CINCINNATI CHILI CON CARNE

Cincinnati Chili Con Carne image

This recipe for Cincy's classic chili is an adaptation of one found in the International Chili Society's ''Official Chili Cookbook'' by Martina and William Neely. In this version, unsweetened chocolate adds depth, and a splash of vinegar lends a pleasant tang that cuts through the richness. Craig Claiborne and Pierre Franey brought it to The Times in 1981, and we've updated it here to include the traditional "five-way" serving suggestion: over cooked spaghetti sprinkled with grated cheddar cheese, kidney beans and diced white onion.

Provided by Craig Claiborne And Pierre Franey

Time 1h40m

Yield 6 or more servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

Ingredients

4 cups beef broth
2 pounds ground beef
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cups finely chopped onions
1 tablespoon finely minced garlic
1/4 cup chili powder or more to taste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon hot red pepper or more to taste
1 bay leaf
2 cups fresh or canned tomato sauce
2 tablepoons cider or white vinegar
1/2 ounce (one-half square) unsweetened chocolate
Salt, to taste
1 pound spaghetti, cooked
8 ounces sharp cheddar, finely grated
1 15-oz. can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 small white onion, finely diced
Oyster crackers, for serving

Steps:

Put the broth in a pot or Dutch oven and add the beef a little at a time until it separates into small pieces. Bring to the boil. Cover and let simmer 30 minutes.
Heat the oil in a saucepan and add the onions. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are wilted and start to brown. Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, hot red pepper, bay leaf and tomato sauce and bring to the boil.
Add the tomato mixture to the meat mixture. Add the cider or vinegar and chocolate. Bring to a boil and cover. Simmer one hour. Refrigerate. When ready to serve, skim off the fat, reheat and serve over cooked spaghetti topped with cheese, beans and onion.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 1041, UnsaturatedFat 22 grams, Carbohydrate 92 grams, Fat 50 grams, Fiber 12 grams, Protein 57 grams, SaturatedFat 20 grams, Sodium 1596 milligrams, Sugar 13 grams, TransFat 2 grams