Chilli con carne - which spices do you use?

[runner2]

I've tried lots of recipes but the end result never tastes as good as when I've had it in restaurants. For 500g minced beef, which spices should I use and in what quantities for the most authentic flavour?

[Deathraystare]

I too love Chipotle in it (and in a lot of other things!). I normally add a tin of Lidl mixed beans but there seems to be a world shortage at the moment (exaggeration , but I could not get them in my normal Lidl)

[Paddy1234]

Placemarking as I made Chilli last night and it could be better!

[Sweetpotatoaddict]

Smoked paprika, cumin, coriander and chilli powder. And some fresh oregano.
Lots of onion and garlic, sweat it off then add the spices and cook them. Brown the mince separately and then add it. Puréed tinned tomatoes, kidney beans and whack it in the oven for a few hours.
Based very roughly around the bbc best ever chilli recipe but without the stock cube.

[kunderscorej]

I add some of the water from a jar of jalepenos, it gives sweetness to counterbalance the cumin, and more of a kick!

[HeadlessGummyBears]

Posted too soon . I also add a teaspoon of ras el hanout.

[HeadlessGummyBears]

I use the BBC Good Food recipe

[Beechview]

I use the bbcgoodfood recipe but like a pp said, it’s about seasoning. I also cook it for much longer than most recipes say.
Mince based dishes are always better when simmered for ages. Just add a bit more water and simmer again if it starts to dry out.

[FrancesFryer]

I cheat and use the tins of taco beans from Tesco. Then chipotle paste and cumin

[WereYouHareWhenIWasFox]

Fresh chilli (one of the only things I ever managed to grow!) chilli powder and chilli flakes, cumin, and a couple of large spoons of chipotle in adobo sauce (from a can, I whizz it up in a blender and freeze the rest) Not a big fan of dark chocolate in it, because that is a different dish.

[ILikeyourHairyHands]

Oh and I sometimes stick a bit of ketchup or barbecue sauce in if it's lacking a bit of depth.

[ILikeyourHairyHands]

Cumin
Oregano
Smoked paprika
Chipotle paste
Liquid smoke, all to taste.

Make sure you cook down the peppers and onions properly too and season well, don't be scared of salt!

[Omega369]

I use (in different amounts each time):
Quorn mince (much healthier and no one will notice the difference)
Tinned tomatoes
Tomato purée
Mushrooms
Green and yellow peppers
Kidney beans
Onion
Garlic
Chillies
Cumin
Paprika
Cinnamon
Mixed Italian herbs
Brown sugar
Veg stock
Red wine
Salt
Pepper

& sometimes I'll also add grated carrots or lentils

& as PPs have said, it's nicer the day after you've made it

[midsomermurderess]

sites.google.com/site/recipesfromsarahserves/c/thomasina-miers-totally-amazing-chilli-con-carne

[midsomermurderess]

Cloves, bay leaves, allspice, cinnamon stick, cumin, oregano, and chillies. I used Thomasina Mier's recipe. It is quite fragrant.

[SpoonBlender]

Honestly, it's not the spices that are the problem when trying to replicate 'restaurant flavour'. It's that restaurant food is oversalted and overfatted.

Add an extra teaspoon of salt and fry the mince in too much butter and add bacon bits/pancetta. That'll get you closer than twiddling about with the spices. Also cook it one day and reheat it the next for eating.

(Lots of the recipes here sound excellent - I'm making notes!)

[user1469989812]

Chilli powder, garlic powder, Cumin, oregano, cayenne, turmeric (stumbled across this in a texas chilli recipe and it actually really works!). I also add jalapeños from a jar and pour some of the liquid in too. Tip I got from a chef friend and it works really nicely.

[Nat6999]

I put fresh garlic, paprika, cumin, fresh red chillies, low calorie sweetener or a couple of teaspoons of sugar & add extra garlic granules to taste just before serving. I usually make it in my slow cooker either totally from scratch or add the spices & red kidney beans to the night before's bolognese sauce.

[PickAChew]

Just read this.
www.mexicanplease.com/what-is-mexican-oregano/

I have some lemon thyme in my herb border. I'm going to add some of that to the chilli I'm making, tomorrow. I've been cooking it with courgettes sauteed with garlic and it's been delicious.

[PickAChew]

I have some "spicy marjoram" in my garden herb border so i wonder if that's similar to Mexican oregano. I've put a load of that in a chilli before but it doesn't really add a lot of flavour, lovely as it smells. I should try drying some, when we get into the autumn and the heating is on more and see if that brings out the flavour better.

[RockinHippy]

Chilli,
Bit of smoked paprika
Cayenne
Coriander
Garlic
Salt
Cocoa powder
Lime juice
Beer

[AquaPris]

Cumin, paprika, onion and garlic powder (and the fresh), chilli powder, pepper, oregano and bbq sauce

[Heyha]

Cumin, chilli, coriander AND...according to Nigella's recipe I also add a few cardamons. Highly unlikely to be authentic but I think they do add a certain something

[Fleetheart]

Cumin is v important. Ground in a pestle and mortar. Makes all the difference. I also add chilli powder, and garlic

[AlunWynsKnee]

Cumin, chilli, oregano. Recipe from a Californian friend.

[VitreousHumour]

I used to put oregano in because it's in Mexican recipes, but I once got poncetastic and ordered Mexican oregano which turns out to be a totally different plant. The closest equiv is marjoram which is quite a bit more lemony.

A whole dried Ancho chilli plus chipotle paste is amazing.