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re: How to punch up my chili

Posted on 8/15/23 at 1:16 pm to
Posted by BigDropper
Member since Jul 2009
7635 posts
Posted on 8/15/23 at 1:16 pm to
As mentioned, make a homemade chili puree but lightly toast the chilis in oil first. Flavor compounds are soluble in water but aroma compounds are soluble in oil. This will give your chili a robust depth of flavor.

I also cook the meat, veg, and sauce separately then bring everything together for the final 10 minutes of cooking. One more tip sweat fresh diced onion, red bell peppers, and poblanos to add texture and a fresh flavor to the final product.
Posted by PerplenGold
TX
Member since Nov 2021
1183 posts
Posted on 8/15/23 at 1:22 pm to
quote:

I love using a piece leftover smoked brisket cubed up, but you could do that with any piece of beef.


Cubed beef is the real thing and so much better than ground.
Posted by TigerFanatic99
South Bend, Indiana
Member since Jan 2007
27608 posts
Posted on 8/15/23 at 1:24 pm to
When you first start simmering it, drop in a ghost pepper. Remove it a few minutes before you serve.
Posted by NOLAGT
Over there
Member since Dec 2012
13538 posts
Posted on 8/15/23 at 1:47 pm to
To toss in with all the other ideas, for any oil needs try and get some beef tallow. Either homemade or the wagyu tallow off Amazon in the black tub. Maybe use brisket for the meat and render the trimmings. I have not done this for chili but some good tallow adds a good layer of flavor in the background to the dishes I have used it in imo.
Posted by bleeng
The Woodlands
Member since Apr 2013
4068 posts
Posted on 8/15/23 at 2:15 pm to
I've been looking at some of the recipes from the Terlingua TX chili cook offs.
Most of the entrants use a second dump about an hour before turn in.
I've never tried this but come fall/winter it's on my list to give it a shot.

2022 winner's recipe
Posted by Zappas Stache
Utility Muffin Research Kitchen
Member since Apr 2009
38700 posts
Posted on 8/15/23 at 2:22 pm to
quote:

The consensus here is that I am making a mistake by using fresh chili peppers instead dried. Sounds counterintuitive


Fresh peppers have a more vegetal taste and are good for green chilis and green sauces. Dried peppers have a more concentrated and earthy flavor and are better for red chilis and sauces. Hydrating the dried peppers is a good method or you can grind the peppers into a powder which is what I do. I make a big chili mix using dried cascabels, anchos, arbols, morita (or chipotles), passila, new mexico and then add cumin, oregano, smoked paprika and garlic to the mix. I make a big batch I can use all winter and keep it in the freezer to preserve freshness.
Posted by Jake88
Member since Apr 2005
68279 posts
Posted on 8/15/23 at 2:25 pm to
A little cinnamon, maybe a little nutmeg.
Posted by HueyLongJr
Mamou
Member since Oct 2007
537 posts
Posted on 8/15/23 at 2:31 pm to
A few spashes of fish sauce
Posted by GeauxTigers0107
South Louisiana
Member since Oct 2009
9730 posts
Posted on 8/15/23 at 3:23 pm to
quote:

the wagyu tallow off Amazon in the black tub. Maybe use brisket for the meat and render the trimmings.


I use that same tallow in my chili. And always have a 1lb chunk of smoked brisket that I froze from the last smoke that gets cubed up and thrown in along with ground meat. A while back I substituted Zing Zang (reg...not spicy) for the tomato sauce and loved it. Semi-sweet chocolate morsels are also a must at the end.

The crumbled up tortilla chips sounds interesting. May add that next go round.
This post was edited on 8/15/23 at 3:25 pm
Posted by Tiger inTampa
Tampa, FL
Member since Sep 2009
2171 posts
Posted on 8/15/23 at 3:23 pm to
Skip the roux and thicken with the finest ground masa you can find. I make a slurry with a beer and add. Adds some "earthiness" or some depth to it.
Posted by Shotgun Willie
Member since Apr 2016
3781 posts
Posted on 8/15/23 at 3:42 pm to
Smoked brisket or pork butt instead of tri tip. Dark chocolate.
Posted by Zappas Stache
Utility Muffin Research Kitchen
Member since Apr 2009
38700 posts
Posted on 8/15/23 at 3:46 pm to
quote:

I've been looking at some of the recipes from the Terlingua TX chili cook offs. Most of the entrants use a second dump about an hour before turn in.


Competition chili is different than chili you are going to eat an entire bowl of. In a competition, the judges only take 1 bite so you are trying to make that 1 bite explode hence why they make a seasoning dump just before the judges show up. The chili spice taste starts dissipating within a minute or 2 of being added but with that said, I make 3 spice dumps at the beginning, middle and end sort of like they do in Indian cooking.
Posted by GRTiger
On a roof eating alligator pie
Member since Dec 2008
63031 posts
Posted on 8/15/23 at 5:05 pm to
- a cup of strong black coffee
- MSG
- put a few ours of low heat smoke in the meat before cookin. Maybe even trying new cuts

You can also play around with the chilis. I use arbol and guajillo in mine quite a bit.
Posted by tke_swamprat
Houma, LA
Member since Aug 2004
9764 posts
Posted on 8/15/23 at 8:21 pm to
Honestly I’m not a big andouille guy. I typically do chicken, sausage and sometimes add a little pork.
Posted by CoachChappy
Member since May 2013
32551 posts
Posted on 8/16/23 at 6:44 am to
quote:

Any thoughts on improving this? Beer or cumin maybe?


Fish sauce I gives depth of flavor to any savory dish.
Posted by pweezy
Member since Oct 2018
297 posts
Posted on 8/16/23 at 7:23 am to
Chipotle in adobo. Doesn’t take a lot.
Posted by Roscoe14
Member since Jul 2021
173 posts
Posted on 8/16/23 at 9:22 am to
Thanks much, guys, for all the great things for me to try.
Posted by OTIS2
NoLA
Member since Jul 2008
50128 posts
Posted on 8/16/23 at 9:33 am to
quote:

crumble up some store bought tortilla chips into the pot and let them melt



I add a cornmeal slurry to mine for texture.
Posted by HouseMom
Member since Jun 2020
1014 posts
Posted on 8/18/23 at 10:45 am to
Several have mentioned adding smoked brisket, etc. If you don't have any smoked meat, smoked paprika is your friend! You don't need much, but it imparts that smokey flavor without having to actually smoke meat.
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