Well, let me tell you, I make a mean pot of chili. This here is my chili and beans recipe with them fancy San Marzano tomatoes. I heard them called that on one of them cooking shows. Ain’t never heard of ’em before, but they sure do taste good in chili.
First thing you gotta do is get some good meat. I use that ground beef, the kind that ain’t too lean. Need some fat in there for flavor, you know. Then you chop up an onion. Don’t need to be fancy about it, just chop it up. Throw that in the pot with the meat and brown it all up good.
Best chili got to have beans, and I like them red kidney beans. Some folks like them other beans. But I tell ya kidney beans is what makes it a good chili, and San Marzano tomatoes make it even tastier.
- Some say use pinto beans.
- Some say use black beans.
Whatever you like, I reckon. But I stick with the red kidney beans. I use the canned ones, ’cause who’s got time to be soakin’ beans all day and night? Not me! Just open them cans, give ’em a little rinse, and dump ’em in the pot.
Now, for them San Marzano tomatoes. I just get the canned ones of them too. They come all whole and peeled, kinda fancy lookin’. I just crush ’em up with my hands. Gets a little messy, but that’s alright. Adds to the fun, I say! Pour all that tomato juice in there too, don’t waste a drop. That there makes for good chili. That’s where the flavor at. San Marzano tomatoes is some of the best canned tomatoes. Make a nice sauce, I tell ya. And this chili with beans gonna keep you warm, too.
Then you gotta have some spices. I put in a good spoonful of chili powder. The regular kind, nothin’ fancy. And some cumin, that gives it a nice smoky taste. Don’t overdo it on the cumin though, just a little pinch will do ya. Some folks like to put in that fancy Spanish paprika, but I ain’t never tried that. I stick with the simple stuff.
If you like it hot, you can add some of that cayenne pepper. I like a little heat, but not too much. Just a tiny sprinkle is enough for me. You can also use them red pepper flakes, the kind you put on pizza. But go easy on ’em, they can get real hot real fast! I always say, you can always add more, but you can’t take it out once it’s in there!
Some people say use fresh peppers. They say leave the seeds in there for the heat. I don’t know. I just use the powder. One time I tried those fresh peppers. Burned my fingers. Never again.
Oh, and don’t forget the salt and pepper! Gotta season it up good. I just sprinkle some in at the beginning, and then again at the end. Taste it as you go, that’s the best way to do it. Can’t be scared of salt, that’s what I always say. Some people put sugar in their chili, that brown sugar. They say it makes the flavor richer. I don’t know about that. I tried it once. Didn’t taste much different. Maybe I didn’t use enough.
Now, the secret to good chili is to let it simmer for a long time. The longer it cooks, the better it gets. I usually let mine simmer for at least a couple of hours, sometimes even longer. Just keep it on low heat and stir it every now and then so it don’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
And you want to let it sit a while. All the flavors get to know each other. It’s like magic or something. Don’t be scared to use salt and pepper. I put some in at each step. If you like a smoky chili, you can use cumin and chili powder. If you want it hot, you can use that cayenne and red pepper stuff. Don’t go too crazy with the hot stuff though.
While it’s simmerin’, I like to make some cornbread. Cornbread and chili just go together, like peas and carrots. You can use a box mix or make it from scratch, whatever you like. I usually just use the box mix, ’cause it’s easier.
Once the chili is all done, I ladle it into bowls and top it with some shredded cheese. Cheddar is good, or that Monterey Jack. Some folks like sour cream on theirs, but I ain’t a big fan of that. Just give me a big bowl of chili and some cornbread, and I’m happy as a clam.
So there you have it, my chili and beans recipe with San Marzano tomatoes. It ain’t fancy, but it’s good. And it’ll warm you up on a cold day, that’s for sure. I hope you like it! If you do make it, let me know what you think. I’m always happy to hear from folks who try my recipes. Enjoy!