Chili con carne, or chili with meat, is one of those American dishes that everyone has a recipe for. And as many recipes there are for this stew, so are the opinions as to what ingredients should be included or excluded. Beans no beans, what type of beans, bell peppers no bell peppers, tomatoes no tomatoes, what type of chili, and what the stew should be served with, are just a few of the things people disagree on. Every year around the country there are hundreds, if not thousands, of chili cook-offs where contestants can voice their opinions as to what the best and most authentic way of cooking the chili is.
I’m not a chili purest and in fact know very little about it. But what I do know is that the general chili recipe that so many people know, is not a Mexican dish. In fact it is claimed by Texas as their national dish. I did a little research and found that what is considered authentic Texas style chili resembles more authentic Mexican cooking then the other versions.
This yummyliscious chili is Tasty Trix’s texas red chili. Notice how different it looks than mine? Texas chili does not include beans, instead of a chili spice mixture a variety of dried chiles and spices are prepared for the base, and tomatoes are never used. Trixie wrote a great article about Texas chili and it’s one I highly suggest you read to find out how you too can make it like in her mouthwatering photo.
Now I know you probably already have a great chili recipe that you’re loyal too. The recipe I’m sharing today is the one I’m loyal to. For some reason I crave chili in the summer time and it’s when I make it the most, the other time of the year it hardly makes an appearance on our table. I love to eat a bowl of chili with either corn bread or saltine crackers. Saltines are hard to come by here so I usually go the cornbread route. My husband on the other hand loves to eat his chili with homemade flour tortillas. But this recipe also works great for chili cheese dogs and chili cheese fries. Some times I make a double batch so one night we can eat a bowl and the next chili dogs — so yummy!
- 1 tbsp ground cummin seed
- 1 tbsp sweet Paprika
- 1 tbsp granulated garlic
- ½ tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp. ground black pepper
- 2 tsp cayenne pepper, adjust to taste
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 8 garlic cloves, minced
- 300 grams lean beef, cut into bite size pieces
- 1 small green bell pepper
- 1 can kidney or pinto beans, or 1 cup home cooked
- 1 can of stewed tomatoes
- 4 cups or 1 liter beef broth, low sodium & no MSG
- 1.5 tsp sea salt
- ¼ cup chili spice mixture
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tbsp olive or vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp fine corn flour
- 2 tbsp all purpose wheat flour
- water or broth from the chili
- Mix all of the spices in the chili spice mixture list. Drain the beans and rinse. Heat the oil and saute the onion until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another 2 minutes. Add the beef and cook through. Stir in the chili spice mixture, sea salt, bay leaf and pepper, mixing thoroughly until all the ingredients are well combined. Add the drained kidney beans, bell pepper, stewed tomatoes and beef broth. Cover and simmer until the meat is tender, it should take about 45 minutes. After this time taste and adjust the seasoning if desired. I usually add a bit more cumin and maybe some granulated garlic or cayenne -- adjust it to your taste.
- It is best to allow the chili to simmer for a long time as this helps combine all of the flavours and makes for a better tasting dish. I tend to simmer for at least 2 hours, sometimes I refrigerate it overnight and cook for another hour the next day. Depending on how liquidy or dry the stew is I will add more broth.
- About 10 minutes before serving chili prepare the thickner. In a small bowl combine the flours and add a bit of broth from the chili or water, mix into a thick and lump free paste. Add it to the chili, stir and allow to simmer for 10 minutes.
- This chili freezes well.
This may not be a fancy or gourmet meal but is sure makes a hearty, simple dinner that is good for the soul. If you have any left overs you can either freeze or refrigerate and enjoy the next couple of days.
How do you like to eat your chili?
P.S.
Submissions for August’s YBR roundup are now open. Add your best recipe here.
Scrumptious! Chili con carne is so comforting and delicious. Yours looks marvelous.
Cheers,
Rosa
Thanks Rosa!
I made chili this week too… It’s such a fantastic one pot dish… I love your ingredients… I really like how you thickened it with corn flour…next time I’m doing it your way. :)
Thanks, let me know how you like the taste it adds.
Your recipe looks delicious!
Thanks Theresa!
Spicy and a perfect meal. Love the pictures and the ingredients you’ve used.
Thanks Ash!
Your chili con carne looks like a bowl of comfort, love the idea of serving it with corn muffins!
It is comfort food to me. Thanks!
Chili is a great comfort food and this looks amazing.
It really is, thanks Nik!
i love the photography! lovely warm tone
Thanks Simi!
I’m not much of a chili purist. To me, there is chili and chili con carne. Our family cooks chili con carne Sonoran style – dredge and braise cubed chuck, pour in red chili sauce and cook about 45min – 1 hr (adding only salt, pepper, garlic powder). Chili, on the other hand has so many delicious varieties and I love trying them all. I can’t wait to try your version. Has all the ingredients I love. (I think I may use both kidney and pinto beans.) Thank you for sharing this lovely dish!
Thanks for sharing your way of cooking chili, and you’re right there are so many different varieties. Enjoy!
This looks simply delicious. American faire indeed!
Thanks!
G’day and this looks to be the heartiest American stew Nancy, true!
Love chili corn bread with this and your photos always inspire me too!
Cheers! Joanne
Thanks Joanne!
Chili con carne is something we eat at least twice a week…my husband loves it! I use the leftover as the pizza topping….really yum.
Wow, he really does.:) Sound like a great way of using the leftover. Thanks Angie!
I love chili con carne but have, until now, eaten it only in restaurants.
Your recipe made me change my mind and it’s already on my to do list.
Looks like it will become a family favorite :)
It’s quite simple to prepare at home, Daniela. I hope you give it a try sometime.:)
Great looking chili! I love any and all chili recipes. Texas chili is quite good and I do make that, but I more often make the bean and tomato version – more interesting flavor, IMO. Anyway, good stuff – thanks.
It’s hard not to like chili, isn’t it?:)
Oh how I love a good chili con carne and this one looks delicious! I know that one of the battles about Texas chili is beans vs. no beans. Some people swear that REAL chili doesn’t have beans. Me…I love beans in chili. Great recipe Nancy!
I would love to go to Texas and have a sampling of theirs. Thanks MJ!
It is raining and dreary today, but still quite warm. I would still gobble this up!
I LOVE chili. I grew up with it being made much like yours, with beans at meat. What makes it chili to me though is the spices used! There has to be paprika and cumin and I often add unsweetened cocoa powder and brewed coffee to the mix as well.
I now NEED a bowl of chili, excuse me while I go get some beans soaking :)
As a Texas native, I was raised to believe that chili wasn’t authentic chili if it had beans. However, as I moved to different states, I quickly realized that most people do put beans in their chili. But the question will always remain– to bean or not to bean?
It’s amazing how many variations there are. Thanks Tess!