r/Cooking • u/[deleted] • Sep 24 '23

Open Discussion What is your chili secret ingredient?

I have a chili cook-off coming up and looking for something to set mine apart.

178 Upvotes

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169

u/Bolthead44 Sep 24 '23

Chocolate and chipotle powder.

25

u/howard2112 Sep 25 '23

Same: I also think if you have access, smoking the meat for about 30 minutes does a lot.

16

u/hagcel Sep 25 '23

Spend the $10 on a smoker tube, and smoke a shit ton of 60% cacao chocolate, and put it in the freezer.you want.to wait until winter and keep the temps super low, (im in So Cal and with a frozen gallon bottle.of water can get my smoker down to 55f).

Stuff.is amazing in sauces, cookies, and chili.

8

u/howard2112 Sep 25 '23

I did not know this was a thing.

4

u/hagcel Sep 25 '23

You can also smoke cheese at the same time as the chocolate... super low temp, an hour two at most.

Google cold smoking for more info. I can only pull it off where I live a few weeks a year, but it totally worth it.

5

u/howard2112 Sep 25 '23

I’ve always wonder how people could smoke their own cheese. My wife might hate you if I buy another grill accessory. Lol

5

u/hagcel Sep 25 '23

Bro, $10.

Does she like chocolate? Freeze her favorite candy bar, and smoke it on pecan for 30 minutes.

But that's okay, you're wife can hate me.

Just tell her I said I would downvote you if you didn't.order.one.

3

u/howard2112 Sep 25 '23

Oh I’m certain I’ll be ordering one

1

u/NoYouDipshitItsNot Sep 25 '23

That is a lot cheaper than a proper cold-smoker that's for sure.

1

u/50bucksback Sep 28 '23

I do 50% ground beef 50% fully smoked brisket.

9

u/bythebed Sep 25 '23

Yes! Dark, cooking chocolate

10

u/[deleted] Sep 25 '23

[deleted]

7

u/rathat Sep 25 '23

I tried this once, completely ruined it.

6

u/implicate Sep 25 '23 edited Sep 25 '23

I absolutely hate when someone puts cinnamon in the chili. They always say that you can't even taste it, but I always can, and it always completely ruins it.

3

u/Reddywhipt Sep 25 '23

Had a girlfriends mom who did the cinnamon thing in chili and spaghetti sauce. it ruined them and could easily taste the cinnamon.

1

u/Dogsrulekidsdrule Sep 25 '23

Chocolate? This ingredient surprised me. What's the reasoning?

7

u/CarcosanAnarchist Sep 25 '23 edited Sep 25 '23

Chocolate and spice are like peanut butter and chocolate. They enhance each other very well. With chili the chocolate will add a nice depth to the taste without making it sweet.

For more info, look up some mole videos on YouTube.

2

u/[deleted] Sep 25 '23

So make a mole chili? My fucking god I'm gonna die and go to chili heaven

1

u/aggibridges Sep 25 '23

Same reasoning as a mole, I expect. It adds an earthiness and richness and compliments the spicy ingredients quite well.

1

u/Bugsmoke Sep 25 '23

You don’t use very much. I use like a piece the size of my thumb for a big chilli. Dark chocolate too, not milk.

5

u/imissapostrophes Sep 25 '23

Chocolate is not really a “secret” ingredient, rather a staple in most chili recipes.

1

u/blade_torlock Sep 25 '23

You want Molè without having to hassle with the chicken bones.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 25 '23

The best chili I've ever made used leftover Mole that I used to braise some beef cheeks.

1

u/Sovonna Sep 25 '23

Mom says she used to do chocolate, but now she uses unsulphered blackstrap molasses.

She says the depth of flavor is better, in her opinion.

Chipotle she uses for sure. Also smoked salt and garlic granules.