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In my desperate attempts to escape the cabin fever that's holding us all hostage here in the northeast, I decided to cook up a couple of four-ways for myself and the bride the other night.
To the uninitiated, Cincinnati Chili looks nothing like what youve had before, But once you get a taste of this local Ohio specialty, you just might get hooked. Here is my personal favorite recipe for Cincinnati style chili.
If you happen to be near Cincinnati and want to try this delight, here is how you order:
One way: A bowl of plain chili....this is unheard of...nobody orders a one way.
Two way: A plate of spaghetti covered with chili.
Three way: Spaghetti, chili and onion.
Four way: Spaghetti. chili, onion and cheese.
Five way: Spaghetti, beans, chili, onions and cheese.
Ingredients
Chili
2 teaspoons salt or more to taste
1.5 pounds ground beef chuck
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 medium onions , chopped fine (about 2 cups)
2 medium cloves garlic , minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons cocoa
1.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
2 cups tomato sauce
Hot pepper sauce (I prefer Frank's original)
Accompaniments
1 pound spaghetti , cooked, drained, and tossed with 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
12 ounces sharp cheddar cheese , shredded
1
1 can red kidney beans (15-ounce), drained, rinsed, and warmed
medium onion, chopped
1
FOR THE CHILI: Bring 2 quarts of water and 1 teaspoon of the salt to
a boil in a large saucepan. Add the ground chuck, stirring vigorously
to separate the meat into individual strands. As soon as the foam from
the meat rises to the top (this takes about 30 seconds) and before the
water returns to a boil, drain the meat into a strainer and set it
aside.
Rinse and dry the empty saucepan. Set the pan over medium heat and
add the oil. When the oil is warm, add the onions and cook, stirring
frequently, until the onions are soft and browned around the edges, about
8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir
in the chili powder, oregano, cocoa, cinnamon, cayenne, allspice, black
pepper, and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring constantly,
until the spices are fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the broth,
water, vinegar, sugar, and tomato sauce, scraping the pan bottom to remove
any browned bits.
Add the blanched ground beef and increase the heat to high. As soon as the liquid boils, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the chili is deep red and has thickened slightly, about 1 hour. Adjust the seasonings, adding salt and hot pepper sauce to taste. (The chili can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat before serving.)
TO SERVE: Divide the buttered spaghetti among individual bowls.
Spoon the chili over the spaghetti and top with the cheese, beans, and
onion. Serve immediately.
Here are most of the necessary ingredients....garlic and tomato sauce are missing I believe, and cider vinegar as well.
You'll notice a bottle of Zing Zang bloody Mary mix in the photo...that was leftover from the holiday parties, and I thought I might replace the water and chicken broth in the recipe with it.
Step number one is the one that most chili aficionados will have the most trouble with....bring a large pan of water to a boil, and cook your ground beef.
Toss the meat in and whisk for about 30 seconds, then drain your beef.
This is what you'll be left with....the individual strands of meat that came out of the grinder...no clumps or lumps of meat....this is a trait of a true Cincinnati chili.
Now it's simple...just saute' some onions and garlic in a few tablespoons of oil
While the onions are cooking, you can measure out your spices
Then add your spices and cook until fragrant
Add your meat back to the pan along with your liquid ingredients, bring it to a boil, the reduce heat and give it a good long simmer. I usually cook mine a couple of hours.
When it's cooked to your liking...boil up a pot of spaghetti and toss it in butter
Now we'll plate up a "four way"
First the buttered spaghetti
Chili to your liking
Chopped raw onions
And plenty of shredded or grated cheddar cheese
Voila! a four-way is born. The addition of drained and rinsed red kidney beans would of course, make this a five-way.
I hope you folks get a chance to try this chili ...it really is different, but good!
To the uninitiated, Cincinnati Chili looks nothing like what youve had before, But once you get a taste of this local Ohio specialty, you just might get hooked. Here is my personal favorite recipe for Cincinnati style chili.
If you happen to be near Cincinnati and want to try this delight, here is how you order:
One way: A bowl of plain chili....this is unheard of...nobody orders a one way.
Two way: A plate of spaghetti covered with chili.
Three way: Spaghetti, chili and onion.
Four way: Spaghetti. chili, onion and cheese.
Five way: Spaghetti, beans, chili, onions and cheese.
Ingredients
Chili
2 teaspoons salt or more to taste
1.5 pounds ground beef chuck
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 medium onions , chopped fine (about 2 cups)
2 medium cloves garlic , minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons cocoa
1.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
2 cups tomato sauce
Hot pepper sauce (I prefer Frank's original)
Accompaniments
1 pound spaghetti , cooked, drained, and tossed with 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
12 ounces sharp cheddar cheese , shredded
1
1 can red kidney beans (15-ounce), drained, rinsed, and warmed
medium onion, chopped
1
FOR THE CHILI: Bring 2 quarts of water and 1 teaspoon of the salt to
a boil in a large saucepan. Add the ground chuck, stirring vigorously
to separate the meat into individual strands. As soon as the foam from
the meat rises to the top (this takes about 30 seconds) and before the
water returns to a boil, drain the meat into a strainer and set it
aside.
Rinse and dry the empty saucepan. Set the pan over medium heat and
add the oil. When the oil is warm, add the onions and cook, stirring
frequently, until the onions are soft and browned around the edges, about
8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir
in the chili powder, oregano, cocoa, cinnamon, cayenne, allspice, black
pepper, and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring constantly,
until the spices are fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the broth,
water, vinegar, sugar, and tomato sauce, scraping the pan bottom to remove
any browned bits.
Add the blanched ground beef and increase the heat to high. As soon as the liquid boils, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the chili is deep red and has thickened slightly, about 1 hour. Adjust the seasonings, adding salt and hot pepper sauce to taste. (The chili can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat before serving.)
TO SERVE: Divide the buttered spaghetti among individual bowls.
Spoon the chili over the spaghetti and top with the cheese, beans, and
onion. Serve immediately.
Here are most of the necessary ingredients....garlic and tomato sauce are missing I believe, and cider vinegar as well.
You'll notice a bottle of Zing Zang bloody Mary mix in the photo...that was leftover from the holiday parties, and I thought I might replace the water and chicken broth in the recipe with it.
Step number one is the one that most chili aficionados will have the most trouble with....bring a large pan of water to a boil, and cook your ground beef.
Toss the meat in and whisk for about 30 seconds, then drain your beef.
This is what you'll be left with....the individual strands of meat that came out of the grinder...no clumps or lumps of meat....this is a trait of a true Cincinnati chili.
Now it's simple...just saute' some onions and garlic in a few tablespoons of oil
While the onions are cooking, you can measure out your spices
Then add your spices and cook until fragrant
Add your meat back to the pan along with your liquid ingredients, bring it to a boil, the reduce heat and give it a good long simmer. I usually cook mine a couple of hours.
When it's cooked to your liking...boil up a pot of spaghetti and toss it in butter
Now we'll plate up a "four way"
First the buttered spaghetti
Chili to your liking
Chopped raw onions
And plenty of shredded or grated cheddar cheese
Voila! a four-way is born. The addition of drained and rinsed red kidney beans would of course, make this a five-way.
I hope you folks get a chance to try this chili ...it really is different, but good!
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