NationStates Jolt Archive

I have had this argument many times with friends and even family; Do beans belong in chili?

My answer is: Yes.

Beans belong in chili. Chili is easy to make and inexpensive. It a staple of lower income families and neighborhoods, and beans are a much less expensive substitute for meat; thus making a smaller amount of meat stretch farther. Thus, chili and beans belong together for authenticity.

Now: What is your favorite chili recipe? What unusual ingredients do you add? I make an excellent 3 bean, bison and habanero chili with cinnamon. My recipe won the 3rd annual Navy Wide Chili Cookoff. :)

I have had this argument many times with friends and even family; Do beans belong in chili?

My answer is: Yes.

Beans belong in chili. Chili is easy to make and inexpensive. It a staple of lower income families and neighborhoods, and beans are a much less expensive substitute for meat; thus making a smaller amount of meat stretch farther. Thus, chili and beans belong together for authenticity.

Now: What is your favorite chili recipe? What unusual ingredients do you add? I make an excellent 3 bean, bison and habanero chili with cinnamon. My recipe won the 3rd annual Navy Wide Chili Cookoff. :)

My parents put chili in a lot of stuff they eat.

Wait, there are people who don't put beans in their chili? Err...Now I'm hungry.

Poll added. :)

beans!

I put kidney beans in my chili, it's just wrong without them.

Wait, there are people who don't put beans in their chili? Err...Now I'm hungry.

Yes. Matter of fact, some misguided souls insist on it.

Mr. Bean?



No..... :(

Beans? I like beans. I like beans in my salad. :p

beans!

I put kidney beans in my chili, it's just wrong without them.

I knew I liked you. :)

I typically use light red kidneys, pinto and a third kind of bean(sometimes black-eyed peas, sometimes red beans, sometimes dark red kidneys, etc.)

2 different beans or more adds greatly to the look of a bowl of chili. More than 3 or 4 though is just too busy. *nod*

True beans are black beans. Other beans are lies. Black beans are the only ones "solid" enough for you. Power to the beans!

http://www.victoria-adventure.org/more_than_links_images/VIC4/caraotas_negras1_th.jpg

beans!

I put kidney beans in my chili, it's just wrong without them.

Quoted for truth. Ya gotta have beans (or is that heart?)

I knew I liked you. :)

I typically use light red kidneys, pinto and a third kind of bean(sometimes black-eyed peas, sometimes red beans, sometimes dark red kidneys, etc.)

2 different beans or more adds greatly to the look of a bowl of chili. More than 3 or 4 though is just too busy. *nod*

I often use pinto or black beans, just because it makes my chili pretty.

I also add tomatoes (red, yellow, and orange) onions, chili powder, habeneros, and banana peppers.

oh, and beef when I can't get ground deer or buffalo.

yeh, always put beans in chili. always kidney beans, but i have used butter beans, broad beans, peas, chickpeas, sweetcorn and those beans that have the black bit on them that i can't rememeber the name of, in addition. often add sundried tomatoes for extra flavour and mushrooms too cuz i love mushrooms and every colour of sweet pepper and lots of fresh tomatoes and obviously onions and often garlic too when i rememeber. in fact i think i've even put black olives in a chili before. oh, and i always use beef steak mince for the meat.

What do you have in chili if you don't have beans?

Isn't chili without beans sloppy joe's?

Authentic British Chilli-Con-Carne has kidney beans in it.

;)

But not too many, or it just breaks.

To bean. To bean, for christ sake!

Smunkee speaks the truth. Kidney beans are the way of the future.

I've never made my own recipe for chili, only ever done it with a packet mix, but definitely something to try out.

I don't see how it can be called chili without kidney beans.

i'm gonna have to say that it can't really be called chilli if there are no beans.

Also, now I am really hungry for chilli

I have had this argument many times with friends and even family; Do beans belong in chili?

My answer is: Yes.

Beans belong in chili. Chili is easy to make and inexpensive. It a staple of lower income families and neighborhoods, and beans are a much less expensive substitute for meat; thus making a smaller amount of meat stretch farther. Thus, chili and beans belong together for authenticity.

