Unusual Chili Recipes – 4 Quirky But Wonderful Chili Meals
Craving chili, but tired of the same bean chili you’ve had countless times? Good. Time to shake things up a bit and try something different to excite your taste buds. Here are four unique chili recipes that will give your chili cravings some much-needed variety.
=> Chili Mexican Pumpkin
The sweet and earthy flavor of the pumpkin takes this dish to another level of salty goodness.
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 1/2 cup onion, chopped, 1 cup red or green bell pepper, chopped, 1 garlic clove, finely chopped, 1 pound ground turkey, 2 (14 oz.) cans diced tomatoes cubes, undrained, 1-3/4 cups pumpkin puree, 1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce, 1 can (15-1/4 oz.) kidney beans, drained, 1 can (4 oz. .) diced green chilies, 1/2 cup whole kernel corn, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
In a large saucepan, heat the vegetable oil over medium high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook, stirring constantly, for 5 to 7 minutes or until tender.
Add turkey meat and cook until browned; to drain.
Add tomatoes with juice, pumpkin puree, tomato sauce, beans, chiles, corn, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to a minimum. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.
=> Memphis BBQ Shrimp Chili
Here’s a very unique chili recipe that comes straight from the Memphis barbecue tradition. The consistency will be much like a soup and should be served over rice or French bread.
1-1/2 pounds medium shrimp, 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 5 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped, 1-1/2 cups barbecue sauce, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon hot sauce, 1 teaspoon liquid smoke, 1-1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes, 1-1/2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1/ 2 cups of chopped fresh parsley, 1 lemon, sliced very thin, white rice and French bread.
Peel and clean the shrimp well.
In a large heavy skillet, melt the butter and oil. Cook the garlic until it’s nice and soft.
Add shrimp and cook until pink.
Add barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce, liquid smoke, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper and chili powder.
Simmer everything for 10 minutes. Add the parsley and lemon wedges. Continue cooking on low heat for 5 to 7 minutes.
Serve the chili over white rice and/or French bread.
=> Italian Chili Con Carne
Italian meets Southwestern in this easy-to-make chili dish.
1 green bell pepper, 6 to 8 large onions, 1 pound ground beef, 1 medium can tomatoes, 1 can beans, 1 can spaghetti sauce.
In skillet, cook ground beef until browned; to drain.
Chop the green bell peppers and onions and add them to a saucepan. Add the cooked meat and tomatoes. Let cook over low heat until all the ingredients are well done. Add beans and spaghetti sauce; heat thoroughly.
Season to taste with salt, pepper and sugar.
=> Cincinnati Hot Chili
This Cincinnati version is known as sweet chili and is served over spaghetti noodles. The hot sauce adds a nice touch to this popular dish.
2 pounds ground beef or pork, 2 large onions, chopped, 2 garlic cloves, minced, 1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce, 1 can hot sauce, 2 tablespoons chili powder, 1 to 1- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice, 2 bay leaves, 1 pound thin spaghetti, cooked.
Topping: shredded cheddar cheese, 1 chopped onion, red kidney beans, hot, oyster crackers.
In a Dutch oven or large pot, brown the beef or pork along with the onion and garlic. Add remaining ingredients except spaghetti and dressings. Cover and simmer for 1 hour; stirring occasionally.
Remove the bay leaves. Serve the chili piping hot over the cooked spaghetti. Use the ingredients as you wish.
