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Step 1
To make your own special chili decide what meat you want to start out with. Traditionally it would be beef, but pork and chicken work out quite nicely.
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Step 2
Make up your sauce. Generally there is a lot of tomato paste, and a ton of chili powder, but besides that you can toss in whatever you want. Garlic, hot peppers, salt, pepper, sugar, cinnamon, paprika, a touch of basil, onion powder, curry, just pick a spice out of your pantry and give it a shake.
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Step 3
The most common bean is, of course, the red kidney bean. There's no getting around that, but why stop there, why not black and white beans as well. Maybe the odd lima-bean in there with garbonzo-beans and chick peas. I will always make it with the red kidney beans as the base, but remember to experiment. Toss in a half can of corn, why not? Who says peas and carrots don't belong in chili?
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Step 4
Chili is also an excellent way to use up leftover steak or other meats. If there's just half of a large steak or chicken left that no one seams to want slice it up, buy some beans, chili powder, tomato paste, and maybe some more ground beef and serve up chili with real meat chunks.
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Step 5
Chili is not an exact science. You may want it thicker or thinner, more meat and beans or just more sauce. That's why I say experiment, if you're following someone else's directions more than once then you aren't making it right.
Comments
eugeniakanaris said
on 11/12/2009 I like it with turkey too!
ourlastchance said
on 11/2/2009 Great variations and well put 5*
amysmarts said
on 10/30/2009 Great article on How to Experiment With Chili. Great chili tips and advice. Thanks. 5*