Winter is a time for warmth, joy, and family. It allows us to enjoy the fresh air and various outdoor activities such as skating, skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, and so on. When we come in to warm up after a day of winter sports, the desire for warmth often leads us to want to prepare meals that both energize and comfort us.
Comfort food dishes that are simple and nourishing are popular at Taste of Home, so we’ve decided to focus on one in particular – the famous Chili con Carne!
Chili con carne was originally made with ground or minced beef (hence con Carne, which means meat) and very spicy chili peppers. A Mexican spice blend of hot peppers, paprika, garlic, cumin, and other ingredients is added. In its more modern form, Chili contains tomatoes, onion, garlic, and sometimes bell peppers, beans, corn kernels, coriander, and other ingredients.
This dish, which is popular in many countries and cooked in a variety of ways, contains a plethora of unknown secrets. Let’s learn more about it together.
Ingredients
Optional: Sour cream and jalapeno slices
2 medium onions, chopped
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 pounds of ground beef
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 teaspoons beef bouillon granules
1 cup water
1 can (16 ounces) of kidney beans, rinsed and drained
Steps To Take In Preparing This Delicious Dish
Cook the beef in a Dutch oven over medium heat until it is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes; crumble the meat. Set aside after draining.
Heat the oil in the same pot and sauté the onions until tender. After adding the garlic, cook for an additional 1 minute. Combine the green pepper, salt, chili powder, bouillon, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, cumin, and oregano in a mixing bowl. Cook for 2 minutes, constantly stirring, until everything is combined.
Combine the tomatoes and the browned beef in a mixing bowl. Stir in the water. Bring the water to a boil. Reduce the Dutch oven’s heat to low, cover, and leave to simmer for 1 hour. Heat through the beans. Top with sour cream and jalapeno, if desired.
Chili Con Carne Tips
Make the Chili con carne in one pot only
Make the dish ahead by up to three days
Use fresh spices
Source Mexican dried chilies
Ensure to use marbled cut of beef
For more flavor, add coffee
Add few red kidney beans
Add dark chocolate
You can thicken the sauce with Masa Harina
Make the dish your own
Questions
1. What Exactly Is The Distinction Between Chili And Chili Con Carne?
In Spanish, Chili con carne stands for chili with beef, but both chili and chili con carne can refer to the authentic spicy dish of meat, tomatoes, beans, seasonings, chili peppers, and spices.
2. How Can You Brush Up On The Flavor Of Chili Con Carne?
Chili is a straightforward dish that can be tailored to your tastes. You can use any beef you want, replace the water with beef broth for more beef flavor, add more cayenne pepper for extra heat, and garnish with fresh oregano to brighten the dish.
3. Is Chili Con Carne Nutritious?
Chili has a high amount of protein and fiber and can be consumed guilt-free. If you are concerned about the amount of fat in your meat, choose leaner cuts such as ground turkey or chicken.
4. What Goes Well With Chili Con Carne?
This flavorsome Chili is a meal in and of itself, topped with a dollop of sour cream and shredded cheese. However, it can also be served with a simple side salad or slices of buttery cornbread.