Smokey Cola Chili - Amazing one pot recipe

Smokey Cola Chili - Amazing one pot recipe

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RobbieTheTruth

Original Poster:

1,875 posts

118 months

Saturday 17th May 2014
quotequote all
Hello,

Over the years I have tried hundreds of chili recipes (including Jailhouse Chili). The following is a recipe created by me, which I have devised by bringing my favourite parts of other recipes together. I consider it to be the finest chili.

This chili uses dried Ancho Grande chillies, which should be available in your international supermarkets. If not, they are readily available online. It does not include kidney beans. Absolutely no cumin must go in this recipe, which is why I recommend those single source chili powders.

If you want a healthier option, use pork mince instead of beef. It won't be as luxurious but still delicious. If you like chunks of meat rather than mince, use beef shin or stewing steak.

If you have Umami paste, add some when you add the tomato puree.

Like all chilis, this tastes better the longer it has been cooked and rested. I recommend getting the ingredients the day before and starting early the next day. Tastes better once matured overnight.

Ingredients as follows (makes 6-7 portions):

Meat
1 kg minced beef

Veg
2 onions (finely chopped / grated)
1 carrot (finely chopped / grated)
1 leek (finely chopped / grated)
2 tins chopped tomato
3 tablespoon of tomato puree

Herbs and Spices
3-4 dried ancho grande chillies
1-2 green finger chillies (finely chopped)
5-6 cloves of garlic (finely chopped / minced)
2 teaspoon of Hungarian paprika
2 teaspoon of ground coriander (this is the ground seeds, not dried leaves)
1 teaspoon oregano
2 teaspoon of single source chili powder (ancho, pasilla, guajillo etc are great - try and avoid a standard 'chili powder' which contains cumin

stock and liquid
250ml chicken stock
250ml cola (not diet)

seasoning and extras
salt
40g 70% cocoa solid dark chocolate


Method

Put the dried ancho chillies in hot water for about 15 mins

Heat up some oil in a large casserole dish and gently fry onions, carrots, leek for about 15 mins

Add garlic, chopped green finger chillies and tomato puree and cook for a further 15 mins.

Add cola and keep cooking for another 10 mins

Cut open your re hydrated ancho chillies, remove seeds and stalk, and blend or finely chop. Add to pan.

Add beef mince

Add tins of tomato, chicken stock, chili powder, oregano, ground coriander and paprika

Oven bake low for 4-5 hours

Add chocolate and stir



Edited by RobbieTheTruth on Saturday 17th May 18:12


Edited by RobbieTheTruth on Saturday 17th May 18:16

boxst

3,699 posts

144 months

Saturday 17th May 2014
quotequote all
That looks great. I will give it a go.

Pferdestarke

7,179 posts

186 months

Saturday 17th May 2014
quotequote all
Yes it looks like a great recipe. Thanks for posting.

Johnniem

2,660 posts

222 months

Wednesday 21st May 2014
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Interesting recipe. I always put choc powder in my chilli too.

My query is about the mince. Do you not brown it off before throwing it in? I presume that if you just boil it in the pot without browning it then it will be difficult to be rid of any fat residue and may look a bit 'bland' colour wise.

RobbieTheTruth

Original Poster:

1,875 posts

118 months

Wednesday 21st May 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies.

I have browned the mince off in the past. It doesn't taste any different but you are right - you can drain away some of the fat from the meat if you brown it off first.

I tend to use lean beef mince from the butcher and it is delicious without having to brown off.


Rather than chocolate powder, try a cube or two of dark chocolate. Drop it in and stir gently.

mu0n

2,348 posts

132 months

Thursday 22nd May 2014
quotequote all
I'll give this a go as I love making a chili.

