Now, I’ll eat any chili you put in front of me, but my favorite has got to be this Cincinnati Chili, five ways, of course (but we’ll get to that later). If you have never heard of this style of chili, I highly recommend you give it a try. A combination of cocoa powder, chili powder, and cumin, along with a few other spices, lend a deep, almost smoky flavor to the chili, with a slow heat that hits just as you swallow. Not too spicy, but not at all bland, this chili will please just about any palate.
If you are going to prepare this chili, you pretty much have to make it like they do in Cincinnati and serve it “Five Ways”: on a bed of spaghetti with chopped onions, kidney beans, and a massive amount of shredded cheese. If you think serving chili on spaghetti sounds ridiculous, please just spend the extra $0.99 and give it a go. This is now the only way I prepare chili at home, but then again we are pretty hearty eaters.
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This warm, hearty chili dish has the perfect blend of spices with a touch of cocoa. Serve “five ways” with spaghetti, onions, beans, and cheese for an authentic Cincinnati style chili.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 jalapeno pepper, diced
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup water
Optional Toppings
- 1 lb spaghetti, prepared
- 1 can kidney beans
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Brown ground beef in 2 tablespoons of oil, then remove to a plate.
- Saute onion and jalapeño pepper in a bit more oil until the onion is translucent. Add garlic and cook for an additional minute.
- Add seasonings, then add beef back into the pot. Add vinegar, worcestershire, tomato sauce, broth, and water and stir well.
- Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for one hour.
- Serve over spaghetti and top with kidney beans, diced onions, and cheese.
Notes
Preparing this recipe goes smoother if you prep your ingredients beforehand. Chop the onion, jalapeño pepper, and garlic in advance and combine dry spices and cocoa powder in a small bowl.
Keywords: cincinnati chili 5 ways
