Chili is a delicious dish to make on a cold fall or winter day. Chili is hearty, full of fresh flavors, and with the below tips, can be very simple to make. Whether you are making a big pot for the big game or meal prepping for the week, read on for some of our
Rumi Spice's top tips for making chili:
Brown the Meat
Before adding all of the chili ingredients together, brown the meat in your pot, in a bit of oil, to develop a fuller flavor. Ground beef is standard in most chili recipes, but don’t be afraid to try something new like bone-in short ribs, brisket, chuck roast, ground chicken, or turkey.Don’t Forget Vegetables
When making chili, don’t forget to load up on veggies for an added layer of flavor and texture. Some classic options include fresh garlic, bell peppers, and onions. The vegetables will add a noticeable crunch and pop of color to your recipe. Fresh herbs like cilantro, basil or parsley can also enhance the flavor.
Elevate with Extra Flavor
Elevate your chili recipe by adding an extra layer of flavor. Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight. Warming spice blends, like Garam Masala, Ras el Hanout or Baharat are another simple and delicious way to add layered flavors to this simple one-pot meal.
Only Add Flavorful Liquids
Instead of adding water to your chili, add some more flavor with chicken or beef broth, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even beet or wine. Each one of these options brings out different notes and levels of sweetness that will enhance your culinary creation.
Opt for Dried Beans
When cooking chili use dried beans instead of canned beans. After hours of cooking, canned beans will turn mushy. Instead, grab your favorite dried beans and soak them overnight in salted water before adding to your chili. Dried beans can soak in your stew for hours, adding deep earthy flavors and delicious texture.
Season Early and Often
Herbs and spice blends are all key to flavoring chili, but many cooks wait until the very end to add in their spices. Instead, season early and often so flavors mix and mingle to develop an even richer taste. By seasoning and tasting throughout the entire cooking process, you will enjoy a balanced, full-flavored bowl of chili.
Add Some Acidity at the End
Chili is most commonly prepared at a low temperature and for an extended period of time (low and slow), which develops a deeper, spiced aroma. But, the longer cook time can often result in a flat flavor. Perk up your pot of chili by adding in a dash of apple cider vinegar, sherry vinegar, or fresh lime juice right before you remove it from the stovetop. The acidic pop at the end will bring out all the layered flavors you worked so hard to achieve.
Top It Off
Everyone has unique tastes and flavor combinations they enjoy, so when preparing chili, be sure to include an array of tasty toppings for your guests to mix and match to their liking. A few of our favorites include fresh avocado, cilantro, corn bread, crackers, lime wedges, Greek yogurt, grated cheeses, jalapeños, scallions, or a pinch of flaky seasoned salt.
Cook the Day Before
Chili is a labor of love, so set aside an adequate amount of time to cook it properly. This includes giving it an extra day to set in the fridge so all of the fresh flavors can meld and settle together until all of the ingredients become one harmonious whole. This also provides extra time to adjust any levels of spiciness and thickness to the sauce.
Store Leftovers
Chili is one of those dishes that fares well in the freezer, so you can make a big batch and freeze the leftovers in a freezer safe storage container so you can enjoy this hearty comfort food all year long. An easy trick to have individual portions available is to freeze in a gently greased muffin tin and then put the muffin-sized portions into a freezer safe bag for individual reheating.
After all of your hard work, take the time to enjoy your culinary creation. With every batch of chili you make, you will learn which flavors work together and what ingredients you should change next time. Think about what stands out from the first bite to the last bite and create your own unique recipe. Most importantly, savor each and every bite and enjoy.
The Team Rumi Chili Cook-Off
The Rumi Team is full of foodies, just like you. We decided to exercise our skills in the kitchen create our own knock-out chili recipes for the Rumi community.
Thus, The Team Rumi Chili Cook-Off was born.
Four of our very own team members were randomly assigned a spice blend from our Black Cumin spice blend line:
Dark Chorizo Baharat Chili
Imelda L. (our Marketing Coordinator) was assigned the Persian Gulf Baharat and cooked a Dark Chorizo Baharat Chili.
Berbere, Bacon, & Beans
Ryan W. (our Director of Sales) was assigned the Ethiopian Berbere Spice Blend and made a spicy chili highlighting the 3 B’s-- Berbere, Bacon, & Beans.
All of the chilis judged in this cook-off were unique and packed with flavor, but there could only be one chili that could take home the prize.
The Winner: White Bean Chicken Chili Verde
The WINNER of this cook-off was none other than Patti D. (our new CEO!). She was assigned the Southwest Chili Spice Blend and crafted a White Bean Chicken Chili Verde inspired by the cuisine of the American Southwest. The use of chicken was a welcomed twist to the usual meat-heavy chili and worked extraordinarily well with the peppery, earthy & piney notes of our Southwest Chili Spice Blend.
Sound delicious? The judges sure thought so! Try the winning recipe here and don’t forget to show us your favorite chili recipes at @Rumi_Spice. Happy cooking!
