Is Chili A Soup?

[Goodweed of the North]

Marmalady; Well said.

Goodweed of the North

[mamabear]

Are we still talking abut chili? Chili isn't soup, it's chili!! I like either crackers or corn bread with it, and sometimes corn chips, but then it becomes frito pie!!! ;)

[Banana Brain]

It depends on what kind of chili. A really rich hearty chilli isn't a soup, but a chili thats mostly beans and sauce, maybe. I would say the kind from Wendy's is borderline being a soup.

[marmalady]

BB, actually, there are many types of 'chili' that have no beans in them at all. In fact, our Texas friends would gasp at the thought of bean in the chili itself; they're served as a side. If you peruse the 'chili' forum a bit more, I'm sure you'll find lots of ideas and recipes for chili, both with and without beans.

[Andy M.]

IMHO, if your chili looks like soup, you made it wrong.

To me, chili is a dish that contains meat, vegetables (pepper, onion, tomato) and a thick broth resulting from a combination of added liquids and the natural juices of the foods included in the recipe. In other words, a stew.

My chili tends to be thicker rather than thinner. Since I'm not a Texan, I put beans in my chili.

[Shunka]

I make chili both ways; with and without beans. If it is soupy....it ain't a true chili.

[ironchef]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banana Brain It depends on what kind of chili. A really rich hearty chilli isn't a soup, but a chili thats mostly beans and sauce, maybe. I would say the kind from Wendy's is borderline being a soup.

Chili from Wendy's isn't real chili.

I LOVE Texas style chili with chunks of beef as opposed to ground beef.

[Banana Brain]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironchef Chili from Wendy's isn't real chili. I LOVE Texas style chili with chunks of beef as opposed to ground beef.

How is it not a real chilli? Do you know the secret recipe?

[ironchef]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banana Brain How is it not a real chilli? Do you know the secret recipe?

Have you ever tried real chili as opposed to one made from a fast food joint? You bring a pot of Wendy's chili to a chili cook-off as your entry and you'll get laughed out of the competition.

Comparing Wendy's chili to real chili is like comparing pasta al pomodoro from Olive Garden to pasta al pomodoro from a good Italian restaurant.

[licia]

Chili from Wendy's isn't my FAVORITE chili, but I eat it probably more often than I make my own. My chili is very good, but probably wouldn't measure up to a cook off, but then I'm not making it for a cook off. Just because we make something at home doesn't mean it isn't good. Also, I like Olive Garden foods, most of them and eating in a fancy restaurant isn't what I'm about. If someone gets their kicks from that, fine, but not everyone has the time, the money or even cares about that. I've eaten in some fancy restaurants where the fancy food isn't that great. I suppose it has to do with that "cultivated" taste. Most of us live in the real world where even if we go to a fancy restaurant, it is a now and then thing, not our life. I like good food, but a meal doesn't always have to be an event. Sometimes it is only to satisfy hunger.