Chili Recipe

True chili aficionados will tell you in a heartbeat that an authentic Chili Recipe does not have beans in it.

They'll also be quick to add that it doesn't have any tomatoes either.

"I suppose, if authentic chili is what you seek, they would be right."

Consider Chili Recipe History

The dish most likely began in Texas during the mid-1800s as a simple peasant stew using materials that were inexpensive and usually on hand.

Originally there probably was not a recipe. The concoction was just a cheap cut of beef and chile peppers with maybe some oregano and garlic thrown in if available.

In addition the beef definitely would not have been ground.

Maybe it was chopped or even finely diced but I wouldn't think the makers of such a frugal dish would have a meat grinder available.

The phrase "chili con carne" translated from the Spanish means "chile with meat". That name would certainly mean that there were no beans or tomatoes.

So where did they come from?

Evolution

I love the phrase "the only thing that stays the same is that everything changes".

That's certainly true about the original chili recipe.

The chuck wagon cooks of the cattle drives of the late 1800's carried their concoctions across the west.

The dish always tasted good so people along their route picked it up. This was possible because of William Gebhardt, a German immigrant in New Braunfels, Texas. Around 1890 he created the first chili powder.

With Gebhardts powder in hand frugal cooks most likely extended the expensive beef even further with the addition of the beans and tomatoes.

Over the last 150 years or so chili has become a nationwide dish. With a whole nation of cooks stewing up chili there's got to be thousands of recipes.

With and without beans and tomatoes!

Try some of these and then maybe concoct one of your very own.

More Chili Recipes: