easy drinking like lone star (that's carling for you brits!)

I dunno I don't think I would ever put carling in food - that stuff is just for getting drunk - but maybe a nice dark bitter or something... maybe hobgoblin... I'll try it next time.

 

[Elstupido]

Here is an easy one

2lbs meat ground beef, chopped beef, spicy sausage, or whatever.
2 cans of diced tomatoes
2 cans red kidney beans
2 cans enchilada sauce
1 onion
chopped garlic, and any spices you wish to add

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Injury

Originally posted by: ElFenix
any recipe that has bell peppers in it is not a chili recipe. it's a spaghetti sauce recipe.

I like to add a green pepper to my chili for appearance. You really can't taste the difference with or without it, but you'd be surprised how much more appetizing people find it if it has chunks of green pepper in it.

people in ohio also put their 'chili' on top of spaghetti. you know what that makes it?

Cincinnati Style Chili is a world of difference. Don't you go insulting my beloved Cincy Chili or we're gonna have problems!

 

[JDub02]

I usually use the McCormick's chili packet from the grocery store as a start for my seasonings. Tastes pretty good. I don't follow their recipe, though.

1+ lb of ground chuck
1 large vidalia/yellow onion chopped
1 green pepper chopped
1 can stewed/diced tomatoes
1-2 cans tomato sauce
2 cans dark kidney beans
1 can pinto beans
1 packet chili seasoning
beer (sometimes)

add cayenne pepper and hot sauce to taste

I've been thinking about making it with chunked up beef instead of ground beef.

 

[OCGuy]

You should bring hotdogs as well, and ask the cute secretary if she wants a chili-dog. Very classy, and works like a charm.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: Tea Bag
BUY it pre-made? You could whip something up that would taste better than any chain could make cheaper and the hardest thing to do is cook up the hamburger or cubed beef and mabye chop a few vegetables.. There are tons of good recipes on the interwebs that are only 2-3 steps and you could cook it the night before the potluck.

blasphemy! You CANNOT make Chili as good as the Original World Famous Tommy's in So Cal. I have tried a million times.

real chili = beef, spices & nothing else

*runs off to Tommy's for lunch to order a Gallon container of Chili*

 

[Balr0g]

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: Tea Bag
BUY it pre-made? You could whip something up that would taste better than any chain could make cheaper and the hardest thing to do is cook up the hamburger or cubed beef and mabye chop a few vegetables.. There are tons of good recipes on the interwebs that are only 2-3 steps and you could cook it the night before the potluck.

blasphemy! You CANNOT make Chili as good as the Original World Famous Tommy's in So Cal. I have tried a million times.

real chili = beef, spices & nothing else

*runs off to Tommy's for lunch to order a Gallon container of Chili*

Send me some so that I can try it.

Then I will send you some of mine that beats it.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: Balr0g

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: Tea Bag
BUY it pre-made? You could whip something up that would taste better than any chain could make cheaper and the hardest thing to do is cook up the hamburger or cubed beef and mabye chop a few vegetables.. There are tons of good recipes on the interwebs that are only 2-3 steps and you could cook it the night before the potluck.

blasphemy! You CANNOT make Chili as good as the Original World Famous Tommy's in So Cal. I have tried a million times.

real chili = beef, spices & nothing else

*runs off to Tommy's for lunch to order a Gallon container of Chili*

Send me some so that I can try it.

Then I will send you some of mine that beats it.

No need, I know it can't be done. I know plenty of people who pay to have have it Overnighted to states where Tommy's don't exist. Tommys has the greatest chili ever, a lot would disagree. But of course a lot of people also think Chili's suppose to have beans & veggies in it. No offense but I don't need to try your chili, Tommy's is world famous for theirs and like I said people around the world pay to have FED-EX overnight them a batch. I would imagine that would cost a decent amount to do

 

[ATLien247]

You all are assuming I can cook... or that I have the time to cook...

I appreciate all the recipes though. Maybe I can sweet talk the wife into cooking up something.

And it's not like everyone else is bringing food they made themselves. I bet there are dinner rolls from a local bakery, potato and/or pasta salad from a local deli, etc. Or is the sticking point me trying to pass off restaurant chili for my own?