How To Enjoy Preparing Different Chilli Recipes

By Stella Gay


Early settlers often ate meals at different times while on the trail, and cooks were tasked with serving meals that were hearty. Some people had little money on hand to eat lavishly, and cooks would prepare spiced stews that would keep hunger away for one more day. Some travelers would add ingredients to these dishes and these changes were saved as chilli recipes that were passed on to others on the trail.

As new settlers joined a wagon train, new ideas were mentioned and certain spices from various locales were added. Some of the spices added, such as jalapeno, were capable of burning the interior of the mouth. Other peppers were used alternately, to fit in with different tolerances. Certain parts of a recipe were kept in place simply because the ingredients would create a thick sauce that clung to other ingredients.

The availability of cooking ingredients changed along the route. Settlers always had a supply of rice on hand, but could fix these stews using beans like the kidney bean or Navy bean. People that had lived in colder climates were used to eating Northern beans. Today, most people make bean selection after the meat has been chosen.

The method of cooking will have a direct influence on cooking time. These hearty stews can be prepared using a stove top that is powered by electricity or natural gas, a slow cooker, crock pot, or a pot hung on a spit over an open fire. The latter was popular among the settlers, and the cook prepared the meals from a chuck wagon. Some of those chefs chose to use left over coffee in the mixture as part of the flavor enhancers.

The texture of the sauce is influenced largely by tomatoes. The cook can choose to use fresh tomatoes or those that are steamed and canned. The thickening of the sauce will occur as the mixture cooks, so cooks are able to use liberal amounts of whole tomatoes that are crushed just before entering the pot. A certain amount of the tomatoes can be diced into bite sized pieces.

Including fresh vegetables will give cooks an opportunity to add a personal touch to the pot. In a southern stew, sweet onions are used, but red onions can add texture and color. Many chefs like to add a dash of lemon juice, and use scallions to provide depth to the creation. To give the mixture more body, a chef might choose to use fresh or dried parsley, and some chopped pieces of celery.

Many cooks will be alert when adding water to the pot because these stews are meant to be thick and hearty instead of thin and watered down. The method of cooking is very important when determining how much water should be added. Using a slow cooker will ensure that all food inside is moist and little water is needed to maintain the correct consistency.

Creating a suitable base for these hearty dishes will rely on dry ingredients and spices. Certain pots can be made using ground beef, or chunks of beef. Certain tastes in the crowd will prefer stews made with turkey or pork. All fat content in meat should be monitored to keep the contents from being greasy.




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