Chili help...

[Blondy876]

HELP!! I made a huge pot of chili and I don't know what I did wrong but it tastes like spicy spaghetti sauce. Is there anything I can add to it? It has tomato's, chilies, jalapeños, hamburger, garlic, onion, beans, chili powder, and a shake of worchester sauce. I don't want to waste it. It does taste good but not very "chili" like except for the kick it has. Any ideas?

 

[MzDiz]

My chili recipe is as follows:

5lb ground beef
1/3 c minced garlic
46 oz tomato juice (V8)
3 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes
3 15.5 oz cans red kidney beans
1 tsp celery salt
2 T minced onion
1 t black pepper
1 t crushed red pepper
1 t cumin
1/2 t corriander
2 t oregano
1 T chili powder
1 T parsley
1 T salt

IMHO, cumin makes all the difference in the taste. I actually put a little more cumin in the pot now than I did when I put this recipe together.
I hope this helps. Good luck, and let us know how it turns out!

 

[crazy4disney01]

When I make chili, my recipe includes 2 cans of Hormel chili with beans. I think it helps it taste more like chili because the recipe doesn't require for alot of seasonings.

 

[mommytotwo]

I would add in some sugar to lessen the spicy taste, and a can of stewed tomatoes.

 

[bicker]

I don't think the OP was complaining about how spicy it is, but rather that it tasted like spaghetti sauce. If anything putting either sugar or more tomato in would make it taste more like spaghetti sauce.

It sounds like some critical ingredients were either left out, or an insufficient amount of them were put in. The most likely culprit is cumin, again either left out or too little was put in. However, it needs to be cooked a little. What I'd do is fry up an onion, and then putting a tablespoon of cumin in it, cooking the cumin a bit. You'll end up with a paste that you can put into your chili to make it more like chili. (You may also need to do the same with chili powder, again, if there wasn't enough put in.)

 

[ToTLaugher]

I agree you probably need to add more cumin. We like alot of it around here! Good luck!

 

[DVC Sadie]

I would add a can of beef broth to get rid of the excess tomato flavor which is causing it to taste like a spaghetti sauce.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I don't think the OP was complaining about how spicy it is, but rather that it tasted like spaghetti sauce. If anything putting either sugar or more tomato in would make it taste more like spaghetti sauce.

It sounds like some critical ingredients were either left out, or an insufficient amount of them were put in. The most likely culprit is cumin, again either left out or too little was put in. However, it needs to be cooked a little. What I'd do is fry up an onion, and then putting a tablespoon of cumin in it, cooking the cumin a bit. You'll end up with a paste that you can put into your chili to make it more like chili. (You may also need to do the same with chili powder, again, if there wasn't enough put in.)

Yep, and keep adding cumin til you get it "right". Also, is the original chili powder still "fresh"? If not, it may have lost its potency.

 

[paigevz]

If nothing else works, you can put the beans, big veggies and meat into a colander, rinse them off.................put the rest of the sauce in freezer bags for a spaghetti night, then put the beans, meat, veggies mix back in the pot and try again!

I think you just got too much tomato sauce/tomatoes in it................

 

[JennyMominRI]

HELP!! I made a huge pot of chili and I don't know what I did wrong but it tastes like spicy spaghetti sauce. Is there anything I can add to it? It has tomato's, chilies, jalapeños, hamburger, garlic, onion, beans, chili powder, and a shake of worchester sauce. I don't want to waste it. It does taste good but not very "chili" like except for the kick it has. Any ideas?

Cumin and Cayenne pepper

 

[figment52]

cumin - makes all the difference

 

[Blondy876]

Your guys were right! I added cumin and a bit more chili pepper and it is so much better. Not perfect, I think I just put in wayyy to much tomato but I won't do it next time.

I told my dh I was going to post on the Dis for advice regarding the chili and he just laughed at me. I told him, just you watch, they'll know just what to do. And look, I was right! Thank you! (for the advice and for helping me be right)

 

[bicker]

I think I just put in wayyy to much tomato

That makes sense. The best chilis I've ever tasted don't have a drop of tomato in them. I've never been so self-assured as a chili cook to do without tomato completely, but typically, the only tomato that gets into my chili is one small can of paste.

 

[Nancyg56]

That makes sense. The best chilis I've ever tasted don't have a drop of tomato in them. I've never been so self-assured as a chili cook to do without tomato completely, but typically, the only tomato that gets into my chili is one small can of paste.

I never tried tomato paste, but I use diced tomatoes, and not too much. I agree that enough cumin and plenty of a good quality of chili powder make all of the difference.