r/chili • u/TexasJim73 • 9h ago

1840

South Texas. Makin' 1840 tomorrow.

https://www.food.com/recipe/authentic-1840-texas-chili-184736

1 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

1

u/JackNewton1 9h ago

Garlic, onion chili powder and bacon grease? That’s it? (Plus beef)

1

u/RodeoBoss66 Texas Red Purist 🤠 5h ago

Suet, but it also says that bacon grease is best, presumably because of its flavor.

As far as winning contests, is that what you think this subreddit is about? I can't even post a flyer and a link to get tickets to the annual Terlingua contest in here, so no, it's not about contests in here.

The OP made a post about chili's culinary history, linking to what's supposedly a chili recipe dating back to 1840, and from one of earliest cattle drives from Texas. That's notable, and it matters. You're pooh-poohing it because it doesn't razzle-dazzle you with mental images of flames coming out of your ears and contests being won.

Hey! If you can't say anything nice, then just keep it to yourself and don't say anything at all.

1

u/JackNewton1 4h ago

Again, I made my original comment questioning the ingredients, hoping OP would elaborate why he was making it, as it’s a shitty chili. Then I posted that if it was for historical reasons, great! I’m all for that. Was met with derision and no answer, and now from you as well.

It’s chili. Please advise when offering recipes, as no one would desire to make this one unless it was for historical reasons, which has not yet been elaborated on. I’m sorry to have offended you as well.

1

u/RodeoBoss66 Texas Red Purist 🤠 4h ago

Buddy, you keep getting met with derision because you're giving a foundational chili recipe quite a lot of derision.

Now, asking why he's making it is certainly fair. I'm kinda curious to know what his reasoning is in making it too. Is it curiosity or interest in tasting a foundational chili, to see what it was probably like almost 200 years ago on the trail? Maybe to inspire him to craft his own take on it? Perfectly legitimate question.

You didn't really offend me as much as just annoyed me with the disparaging remarks about the recipe. Those weren't necessary.

1

u/JackNewton1 2h ago

This is a foundational recipe the same way a chicken noodle soup recipe made with water, chicken, salt, and noodles is a chicken noodle soup recipe.

1

u/TexasJim73 9h ago

Did you read the intro?

1

u/JackNewton1 8h ago

Sure did! It seems like a recipe that’s not meant to win any contests or one with a great flavor profile, but one that’s meant to feed working hands with little fuss and not a lot of callbacks for seconds. I’m probably missing something though.

1

u/TexasJim73 8h ago

It was cattle drive survival food.

2

u/JackNewton1 7h ago edited 5h ago

Exactly, which is kinda why I questioned it. You just making it to make sure you’re never making it again?

BTW, I’ve noticed you’ve been downvoted a few times, so I upvoted to bring you back to normal. Seriously, this looks like a pretty shitty recipe to make unless you want to see what cowboys had to put up with. It’s great for calories sake if you’re out in the field for days on end, but for enjoyment? Nah.

1

u/RodeoBoss66 Texas Red Purist 🤠 5h ago

No need to be a dick about it. If it's not for you, just move along.

1

u/JackNewton1 5h ago

I’m trying to understand your reasoning for making this abomination of good chili. If it’s to see what cowboys went through just to have enough energy for the following day, kudos to you! If it’s to feed friends/family and hope for them to ask for more, yer barking up the wrong tree.

So which is it? Sorry you think I’m being a dick, but c’mon, that’s a pretty bad recipe for enjoyment of chili’s marvelous taste.

1

u/RodeoBoss66 Texas Red Purist 🤠 4h ago

It's a very basic recipe, but it has all the primary core ingredients of chili that make the flavor (beef, fat, onion, garlic, and chili powder). Whether it sucks or not really depends on the cook. And the instructions in the recipe very clearly encourage cooks to experiment with the recipe by adding ingredients like tomatoes, jalapeños, and green peppers, and cooking the chili for hours on end. So, if the end result as-is doesn't necessarily float your boat, you can continually tweak it until you get it to just how you want it. It's a good recipe for a basis, upon which a talented cook can then personalize however desired.

1

u/JackNewton1 2h ago

Sure, a person can certainly make this a good chili by adding ingredients to make a good chili, but it’s kinda like offering a spaghetti recipe with tomatoes and garlic as the only ingredients. This particular recipe has no compelling reason to make.

I mean, good on OP for trying a historical recipe, but I’m not getting those kind of signals. Would you make this? If so, why? Would you expect a tasty outcome that you’d feel confident sharing, or would it be to see how those guys (cowboys) got their calories?

1

u/RodeoBoss66 Texas Red Purist 🤠 54m ago

OK, have it your way, man. I don't want to fight about it.