Mine is usually this which tastes awesome:

Loads of red onions,lean beef mince, chili powder, paprika, beef stock, passata, tomato puree, habanero chili sauce, liquid smoke, peppers, mixed chili's, kidney beans. Usually some salt and pepper to help season as well and some Marmite.

blindswelledrat

25,257 posts

231 months

Thursday 22nd May 2014
quotequote all
Someone make this and report back please!
Do love chilli but in truth I seldom come across one that is any better than another so Ill be curious as to what others think of this.

blindswelledrat

25,257 posts

231 months

Thursday 22nd May 2014
quotequote all
OP, is the paprika you are adding smoked paprika or normal?

RobbieTheTruth

Original Poster:

1,875 posts

118 months

Thursday 22nd May 2014
quotequote all
I use Hungarian Sweet Paprika (not smoked). I did use smoked once and the chili was still delicious, but it had that smokey bbq sauce taste, which detracted from the woody smoke of the Ancho Chillies.

Use whatever you prefer - but avoid using a generic Supermarket pot which has been open in your cupboard for about a year. That will just be coloured dust.

Go to a spice shop or world food shop and pick up a pack of freshly ground stuff for about a quid.



Edited by RobbieTheTruth on Thursday 22 May 22:09

Bit of a Unit

6,663 posts

196 months

Thursday 22nd May 2014
quotequote all
Hi mate,

Why no cumin? Rare for this type of dish, just wondered what your thought process was?

I have been researching the history of this dish for a book and your recipe looks good but you seem to be emphasising the omission on cumin. Is it personal or a more traditional thinking?


RobbieTheTruth

Original Poster:

1,875 posts

118 months

Thursday 22nd May 2014
quotequote all
For me, cumin epitimises the 'ready made meal' taste. Every ready made curry, or tinned chili, or spicy variant of the latest Pot Noodle just loads up on cumin.

If you add it to this, it hits your senses first. You smell it in the aroma and it hits your palate as soon as its in your mouth.

The complexity of the dish shines without the cumin.


If you insist on adding a woody, earthy spice, add a small amount of Turmeric but I strongly suggest leaving both out.


Edited by RobbieTheTruth on Friday 23 May 07:54

Bit of a Unit

6,663 posts

196 months

Friday 23rd May 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for the reply. I'll give this a whirl.

Digger

14,591 posts

190 months

Friday 23rd May 2014
quotequote all
Palate . . . grrr!

wink

RobbieTheTruth

Original Poster:

1,875 posts

118 months

Saturday 24th May 2014
quotequote all
I'm making another batch of this now.

The International Food shop didn't have Ancho chilies, so I bought Nora Dried Peppers and Guindilla Dried Peppers.



I used two of each. I haven't used these before - they are Spanish peppers. I have added Ancho Grande chili powder anyway.

I'll take a pic of the end result.

RobbieTheTruth

Original Poster:

1,875 posts

118 months

Saturday 24th May 2014
quotequote all
All done.

Camera phone used the flash so the colour looks a lot more yellowy. The actual dish is a lovely deep red colour.


I used extra lean pork mince, so it's not quite as rich but still very tasty.


scottri

950 posts

181 months

Sunday 25th May 2014
quotequote all
How much Umami?

RobbieTheTruth

Original Poster:

1,875 posts

118 months

Sunday 25th May 2014
quotequote all
How much umami?

If you have the 'Taste No5' one that contains tomato puree, use a tablespoon of that in place of the third teaspoon of tomato puree.

If you have the other type that doesn't contain tomato, use two teaspoons

scottri

950 posts

181 months

Sunday 25th May 2014
quotequote all
Went for 2 tea spoons of Umami. Also saved some of the water the chilli hydrated in and added some of that to the pot. Its in the oven now....

I also choose to chop everything instead of grating it as i didnt want it to turn to mush.






RobbieTheTruth

Original Poster:

1,875 posts

118 months

Sunday 25th May 2014
quotequote all
Looking good Scott.

Remember, the longer you leave it the better it tastes.

Season the pot with a teaspoon of garlic salt if you have it, if not just use sea salt. If the umami contains salt, you may not need to season. I don't put any black pepper in.

scottri

950 posts

181 months

Sunday 25th May 2014
quotequote all
Its coming along nicely now. Will give it another couple of hours in the oven. Added some garlic salt as suggested :-)