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The Best Chili Ever Recipe A methodical approach to perfecting classic beef chili.
serious eats ^

Posted on 01/31/2022 3:17:16 PM PST by mylife

gotta admit up front: The title of this article is somewhat misleading. Yes, we will discuss chili, and yes, it's the best chili I personally have ever made.

But! To call something "the best chili ever" implies that the recipe is perfect, and perfection implies that there is no room for improvement. I can only hope that others will continue perfecting the chili work that began on the Tex-Mex border, and that I continue testing, well after the last rich and spicy remnant is licked clean off the bottom of the bowl. With that disclaimer out of the way, let's move on to the testing.

My first step was to set up some parameters that would define the ultimate chili. Certainly, there are disputes in the chili world as to what makes the best. Ground beef or chunks? Are tomatoes allowed? Should we even mention beans? But I think we can all agree on a few things.

The ultimate chili should:

Have a rich, complex chile flavor that combines sweet, bitter, hot, fresh, and fruity elements in balance. Have a robust, meaty, beefy flavor. Assuming that it contains beans, have beans that are tender, creamy, and intact. Be bound together by a thick, deep-red sauce.

To achieve these goals, I decided to break down the chili into its distinct elements—the chiles, the beef, the beans, and the flavorings—perfecting each one before putting them all together in one big happy pot.

The Chiles: this important, as is the meat, i add beef chorizo as well

(Excerpt) Read more at seriouseats.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Food; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: chili; food; recipes
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To: mylife

Hey don’t forget the two beers!! One for the chili and one for the cook!!


121 posted on 01/31/2022 7:14:50 PM PST by OKC Patriot ("Never Forget"!)
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To: oldvirginian

happy trails...


122 posted on 01/31/2022 7:14:56 PM PST by mylife (France? what can you say? How do you rule a land with 246 kinds of cheese?)
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To: OKC Patriot

one for the cook to be sure!


123 posted on 01/31/2022 7:16:04 PM PST by mylife (France? what can you say? How do you rule a land with 246 kinds of cheese?)
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To: .44 Special
“Cincinnati is the chili capitol of the woild”

I have actually had a Skyline Chili "three way" while IN Cincinnati.

The waves of indigestion were the worst I have ever had in my life.

If you are in Cincinnati find a private German food restaurant and enjoy.

.

124 posted on 01/31/2022 7:18:51 PM PST by TLI (ITINERIS IMPENDEO VALHALLA)
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To: Political Junkie Too

Except for Nolan Ryans, Kroger’s meat is swill. Buy mine from HEB, way better quality.


125 posted on 01/31/2022 7:19:45 PM PST by BiglyCommentary
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To: mylife
I went blind, could not breath, snot running out of my face!

That is what happens in the tear gas chamber in Army training.

Hope it was good...

.

126 posted on 01/31/2022 7:22:40 PM PST by TLI (ITINERIS IMPENDEO VALHALLA)
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To: chronicles

“and added a cup of strong black coffee to the pot.”

That sounds really weird. Who other than your husband has tasted that chili?


127 posted on 01/31/2022 7:22:49 PM PST by BiglyCommentary
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To: mylife

When I go through New Mexico, I have a few places I stop and get special chili powder to have on hand year round. One is a little store run by the Cooking School of the Southwest. They have someone local in town that makes it for them and I have bought off and on over 25 years.


128 posted on 01/31/2022 7:22:59 PM PST by KC Burke (If all the world is a stage, I would like to request my lighting be adjusted.)
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To: mylife

129 posted on 01/31/2022 7:23:42 PM PST by BipolarBob (The roar of the masses could be "Let's Go Brandon".)
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To: mylife

The meat must be browned for flavor..


130 posted on 01/31/2022 7:24:41 PM PST by BipolarBob (The roar of the masses could be "Let's Go Brandon".)
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To: LastDayz

Trying to convince the wife to go to the Terlingua Chili Cookoff this year. It’s been on my “Todo List” for years.


131 posted on 01/31/2022 7:25:50 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: hoe_cake

I’ll toss in a couple of diced scallion bunches to get that green color. Pinto, red, and black beans look very coloful.


132 posted on 01/31/2022 7:26:46 PM PST by BiglyCommentary
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To: Flaming Conservative
I use Williams chili seasoning, cumin, ground red pepper, salt, garlic or garlic powder, pureed stewed tomatoes, a little tomato paste, hamburger, and kidney beans.

Hey, that's my recipe . . . too. But nowadays I'm experimenting with ground bison and lamb.

133 posted on 01/31/2022 7:28:44 PM PST by BipolarBob (The roar of the masses could be "Let's Go Brandon".)
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To: TLI

done both the chiles were better :)


134 posted on 01/31/2022 7:33:41 PM PST by mylife (France? what can you say? How do you rule a land with 246 kinds of cheese?)
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To: mylife

I have won many Tx chili cook offs

Maybe but have you won the CASI Terligua Chile cook off? I doubt it. It’s the world Championship and I would wager you’ve never even entered.

Keep on cook’n.


135 posted on 01/31/2022 7:38:43 PM PST by slouper (LWRC SPR 5.5 6)
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To: KC Burke

HEB in their jar raw bulk spice section sell both a New Mexico and San Antonio chili powders. San Antonio is darker and a tad more flavor than New Mexico.

Another thing they have in that section is a smoked sea salt. I’ve started using that in my chili.


136 posted on 01/31/2022 7:39:59 PM PST by BiglyCommentary
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To: BipolarBob

yeah, i’m stupid white guy.

yeesh dude


137 posted on 01/31/2022 7:43:26 PM PST by mylife (France? what can you say? How do you rule a land with 246 kinds of cheese?)
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To: BipolarBob

not correct.


138 posted on 01/31/2022 7:44:07 PM PST by mylife (France? what can you say? How do you rule a land with 246 kinds of cheese?)
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To: BipolarBob

yer home page is funny :)


139 posted on 01/31/2022 7:46:25 PM PST by mylife (France? what can you say? How do you rule a land with 246 kinds of cheese?)
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To: BipolarBob

Well it sure beats jumpin’ through all those hoops, and it’s ready in less than an hour.


140 posted on 01/31/2022 7:47:45 PM PST by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
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