Chili - Beans or no beans?

[tcsenter]

I prefer chili with beans and meat but I don't get all snobby about chili interpretations that have one but not the other. Its all in the spices and seasonings, anyway (real chili should open some sinus passages). I also like garlic in my chili, but then I use garlic in a lot of things. I don't think meat should be the main feature/attraction of chili, though I've come to expect Texas-style chili to make meat the focus.

On edit: I agree that chili toppings should (preferably) have no beans. But then I would refer to that as "chili topping" or maybe even "chili sauce".

 

[nageov3t]

On edit: I agree that chili toppings should (preferably) have no beans. But then I would refer to that as "chili topping" or maybe even "chili sauce".

I like beans in my chili, but I'd agree with that as well.

if I were making chili with the intent to serve it over fries or a hot dog (or even over rice), I'd skip the beans and veggies.

 

[zinfamous]

When you are in the middle of a cattle run, you probably don't have meat, but you would have beans in your provisions.

this.

and beans are fucking awesome. all beans, all the time. yum beans!

 

[zinfamous]

The "Chili" most people eat is just beef stew with beans, tomatoes and spices like cumin, cinnamon, and chocolate (the "secret ingredient").

Chile con Carne is simply meat cooked in a soup base of dried red chiles, stock and then thickened with corn flour (masa). Here's how I make it:

Cube 2lbs beef chuck. brown the beef cubes in oil or rendered beef fat then then remove from the pot and set aside.

Take your dried chile pods, remove the stems and grind them into a powder. I like to use a mix of chile negro, pasilla/poblano, ancho, and new mexico red. I use about a dozen chile pods. Grind the pods into a powder with a coffee grinder, mortar & pestle, blender, whatever you have handy. use something with a glass container. if your blender/grinder is plastic it may be difficult to remove the chile flavor from it, so unless you like chile flavored coffee, you might want to avoid using your favorite coffee grinder. I have one dedicated to making chile powder.

heat a large pot with oil or rendered fat, quickly toast the chile powder in the hot oil along with cumin seed if you desire. Don't burn it. add beef and cover with stock. simmer on low heat until the meat is tender. To thicken the liquid, mix a couple tablespoons of masa harina with cold water, then add to the pot, cook for a few more minutes and it should thicken up. Salt and pepper to taste. serve with diced onion, cilantro, avacado, sour cream, etc.

this sounds awesome.

Ima go do that.

 

[zinfamous]

Chili without beans is called spaghetti sauce. Chili has beans.

OK..now wtf is "spaghetti sauce?"

you mean a marinara? or a bolognese? or a putanesca? or an arrabiatta? or even that bastard of an American thing called "alfredo?"

 

[phucheneh]

OK..now wtf is "spaghetti sauce?"

you mean a marinara? or a bolognese? or a putanesca? or an arrabiatta? or even that bastard of an American thing called "alfredo?"

Or maybe he means the red meat sauce (usually ground beef in it) that everyone knows he means.

And he's right. If your chili uses one generic meat and no beans, congrats, you have spicy meat sauce.

 

[nageov3t]

that abomination known as "cincinnati chili" aside, I'd say if your tomato sauce tastes like chili, you're probably doing something wrong.

 

[zinfamous]

Or maybe he means the red meat sauce (usually ground beef in it) that everyone knows he means.

And he's right. If your chili uses one generic meat and no beans, congrats, you have spicy meat sauce.

when preparing a sauce for pasta....why would you ever overload it with cumin? basically, what loki said ^

 

[shortylickens]

Beans you bunch of savages

RACIST!

 

[phucheneh]

when preparing a sauce for pasta....why would you ever overload it with cumin? basically, what loki said ^

Hence the adjective 'spicy'...

 

[QueBert]

If your chili uses one generic meat and no beans, congrats, you have Chili.

ftfy.

 

[tcsenter]

if I were making chili with the intent to serve it over fries or a hot dog (or even over rice), I'd skip the beans and veggies.

Oh now we're on the verge of another Great Debate:

Chili Dogs or Coney Dogs??

 

[phucheneh]

Oh now we're on the verge of another Great Debate:

Chili Dogs or Coney Dogs??

I'm gonna plead ignorance here (I know, these 'texas chili' people will say I already did...bah, chili needs beans).

What's the difference? I hear the terms used interchangably. They're both a hot dog on a bun with chili and cheese on top.

 

[tcsenter]

What's the difference? I hear the terms used interchangably. They're both a hot dog on a bun with chili and cheese on top.

In many places, there is no difference. Where I'm from (Michigan), there is a particular style of 'coney topping' or 'sauce' that seems to have become more preferred. It's basically all ground beef with seasonings, thoroughly crumbled with just enough sauce to hold it together and keep the meat moist while it's in the warmer. No tomatoes, no beans, some chopped onions, practically all meat. Also, its not nearly as messy or drippy as most chili dogs and can be eaten as 'hand' food. e.g.

Where I'm from, you often cannot eat "chili dogs" by hand because they frequently overload it with chili and it becomes a heaping mess that you have to tackle from the plate with utensils.

 

[OutHouse]

beans contain a toxin that is destroyed by boiling or long term soaking.

its called an ENZYME.

 

[tcsenter]

its called ENZYME.

Same stuff that made "Bob" a happy guy?

 

[phucheneh]

Same stuff that made "Bob" a happy guy?

I LOL'd.

Those chili dogs...are weird. I would call those 'taco dogs.'

 

[tcsenter]

Those chili dogs...are weird. I would call those 'taco dogs.'

It really is sort of a hybrid between chili and taco meat. I guess you could call it chili (and paprika) seasoned taco meat, with a bit more moisture than taco meat, which is usually more dry and crumbly. Those photos are of pretty basic coneys. Of course, you can add chopped pickles, chopped onions, ketchup, salsa, some grated cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, whatever is offered for condiments or add-ons.

 

[QueBert]

best Chili in the world

So thick a fork will easily stand up in it, so delicious I could eat it every day. Original Tommy's forever - R.I.P. Mr. Tommy Koulax

 

[KeithTalent]

^^ Ugh, can you post a picture before you eat it next time please? D:

KT

 

[poopaskoopa]

This needs a poll. With beans.

 

[lxskllr]

^^ Ugh, can you post a picture before you eat it next time please? D:

KT

:^D

Beat me to it, but you phrased it better than I would have.

 

[nageov3t]

This needs a poll. With beans.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2301905

 

[dr150]

Horses for courses.

I like both.

With beans as standalone lunch or without beans if I'm adding it to something like rice.