Hard Times Cafe Chili Recipes

TEXAS CHILI

Steps:

• Place a Dutch oven or other large pot over medium heat. Add the oil and heat until shimmering. Add the meat and sauté until browned, then transfer to a plate.
• Add the onion to the pot and stir for 1 minute. Take two large sips from the beer, and pour the rest into the pot. Stir in the tomatoes, coffee and tomato paste.
• Add the brown sugar, chile sauce, cocoa powder, hot pepper, cumin, coriander, cayenne, salt and kidney beans. Return the meat to the pot. Reduce heat to low and simmer, partly covered, for 1 hour.
• Add the white beans to the pot and simmer over very low heat, partly covered and stirring occasionally, for 1 to 2 more hours. (Longer cooking improves the flavor.) Adjust salt and cayenne pepper as needed and serve.

AUTHENTIC CINCINNATI CHILI RECIPE

Steps:

• Brown the meat over medium high heat, then drain the fat.
• Add in the onions, and mix in with the meat.
• Pour in the water, tomato sauce, then vinegar.
• Add in the minced garlic.
• Mix everything, then add in the seasonings, and spices.
• Mix until well combine, then toss in the unsweetened chocolate.
• Stir until the chocolate is melted.
• Reduce the heat to low medium, cover the pot or pan with a lid, let simmer for 2 hours.
• Make sure that you stir periodically to prevent burning.
• Once done, serve over spaghetti or a hot dog.
• You may top the chili off with cheese and onions.
• Enjoy!

CINCINNATI-STYLE CHILI

Steps:

• In a large heavy kettle cook the onions and the garlic in the oil over moderate heat, stirring, until the onions are softened, add the beef, and cook the mixture, stirring and breaking up the lumps, until the beef is no longer pink. Add the chili powder, the paprika, the cumin, the coriander, the allspice, the orégano, the cayenne, the cinnamon, the cloves, and the mace and cook the mixture, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the bay leaf, the water, the tomato sauce, the vinegar, and the molasses and simmer the mixture, uncovered, stirring occasionally and adding more water if necessary to keep the beef barely covered, for 2 hours, or until it is thickened but soupy enough to be ladled. Discard the bay leaf and season the chili with salt and pepper. The chili may be frozen or made 4 days in advance, cooled, uncovered, and kept covered and chilled. Serve the chili as is or in the traditional Cincinnati "five-way" style: Ladle the chili over the spaghetti and top it with the beans, the onion, the Cheddar, and the oyster crackers.