When you think of a nice warm bowl of chili, you can imagine the ingredients.
You might use ground beef, minced garlic, tomato paste and, of course, chili powder… but what about beer, balsamic vinegar, cocoa powder or peanut butter?
Thursday is National Chili Day, and in honor of this holiday, let’s go over some unique secret ingredients people put in their chili recipes, according to the internet.
Beer
According to an article written by Bon Appetit in 2010, they had readers submit their secret chili ingredient and several said beer and Guy Fieri agrees. Fieri’s Texas Chili recipe calls for an amber beer.
Chocolate
Some people swear by using dark chocolate while others think simply adding in some cocoa powder does the trick. While it does not exactly sweeten the chili, it is supposed to add more depth to the dish. This recipe from Foolproof Living explains why they add cocoa powder to their chili.
Flamin’ Hot Cheetos
While this might not be a common practice, it certainly is an unusual one. Several internet users swear by crushing up the spicy snack on top of the chili instead more traditional crackers, especially if the chili itself is more mild.
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter goes on sandwiches and even burgers, so why not chili? Taste of Home has a “Smoky Peanut Butter Chili” recipe that uses peanut oil, peanut butter and peanuts instead of beans… in case you really like peanuts.
Sugar
The hot-headed IU basketball coach, Bob Knight, famously liked to add a tablespoon of sugar to his chili. Knight shared his chili recipe in 1995 and it was included in “The All-American Chili Cookbook.”
Other unusual secret ingredients shared online include:
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Balsamic Vinegar
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Cinnamon
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Espresso
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Fish sauce
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Maple syrup
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Molasses
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Soy sauce
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Whiskey
Katie Wiseman is a trending news intern at IndyStar. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @itskatiewiseman.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: National Chili Day: Strange secret ingredients people put in their chili
Elaine Hadley is a dedicated journalist covering the ever-evolving landscape of U.S. news. With a keen interest in politics and a commitment to uncovering the truth, she provides insightful commentary and in-depth analysis on domestic issues. When not reporting, Elaine enjoys exploring the diverse cultures and landscapes of the United States.
