Ever wondered how to make Cincinnati Style Chili? How many “ways” can you make it? Do you know the secret behind its unique taste?
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WELCOME TO MIX IT UP MONDAY WITH MAD DASH MIXES
WEEK 124
WHAT ARE WE MIXIN’ UP THIS WEEK?
I originally developed this recipe for Cincinnati Style Chili two years ago when the Cincinnati Bengals were headed to the AFC Championship playoffs! Sadly this year, they didn’t make it to the playoffs. I still like to share this post this thyme of year! I hope you will enjoy learning a little more about Cincinnati Style Chili!
One of the things about Cincinnati that has always intrigued me was the city’s love for Chili! The first time I visited a chili parlor, I was confused. I was expecting a Tex Mex style of chili! It has taken me awhile to embrace the uniqueness of Cincinnati Style Chili!
According to our friends at Wikipedia, Cincinnati Style Chili is actually a Mediterranean inspired meat sauce which is used to top spaghetti. It can also be used on hot dogs to make Coneys or Coney dogs.
Cincinnati Style Chili was introduced to Cincinnatians in the 1920s by a pair of brothers from Macedonia. Cincinnati Style Chili has a long and interesting history. Numerous articles and even a book have been written about it!
The “Secret” Ingredients
Cincinnati Style Chile normally combines ground beef, beef stock, tomato paste and a variety of spices into a sauce or thin stew. The spices used include a unique combination of sweet and savory spices such as chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove and bay leaf.
While none of the over 200 chili parlors in Cincinnati will reveal whether they actually do use unsweetened chocolate in their chili, many of the recipes that I found did use it.
How Many Ways?
What is a Way? How many of them are there, anyway? With Cincinnati Style Chili, “ways” are actually combinations of toppings added to the basic Cincinnati Chili. Standard Chili toppings include shredded Cheddar cheese, chopped onions and beans.
A “two-way” would be spaghetti topped with the chili. Adding shredded cheese to this basic combo makes it a “Three way”. The addition of onion makes it a “Four Way” and finally, adding beans makes it a “Five Way”.
The Chili is often served with oyster crackers. For most of last year, I was unable to get oyster crackers as there was a great cracker shortage. Finally this fall, oyster crackers returned to the shelves at our local grocery stores.
It Isn’t a Bowl of Chili
Cincinnati Style Chili is actually served on a shallow plate, not a bowl. It is also eaten with a fork, not a spoon like you would normally expect to eat chili. Pictured below is my husband’s plate of Cincinnati Style Chili. He actually added a bit (ok a lot more) chili powder on his!
When I was first introduced to Cincinnati Style Chili, I was expecting it to be more like what I consider to be traditional chili or Tex-Mex Chili. This Kim’s Black Bean Slow Cooker Chili is more what I was expecting. I wasn’t prepared for the fine texture of the meat or the unique flavor of the sauce. Honestly, I thought it was weird and I didn’t really care for it. Now that my palette has matured and I have taken the thyme to understand the history behind it, I realize it is actually quite delicious!
Let’s Get to Mixin’!
Are you wondering what the “twist” is that I was referring to in the title? Well, like my decorating style, “Kim Style” which is a unique blend of several decorating styles, this recipe is the result of studying several different recipes and creating one that uses two of the spice blends from Mad Dash Mixes. By looking at the ingredients listed on the backs of the Mad Dash Mixes packages and comparing them to the spices used in the various Cincinnati Style Chili recipes, I decided that using the mixes in place of the various individual spices would work. The Chili Mix also has a thickening agent in it that helps make this Cincinnati Style Chili recipe a little thicker than normal.
I also added a little unsweetened cocoa to the spices. In place of the shredded cheddar cheese that is normally used to top Cincinnati Style Chili, I used shredded mozzarella.
In addition to changing up the spices, I used balsamic vinegar in place of apple cider vinegar. A few of the recipes called for coconut aminos. I substituted Worcestershire sauce for that ingredient.
Since my recipe adds the onions and the beans to the recipe while it is cooking, once we add the shredded cheese, we will automatically have a 5-way Cincinnati Style Chili.
Cincinnati Style Chili with a Twist
Equipment
- dutch oven or stock pot
- measuring cups
- wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound ground beef broken up into tiny pieces
- 1/2 pound chorizo sausage - fresh or packaged break up the fresh sausage into small pieces, cut the packaged sausage into pieces. Remove any casings.
