+++
title = "Spicy Chili con Carne"
date = 2020-11-03T21:42:50Z
updated = 2021-10-30T18:42:16Z
+++
This recipe is for those who like their food a little spicy. A classic of
Tex-Mex cuisine, although its true origins are disputed.[^1]
## Ingredients
Here are the ingredients for 2-4 adult portions, depending on your appetite:
* 400g ground beef
* 400g can of pre-cooked beans
* 1 onion
* 3-4 garlic cloves
* 10-12 spoonfuls tomato paste
* ~150ml water
* Whole black peppercorns, or even better, allspice+
* Chili powder or dried peppers+\*
* Cumin+
* Oregano+
* Salt+
* Cooking oil (preferably olive oil)
* 3-4 Basil leaves (optional)
* Cilantro (optional)
* Worcestershire sauce (optional)+
+: Add to taste.
\*: Before I found where to buy the peppers I wanted where I live, I used to add
red hot chili pepper powder, but I have been using chile de arbol and habanero
lately, and I must say the flavor is much better.
## Instructions
1. Add oil to a deep frying pan, or a sauce pan, and heat to medium heat.
2. Chop the onions and add them to the heated pan.
3. After frying the onions for a bit, add the ground beef and fry it until it is
well-done; salt the beef to taste.
4. Just before the beef is done, mince or grate the garlic cloves and add it to
the pan.
5. Add the water, beans and tomato paste and mix.
6. Add chili powder or dried peppers after crushing them; add oregano, cumin,
allspice/peppercorns and a little bit more salt to the pan and mix
thoroughly; also add the basil leaves and Worcestershire sauce if you want to
add a little more flavor.
7. Once the mix is boiling, cover the pan, and stew at low heat for about 45-60
minutes.
8. Once the chili is quite thick (but not too dry!), it should be done; or maybe
you prefer it a little bit more soup-y.
9. You can also add some freshly chopped cilantro on top to add even more
flavor.
## How to eat
So, this might be strange, to tell somebody how to eat some food, but I gather
there's multitude different ways to eat chili. The most obvious one, is to just
eat it as it is with a spoon, or maybe with some totopos. I, however, like to
make some burritos stuffed with the stuff, together with some grated cheese and
jalapeños.
There's of course other dishes, like hot dogs with chili (a.k.a chilidogs),
sandwiches with chili, hamburgers with chili; you get the idea.
[^1]: [Nobody Knows More About Chili Than I Do (Archived)](http://web.archive.org/web/20160303171627/http://www.chilicookoff.com/History/History_Started.asp)