I'm going to make a chilli, any tips?

[GettinChillyHereFFS]

It's not something I've made often, only maybe 2 or 3 times before so not one of my staples.

Any tips to make it extra delicious? I've got some 99% dark chocolate to go in it already.

There's a nigella recipe you can find online that has corn bread on the top. It's actually really easy to make and sooooo good

www.nigella.com/recipes/cornbread-topped-chilli-con-carne

I add cinnamon, smoked paprika and cumin. Leave it to cook for as long as possible. Different types of beans. Kidney beans in chilli sauce if you have them.
If you cook in the slow cooker, which I sometimes do, add more chilli. I use the ready prepared chilli that comes in a jar.
If you want a silky texture add a tablespoon of mascarpone or Philadelphia 20 minutes before you serve it.
It's an absolute staple in my house.

I add small pieces of bacon at the start, cooked with the onion and garlic. And cook and reduce it for as long as you can, at least 45 minutes.

I know it’s for a vegetarian chilli, but Felicity Cloake’s chilli starts with rehydrating a range of dried chillis to create a base. There’s a fruity chilli like ancho for nice chilli flavour, smoky chipotles, and then a really hot chilli for spice. You can vary ratios to suit you. It adds much more complexity and makes a a dish really celebrating chillis than adding a spoon of chilli powder does.

This is the best recipe I have found. Felicity Cloake tries all the recipes so you don’t have to. She’s my go to for any recipe.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2011/may/12/cook-perfect-chilli-con-carne#comments

I swear by the Hairy Bikers chilli recipe. I add a bit more chilli powder to mine as we like it HOT.

I’ve never found chocolate adds anything, but coffee is a must, complete game changer!!

Use shin instead of mince.

Don't put any beans in it.

Don't put in too many bird's eye chilli flakes.
I made that mistake this weekend.

A few years sliced olives. can give a lovely richness

Add a couple of spoons of red pesto

I don't use a recipe but always add a spoonful of marmite, a squeeze of ketchup, and oregano in mine.

Quorn mince is wonderful in a chilli, there's none of that greasy texture. I always add extra smoked paprika, onion powder, celery seeds and garlic.

Meat or veg? If meat use steak over mince along with plenty of peppers

I did

red & white onion
garlic
red & green pepper
1tbs cumin, coriander, oregano, sweet paprika
mince
kidney beans
tomatoes
s&p, dried chillies, hot paprika
1tbs cumin, coriander, oregano, sweet paprika
mushrooms
worcestershire sauce
stock cube
dark chocolate
balsamic vinegar
bay leaves

Its simmering now, I'll taste it in a bit and if it needs anything else I'll add a tiny bit of coffee or a smidgeon of marmite.

Meat but not fully traditional, I added mushrooms for extra veg.

Its a massive pot so it had better turn out nice 😂

Sounds lovely. I am a fan of a shot of a smoky espresso, and I really like black beans too. I also usually add red wine, or beer if there’s no wine around.

Mushrooms?!

I like chunky chilli - brisket ales a great chilli. I also use powder red onion and garlic instead of fresh, a couple of packs of packet chilli mix, stock and cook it in beer instead of tomatoes.

I also do a white chilli with chicken, canellini beans, crème fraiche and stock for the liquid.

Squeeze of fresh lime juice at the end, trust me x

Must be smoked paprika and not normal / sweet paprika.

Chipotle paste with the onions at the start!

Use steak instead of mince. Add beer, lime and coriander. Serve with crusty bread, yoghurt and strong cheddar. Delicious.

Malt vinegar - a good slosh - stirred in at the end once it’s off the heat / out of the oven and standing.
it makes all the difference

A spoonful of Marmite.