Cincinnati Chili
Bearing no resemblance to Southwestern chili con carne, Cincinnati chili includes five separate layers in its full configuration. On a thick oval plate, a base is created from a heap of limp spaghetti noodles; they in turn are topped by a sauce of finely-ground, enthusiastically-spiced beef, then beans, then raw onions, and finally a fluffy crown of cheddar cheese. Oyster crackers are the traditional garnish.No Cincinnati chili cook gives out the recipe, but this one comes pretty close to the superlative five-way served at our favorite Queen City chili parlor, Camp Washington. If you don't have one particular seasoning, or want to add another, feel free: all cooks should make this dish their own!Roadfood review of Camp Washington Chili Parlor
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup thick barbecue sauce
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 oz unsweetened chocolate, grated
- 1/4 tsp ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp turmeric
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp ground coriander
- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Tomato juice, as needed
- 9 oz spaghetti, cooked and lightly buttered
- 1 16-oz can kidney beans, heated and drained
- 1 lb Cheddar cheese, finely shredded
- Oyster crackers as garnish
Method
- Brown the meat with half the chopped onions and garlic, stirring to keep it loose. Drain any fat from the pan. Add BBQ sauce and water. Bring mixture to boil. Add spices, cover the pan, and lower the heat. Simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. The chili will thicken. Add tomato juice as necessary to create a brew that will ladle up easily. Allow the chili to rest at least 30 minutes in a covered pan. (It may be refrigerated and reheated to serve.)
- To make each plate, put a layer of spaghetti down, top it with hot chili, then a few beans, then chopped onions, to taste. Pat on the cheese so the chili's heat can begin to melt it. Serve immediately with oyster crackers.
Discuss
What do you think of Cincinnati Chili?
One Response to “Cincinnati Chili”
Hunter
June 12th, 2022
Love Cincinnati chili. Skyline is my favorite.