Now: What is your favorite chili recipe? What unusual ingredients do you add? I make an excellent 3 bean, bison and habanero chili with cinnamon. My recipe won the 3rd annual Navy Wide Chili Cookoff. :)

I don't mind beans, but I don't like it when the chili is mostly beans.

I don't mind beans, but I don't like it when the chili is mostly beans.

I like beans in my Chili, but the ratio of meat to beans needs to be 3:1 by weight. I also prefer a chile pepper base over a tomato base.

I love chili, but hate beans.

I was hoping this would have something to do with Mr Bean :(

Very yes!

But decent beans. Kidney beans, butter beans, etc. Not just bog-standard baked beans, that would be uncouth.

Yes. Matter of fact, some misguided souls insist on it.
Madness! Lies! Heresy! SORCERY!!!

Upon further investigation it appears that this "beanless chili (http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1726,147176-228193,00.html)" is essentially what I would call "spaghetti sauce", which is exactly what a rational person would call it. It's just not chili without the beans.

Where are all the texans when you need them? :p

Madness! Lies! Heresy! SORCERY!!!

Upon further investigation it appears that this "beanless chili (http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1726,147176-228193,00.html)" is essentially what I would call "spaghetti sauce", which is exactly what a rational person would call it. It's just not chili without the beans.
... no, sorry, I had spaghetti sauce... Spaghetti Sauce is not Beanless Chili... but chili can and has been used as spaghetti sauce. :p

I love chili. And I can't comprehend someone not using beans. It's... just wrong. Terribly wrong.

can you make chilli with beans and without meat? what would you put in it? and what do you eat with it? rice?

Beans, definitely.

Beans, oh, absolutely beans must be included!

... no, sorry, I had spaghetti sauce... Spaghetti Sauce is not Beanless Chili... but chili can and has been used as spaghetti sauce. :p
?
It (Beanless chili) is just tomatoes, sauce, peppers, ground meat, and spices. What would you use to make spaghetti sauce?

What is a bean? How gullible are you?

can you make chilli with beans and without meat? what would you put in it? and what do you eat with it? rice?

Yes, 'vegetarian' chilis exist.

As for what you eat it with, that varies.

Choices include:
Nothing
Crackers
Rice
Spaghetti(very popular in the very odd city of Cincinnatti)
Beans on the side
The souls of the innocent.
Etc.

I would say that Nothing and Rice are probably the most popular, followed by crackers and spaghetti.

?
It (Beanless chili) is just tomatoes, sauce, peppers, ground meat, and spices. What would you use to make spaghetti sauce?

you forget. the spices used in Chili are different than the spices used in Spaghetti sauce. that's like saying it's basically all just ketchup with cooked meat inside.

you forget. the spices used in Chili are different than the spices used in Spaghetti sauce. that's like saying it's basically all just ketchup with cooked meat inside.

Depends on the spaghetti sauce. I think it's the amounts of those ingredients that really differs. *nod*

I was hoping this would have something to do with Mr Bean :(

Well if you want to eat him in your chilli, go ahead, just don't be surprised if you;re called a cannibal...

Well if you want to eat him in your chilli, go ahead, just don't be surprised if you;re called a cannibal...

Isn't Mr Bean an alien?

Depends on the spaghetti sauce. I think it's the amounts of those ingredients that really differs. *nod*

and what spices are used. but then again, Chili Spaghetti is my newest favorite thing to order from our local fast food restraunt.

I don't think so. I find Beans to be rather bland, and their inclusion always seems to do little more than add volume the dish, whereas the use of other vegetables can at least create a bit of variation in taste. They don't even define or detract from the edge of the spiciness; they're just there

Then again, I prefer curries anyway. :p

Where are all the texans when you need them? :p

They're putting black beans in the chili they're making, obviously. Dammit, now I'm hungry... chili powder, black beans, beef, cheese...

(Yes, I have the misfortune of living in Texas - that's where the Pine Curtain is, you know. :( At least the Mexican food and chili are good.)