- 2 cups Beef broth
- 1 medium red onion, chopped
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
- 1/2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 3 tbsp Chili Mix Mad Dash Mixes
- 2 tsp Caribbean Jerk seasoning Mad Dash Mixes
- 1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 can Kidney Beans, drained & rinsed can use Black Beans or Pinto Beans if you prefer
- 1 box spaghetti 16 oz box of spaghetti
Instructions
- While wearing gloves, break up the ground beef into small pieces. Chop or break up the chorizo sausage. Add to stock pot
- Add 2 cups beef broth and stir
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Add 3/4 cup of chopped red onion. Simmer for an additional 15 minutes. Stir frequently while simmering
- Combine 3 tablespoons Chili Mix from Mad Dash Mixes, 1/2 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa and 2 teaspoons of Caribbean Jerk Seasoning from Mad Dash Mixes in a small bowl and blend well.
- Add the spice blend to the stock pot with the meat/onion and broth mixture. Stir well
- Add the minced garlic, 1 Tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar and 1/2 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce to the stock pot. Stir until everything is mixed together.
- Drain & Rinse 1 can of Kidney Beans and add to the stock pot.
- Add the can of diced tomatoes and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat. Simmer for 40 minutes. If chili appears to be too thick , add a little water to help thin it.
- while the chili is simmering, prepare the spaghetti according to package directions. Once the spaghetti is finished cooking, drain and set aside.
- Be sure to remove the bay leaf from the stock pot of Chili once it is finished simmering.
- Prepare bowls of assorted toppings for the Chili. Toppings can include extra shredded cheese, chopped onions and oyster crackers (if you can find them!)
- place a portion of spaghetti on the oval plate. Top with the Cincinnati Style Chili. Add shredded cheese. Extra onions can be added. Serve with oyster crackers, corn chips or croutons if desired.
Notes
Now you have a flavorful, unique dish to serve to your family!
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The Oval Plates
If you have been following me for a while, you probably are not surprised that I happened to have the correct size and style of plate to serve the Cincinnati Style Chili on! The white restaurant China with the red rose pattern was originally used in my grandpa’s restaurant. The oval Skyline Chili plate was sold to celebrate the chain’s 35 anniversary.
and if you are a bit curious about the “Kim Style” decorating I referred to earlier, the details can be found here: Kim Style as well as here: Kim Style; What I Wish I had Kept
Chili Basics
Let’s talk about some staples to keep on your shelves or in your pantry.
Preparing a variety of soups and Chilis is easy to do if you keep staples such as Kidney Beans, Black Beans (or pinto beans) and diced tomatoes in your pantry. These items can be used in a number of different recipes. I usually have at least 4 cans of each on my pantry shelves.
Two other items to have in your panty are Chili Mix and Caribbean Jerk Seasoning from Mad Dash Mixes.
Actually, to make your life a lot easier, the folks at Mad Dash Mixes offer a variety of mixes to make cooking & baking quick & easy! Their entire line can be found at www.MadDashMixes.com
I met the folks from Mad Dash Mixes as a blogging convention one summer. I fell in love with their line of products and have spent the last several months introducing some of their products to all of you. They did send me some product to test but all of my opinions are my own. If you are interested in ordering some of their mixes, check out their website at www.MadDashMixes.com
Use the code farmhouse at check-out to receive a 15% discount on your purchase!
To Learn more about my thyme in Cincinnati:
I shared a little about my thyme in Cincinnati here: The Story Behind The Mirror and here: Five Quick& Easy Dips for a Super Bowl Party
COOKING WITH KIM
My entrepreneurial journey started with my love of herbs , both growing and cooking with them. My love of herbs eventually led to owning a pizzeria.
After relocating to Florida, I decided to start a blog where I could share my love of cooking, decorating and crafting.
Throughout my culinary career, I have discovered the using mixes can make a cook’s life so much easier! Using a mix to make a recipe is as simple as adding a few ingredients to the mix and then stirring, cooking or chilling and serving! Mixes are such a time saver! After meeting the folks from Mad Dash Mixes at a blogging conference this summer, I decided to add a weekly blog post featuring recipes using their mixes. Now I am now having a lot of fun working with the folks from Mad Dash Mixes.
Disclosure: this post was written in collaboration with Mad Dash Mixes
All opinions are my own.
Please see my disclosure page for more information.
Yummy!
We love chili. I will have to make this recipe for my family.
Happy New Year,
Kippi
I hope your family enjoys it! Thanks for stopping by! Happy New Year to you, too!
Chili on a plate does seem a little weird but you have my interest piqued and I’ll have to give this a try!
I hope you enjoy the recipe! Thanks for stopping by!
This sounds so yummy and unique, I can’t wait to make it!
Thank you , Kristin! I had a lot of fun with this recipe!
I am a shocking cook, but I think I will be trying this. Looks delicious 😋
Thank you, Anita! I hope you enjoy making it!
Thanks for sharing at our What’s for Dinner party! Hope your week has been great – come back again this Sunday for the new party too!
Thank you, Helen! I would love to visit your link party on Sunday!
Good morning! Enjoyed the post with the history and search for an suthentic recipe. I love chili and would add sour cream!