Of all of the cooking contests around, chili cook offs are some of the most popular-- and most competitive. From state wide contest to smaller regional competitions, most chili cook offs have strict rules regarding where the chili is made (usually it must be made on site), the types of ingredients that can be used (chili mixes are a big no-no), and the amount of chili that must be made (usually a couple of gallons). With so much competition, it’s important that you come up with a unique combination of ingredients that will make your chili stand out.
Try starting with a basic chili recipe and then add some interesting touches. Make several batches and keep adding and changing the ingredients until you come up with a winning combination. Remember, depending on the amount of chili you need to make for the contest, you may have to double or even triple your favorite recipe.
Basic Chili Recipe
2 pounds ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 large green pepper, chopped
2- 15 ounce cans of kidney beans
15 ounce can of diced or whole tomatoes
1 small can of tomato sauce
2 tablespoons chili powder
Salt and pepper, to taste
Cook the ground beef in a deep sauté pan until beef is lightly browned. Drain and add the chopped onions and peppers and cook until peppers are soft and the onions are translucent. Add the kidney beans, diced tomatoes, can of tomato sauce and chili powder and heat until boiling. Turn the heat down to low and let the mixture simmer for several hours. You can add salt and pepper and more chili powder to taste.
Ways to make your chili stand out:
Meats: Try using a mixture of ground beef, ground pork or ground turkey.
Use cubed or shredded beef, pork or chicken in lieu of the ground meat or add some ground sausage to your meat mixture.
Beans: Try using black beans, white beans, limas or pinto beans instead of-- or in addition to-- kidney beans. A blend of beans will give your chili a more interesting taste and texture.
Seasonings and spices: For a Mexican flair, add some ground cumin or cilantro. A small amount of dry mustard or some chopped oregano or parsley are spices that will add a unique taste to your chili.
Vegetables: Add some deseeded mild or hot chili peppers or jalapeños. Some cloves of minced garlic will kick your chili recipe up a notch. Chopped celery, red and yellow bell peppers or green onions will add color and extra flavor to your recipe. Surprise the judges by adding something unexpected, like mushrooms or a tablespoon of horseradish.
Other things to add: Sweeten your chili up with a tablespoon of packed brown sugar. Add a can of corn or a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce or Tabasco hot sauce. A can of beef broth will give your chili a richer flavor. For more tomato flavor, add a can of tomato paste in addition to the tomato sauce. To add a real kick to your chili, add a cup of beer, red wine or a few dashes of whiskey. Mexicans are known for adding chocolate to their chili recipes-- add a few tablespoons of ground dark chocolate or cocoa powder.
Toppings: If you are permitted to serve accompaniments with your chili, have toppings such as sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, jalapenos and chopped onions available, as well as packets of saltine crackers. These finishing touches will help to enhance the flavor of your one-of-a-kind chili recipe.
Finally, try to come up with a catchy name for your entry. "Steve's Super Spicy Cincinnati Chili" packs a little more punch than simply "Steve's Chili".