I think I usually just eat the canned chili, but I'm not sure. How do you make it?

I don't think so. I find Beans to be rather bland, and their inclusion always seems to do little more than add volume the dish, whereas the use of other vegetables can at least create a bit of variation in taste. They don't even define or detract from the edge of the spiciness; they're just there

Then again, I prefer curries anyway. :p

Well, originally they were exactly that: A filler. But they shouldn't be bland. Properly cooked, they should absorb the flavor or your chili. They Become One With The Chili.

Well, originally they were exactly that: A filler. But they shouldn't be bland. Properly cooked, they should absorb the flavor or your chili. They Become One With The Chili.

and after becoming one with the Chili, don't they then fill you with enlightenment? then as with such thing, it passes out from you in flowing waves to touch the person nearest you, filling the void with the air of enlightenment that just leaves everyone breathless.

Spaghetti(very popular in the very odd city of Cincinnatti)

I was watching one of those "food shows" (as hubby calls them) once while I was pregnant and they make Cincinnati chili, so I though "that sound's cool" and I made it for dinner.......hubby was not impressed.

"I thought you said we were having chili for dinner"
"we are! it's Cincinnati chili"
"it has noodles in it"
"yeah"
"and no meat"
"yeah! isn't it great?!"
"and we are eating it on tortillas with sour cream"
"I know, it's so fun right?!"
"I think the baby ate your brain, this isn't chili, noodles don't belong in chili, chili has meat, this isn't even.......sweetie, I know you are excited about this and all, and I love you and I am sure you made it right......but it's just bad food.......let's go get steak"

:mad: <--- enter crazy pregnant hormones... I didn't speak to him for at least 2 hours.

I was watching one of those "food shows" (as hubby calls them) once while I was pregnant and they make Cincinnati chili, so I though "that sound's cool" and I made it for dinner.......hubby was not impressed.

"I thought you said we were having chili for dinner"
"we are! it's Cincinnati chili"
"it has noodles in it"
"yeah"
"and no meat"
"yeah! isn't it great?!"
"and we are eating it on tortillas with sour cream"
"I know, it's so fun right?!"
"I think the baby ate your brain, this isn't chili, noodles don't belong in chili, chili has meat, this isn't even.......sweetie, I know you are excited about this and all, and I love you and I am sure you made it right......but it's just bad food.......let's go get steak"

:mad: <--- enter crazy pregnant hormones... I didn't speak to him for at least 2 hours.and here I though you were going to enlighten him by having him baptised in the method of the FSM... noodliy appendages and all. :D

I was watching one of those "food shows" (as hubby calls them) once while I was pregnant and they make Cincinnati chili, so I though "that sound's cool" and I made it for dinner.......hubby was not impressed.

"I thought you said we were having chili for dinner"
"we are! it's Cincinnati chili"
"it has noodles in it"
"yeah"
"and no meat"
"yeah! isn't it great?!"
"and we are eating it on tortillas with sour cream"
"I know, it's so fun right?!"
"I think the baby ate your brain, this isn't chili, noodles don't belong in chili, chili has meat, this isn't even.......sweetie, I know you are excited about this and all, and I love you and I am sure you made it right......but it's just bad food.......let's go get steak"

:mad: <--- enter crazy pregnant hormones... I didn't speak to him for at least 2 hours.

I can relate. I remember the fst time my wife tried my chili. She claimed to like spicy food. She didn't realize that when I said 'spicy', I meant 'lethal dose'. :)

I hate beans. Hate them. My mom used to force us to eat bean soup, and now I can't even think about beans without gagging. But I like growing them and giving them away to homes that will appreciate them. Go figure.

can you make chilli with beans and without meat? what would you put in it? and what do you eat with it? rice?

Yes, that would be vegetarian chilli. you can put pretty much what you put in regular chili with out the meat, peppers, garlic, onions, carrots, celery, mushrooms, tomatos, corn, spices, tofu, lentils. And you can eat it alone, with bread, spaghetti, rice, dead babies. You know the usual.

