Who doesn't love a big bowl of piping hot chili? It's definitely one of the best things you can eat after a long day out in the cold, and you can have it with just about every meal!
There are a lot of recipes out there for all sorts of variations of this dish, and there's plenty of ways to mix up your traditional ingredient lists to make something bold and new.
When making your chili, be sure to follow these neat little tricks to step up your game and wow everyone at the table!
Step 1: Lean Meat, High Heat
While you can make chili out of a wide range of meats (including chicken, turkey, and bison) we'll stick with the classic ground beef recipe.
When choosing your ground beef, go for extra-lean, low fat variety. It means more protein and the flavor profile will be much richer!
Next, get the stove top onto a high heat, add your oil, and then add your beef without touching it for 3-5 minutes. Once it begins to brown, then you can begin to break it apart.
Step 2: The Real Deal
You are going to want to use real chili's for this dish. They will taste better, add extra heat, and are much healthier for you too!
The same goes for all the vegetables that you plan on using in the chili, especially the beans! Instead of using canned black bean, buy dried ones and add them to water. They will have significantly less sodium than the tinned variety.
Feeling the heat? Don't sweat, we've got more tips heading your way!
Step 3: Stock Up
The secret to mind-blowing chili is this....
Stock. Really. Really really! If you add a couple cups of stock to the chili as it is boiling it's head off, you'll get some of the most tender meat and vegetables, that you will have ever tasted.
In order to knock it up yet another notch you'll want to add a wide array of herbs and spices, and the fresher the better!
Try using things like coriander, clove, bay leaves, even cinnamon to enhance the flavor!
Step 4: Simmer Down
You may be anxious to start mowing down on that bubbling brew on the stove top, and who could blame you? It smells delicious, but wait!
Give your chili time to properly cook. Even if most of it has heated up, it doesn't mean that the meat and beans are fully cooked. Nothing is worse than underdone chili, so do yourself a favor and step away from the ladel!
Approximately three hours should do the trick, but probably no more than 6 hours. Remember to stir!