I <3 Chili
Posted on December 17th, 2009 in recipe
This isn’t really a recipe, it’s an ode to chili. I love it. Really, I do.
When I was a kid, I hated it. I absolutely dreaded the nights my mom would make chili con carne. I dunno what it was about the meal, but I could barely get it down.
Now, I probably eat chili weekly. There’s just so many good things about it! I will tell you about them.
It’s different every time
I have a problem with following recipes, even the first time I make something. I’ll use a recipe as a “guideline” for quantities if I’m making chili in my slow cooker, but other wise I just eye-ball-it. I probably use a ratio of 1 pound of meat to 1 can of beans to 1 can of tomatoes, roughly. But there’s always other stuff added in.
Right now, I’m eating chili that has beef, chicken, chouriço (called ‘chorizo’ in Spanish, except this stuff is Portuguese), black beasn, kidney beans, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and I don’t even remember what else. Anyway, the chouriço makes it a little spicy, a little different.
So I use whatever kind of meat I’ve got, whatever kind of beans are in my pantry, and whatever vegetables I happen to have lying around. Add some spices, simmer, and you’ve got chili. In fact, you don’t even need to use tomatoes. I made an all-white chili once, with ground turkey, white kidney beans, and sour cream. Yes, it was as good as it sounds.
It’s totally good for you
I’m not sure there’s any way to make this meal *not* good for you. Maybe if you use bacon (which I’ve totally done) and uh.. yeah, even a little bacon once in a while isn’t that bad for you!
But if you use lean meat, there’s protein with very little fat. Beans have more protein and lots of fibre (AND if you eat beans regularly, they eventually stop making you gassy). Veggies are chock full of those vitamin things you’re supposed to get in your diet. If you’re vegetarian or sometimes make meat-less meals, you can skip the meat altogether, or use a substitute like TVP or veggie ground round.
And it’s filling, so you won’t keep snacking all afternoon/evening.
It’s cheap
Chili really is a good recession meal. Some of the cheapest pantry items are canned beans and canned tomatoes. Dried beans are even cheaper than canned. Look for meat on sale, and buy seasonal vegetables (or frozen, if it’s winter in Canada and nothing is in season).
Also, what better way to use up that about-to-go-bad leftover roast beef? Or the half a jar of spaghetti sauce that’s been sitting in your fridge for a week (yup, I’ve used spaghetti sauce, salsa, ketchup, and tomato soup at times)? Don’t throw it out! Make chili.
And if you make a lot, keep the leftovers. There’s lunch for the next week. Or freeze some for later.
Ok, so here’s a chili recipe for you from my friend Catherine: Cat’s Chili Con Easy. And here’s an organic veggie chili from Amanda.