Thread: Texas red chili law....

Now I know for a fact that back in the day,at a real Texas red chili cookoff,that the rule stated for real Red , NO BEANS. I also know that nowdays they have divisions at cook-offs where there are with beans,and green chile and various other catagories.etc. I have done and made red n green both many a time myself being a resident Coloraden now for 25 yrs. ,and I'm no end all authority either. but I cling madley however to the Law of the big T for a bowl O red as best as I can. I dunno why,I just do it's ingrained in me and I'm a Michigan boy...go figure.Has anything changed then or is it still no beans for an authentic bowl O Red ? I do know by the way that other regions have their notions about chili,but this is for Texas period. And Just for the record.....I'll eat any chili gladly as long as it tastes good so this is just for the clearing of the air so to speak not for blood heh. Pass the tortillas please........

Here is a bit of trivia that I picked up over the years about Chili... (cannot swear by it's truth)

It is Southwestern US trail stew, that is where it started, on the cattle drives, and my understanding is the the recipe continually changed with the what the "Trail" had to offer...
That "Chili" pot basically hung from the Cook's wagon and anything that was gathered or hunted along the way went it the pot...
The Chilies and chili powder were used to help keep the stew...
The beans were a trail staple but were soaked all day in a separate pot and cooked when the drive stopped at night, they were thrown on the mess plate then the "Chili" was ladled on top...

So that is where the Beans or No beans Chili started...


This all sounds very logical and true but I have no proof of any authenticity... and it could just be a good story..

That makes too much sense, I am inclined to go with that, necessity being a mother and opportunity being the father of invention.

I like with beans, being a Michigander... Thats the way it is done here.

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

what the "Trail" had to offer...
{...} anything that was gathered or hunted along the way went it the pot...

So really the question has nothing to do with beans, but ought be "Armadillo or 'possum?"

I like the chili that CarrieM makes.

competition chilli = no beans. beans are added as a filler cuz they are cheap. some prefer no meat chilli ( thats just wrong ). I will eat it beans or not. just good eats. much love for this pepper stew in my house.

i throw the beans in a blender and blend them then put it in the chili. that`s how my mom and her mom did it so that`s what i do. mmmmmmm gives you extra

Originally Posted by no1slacker

competition chilli = no beans. beans are added as a filler cuz they are cheap. some prefer no meat chilli ( thats just wrong ). I will eat it beans or not. just good eats. much love for this pepper stew in my house.

See ,I knew I wasn't drunk.People look at me funny when I tell'em this this.And... I must admit,blending up beans as a thickener does have a culinary appeal.

My chili recipe is a combination of an original 1800's trail recipe and a competition winner and then I tweaked it with my own nuances.I like to thicken it with some Masa flour.And mexican oregano makes all the difference in flavor. Noe Beenz ! And interesting note.I was watching food network years back and they were talking about how back east a big thing to do is put chili over spaghettii . Actually looked pretty tasty.We need more yummy food icons on this site. And to answer Bkratchmer's question....Clearly possum as armadillos carry leprosy ewww !