According to research I've done online, I found that the original chili recipes were NOT made with beans (which is fine with me, as I prefer no beans in my chili).

I'm looking to try some new chili recipes. We eat the same one in my family every time we make it (to bean, IMO), and although it is wonderful, the thought of bison chili sounds interesting.

There MUST be bean. Light red and dark red kidney, at a minimum.

With onion, bell peppers, jalapeno and/or habanero, tomato, and whatever else is left over in the fridge.

Ground sausage is preferable over ground beef.

'Tis better after fermenting in the fridge for a few days...:)

I'm looking to try some new chili recipes. We eat the same one in my family every time we make it (to bean, IMO), and although it is wonderful, the thought of bison chili sounds interesting.

http://www.wildoats.com/u/recipedetail11031/

this is the recipe I use, only slightly modified, in that I add carrots and whatever other veggies I can sneak in.....

my kids really like it on baked potatoes.

TO BEAN!!! (http://epicbeans.ytmnd.com/)

No. Beans do not belong in chili. Only meat. Lots and lots of meat.

And flavor. One must not forget the flavor.

I can relate. I remember the fst time my wife tried my chili. She claimed to like spicy food. She didn't realize that when I said 'spicy', I meant 'lethal dose'. :)Send me some

No. Beans do not belong in chili. Only meat. Lots and lots of meat.

And flavor. One must not forget the flavor.

Hear, hear. If nothing else, a good chili is the flavor.


It doesn't help that I hate beans.

you forget. the spices used in Chili are different than the spices used in Spaghetti sauce. that's like saying it's basically all just ketchup with cooked meat inside.
I guess you might say that, I'm physically incapable of cooking anything that doesn't include chili powder, garlic, and ground pepper, so I don't see the difference so much.

Beans and meat!

1 lb pinto beans simmered with a ham hock
1 lb good lean ground beef fried (not sauteed) with onions and garlic.
1 can of diced tomatoes and as much Eagle brand chili powder as you want.
add the tomatoes and chili to the meat mixture and simmer for 1/2 hour add to beans, salt to taste, enjoy.

Without the beans, chili is merely spicy beef stew. The beans add heartiness and expand the fart potential assometrically.

Send me some

It keeps eating through the envelope. :(

Off topic I know but quite strange I wonder if anybody has encountered the same.

I had a headache last night, you know the type you get right behind your eyes, caused in my case by staring at the 'puter screen all day without my 'puter glasses on.

It lasted well into the evening and as I was watching TV, It just got worse, and I knew that I should go into the kitchen, get me glasses from me bag, and put them on, but damnit, I'd just got back from work, I wasn't moving anywhere.

Then the wife yelled out that dinner was ready and a veritable stampede of maleness rushed out from all corners of the house towards the kitchen(okay it was me and our two boys) where a steaming plate of chili and rice was awaiting.

I like chili(the spice) and use it often(Indian heritage I like it hot) and my wife Godbless her didn't scimp on the amount of chili in the umm chili.

Well I eat dinner, retired back to the TV and lo and behold, 5 mis after settling my headache was gone, and gone for the whole night.

Does chilli cure headache?

Off topic I know but quite strange I wonder if anybody has encountered the same.

I had a headache last night, you know the type you get right behind your eyes, caused in my case by staring at the 'puter screen all day without my 'puter glasses on.

It lasted well into the evening and as I was watching TV, It just got worse, and I knew that I should go into the kitchen, get me glasses from me bag, and put them on, but damnit, I'd just got back from work, I wasn't moving anywhere.

Then the wife yelled out that dinner was ready and a veritable stampede of maleness rushed out from all corners of the house towards the kitchen(okay it was me and our two boys) where a steaming plate of chili and rice was awaiting.

I like chili(the spice) and use it often(Indian heritage I like it hot) and my wife Godbless her didn't scimp on the amount of chili in the umm chili.

Well I eat dinner, retired back to the TV and lo and behold, 5 mis after settling my headache was gone, and gone for the whole night.

Does chilli cure headache?

Yes, actually, chili peppers is a common medicinal cure for headaches among other things. :)