Quote:
Originally Posted by z28dreams
These chili recipes just have way too many damn ingredients for me to bother with.
If you had to prioritize the top 5, what do you think they would be? (outside of the beef/beans).
A chili pretty much needs only the following:
chilis
protein
liquid
The most important ingredient in chili, including the meat or beans, is the ingredient in the name: chili pepper. Without chilis it isn't chili. Most recipes use more than one type of chili - a larger quantity of milder chilis and a smaller quantity of hot chiis. As a chili is a stew, it needs a protein source. Beans are the most traditional protein in the home of chili, greater Mexico, but the most famous American chilis are based on meat, usually beef, and most omit beans. Finally as a stew, it needs some form of liquid.
Suet used to be a common ingredient, but has gone out of style in the last two generations.
Often, tomatos are included, and may be the source of liquid. Most often, onion and garlic are also present.
Cumin is the most common dominant flavour other than that provided by the chilis themselves. Mexican oregano (different species than true Mediterranean oregano) would probably be more authentic than true oregano, (commercial "chile powder" is usually a mix of ground dried chilis, cumin and oregano), cinnamon or paprika, although all are common (paprika perhaps less so). Cocoa is an authentic local ingredient, as are cilantro and lime. Anise and cloves are common spices in mexican food, but I am not familiar with them being used in chili.
Vegetables are sometimes added. The most authentic would probably be corn and squash and perhaps celery and carrots.
If I had to make a chili with only six ingredients, they would probably be
Poblano chilis
beef
tomatoes
onion
chipotles
cumin