Most people do not really know what chili is exactly as they mostly acquire the finished product.
Chili is an amazing dish that reminds most people of comfort food, especially in cold climates. It comes in different variations and can be served with a lot of dishes. It is quite a spicy stew with meat, tomatoes, beans and chili peppers.
Most of the times, chili is seasoned with garlic, cumin, and onions.
Unlike most dishes, it can be frozen and still maintain that hot taste and is still safe to eat. This is beneficial since you can make a generous amount of chili not having to worry about wastage. Being a protein packed dish, you can conclude that it is very nutritious. It is also rich in Vitamin C and necessary antioxidants necessary for your body.
Chili powder is the dried version of a variety of chili pepper and is used a spice. It is used to add taste to the food and basically, serves the same function as chili. It is very easy to prepare your own chili powder if you prefer it over chili.
All you need is paprika, oregano, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne pepper and onion powder. Blend the mixture thoroughly and store the powder in an airtight container, most preferably in cool conditions. To enjoy the full benefits of chili powder, sprinkle the powder on rice, veggies, salads, desserts, or fruit.
What to serve with Chili?
When it comes to deciding the ultimate dish to serve with chili, you have to be extra careful as not to ruin the dish as a whole.
Pairing chili with the wrong dish is a mistake some people make and in turn, blame it on the chili. Chili pairs well with some salads and red or white meat. There are a lot of side dishes that go well with chili too. You could also try chili with corn bread or cauliflower rice. You can also enjoy a delicious serving of corn chips, pasta, and even desserts just by pouring a reasonable amount of chili on them.
Chicken salad is a great dish that is made better by serving it with chili. Simply serve the chili on the lettuce leaves and you can top the dish with lime wedges to add some zing. Smoked salmon is also another brilliant dish to serve with chili. Break the salmon into medium chunks and the chili ingredients. Season to taste and enjoy yet another dish made irresistible by adding chili.
Pairing Wine with Chili
You never want to wrong when pairing wine with any food, especially chili.
Chili is an amazing spice that deserves to be paired with amazing wine – with a rich taste to overpower the acidity in the chili but not to kill the whole chili vibe. The best options would be the wine that is made from great, sweet, ripe fruit that will match just perfectly with the chili. Pairing the two needs to make the two very different, yet equally strong tastes play in your mouth to get one great last taste.
There are five major rules that you have to follow when trying to pair wine and any type of food, not just chili:
- First, consider the acidity. The acidity in the wine would pair best with sweet or fatty foods.
- Next, check the alcohol. The alcohol mainly balances a sweet dish and prevents burning of the tongue when pairing with chili.
- The tannic factor also matters as the tannin matches the meat in the chili.
- Salt is the next rule, and you should never confuse this for acidity. Ensure the salt is not overdone to maintain the blend of the chili and the wine.
- Finally, always know that sweetness goes hand in hand with the hotness of the chili and is directly proportional. A regional pairing is always recommended. You can also try sweet-salty combination too.
Whether the wine is white, pink or red, it should have a rich texture.
It does not matter if it dry or sweet, the tannin should be just right, to work on the meat and fat. If the dish has some vinegar or lime, consider some sweet wine, such as Kabinett. A lightly sweet red would match perfectly with this. Just make sure it has moderate alcohol content.
Malbec is one of the best wines to pair with mild chili. It has subtle flavors that mix really well with the spices in the chili. If the chili is very spicy, try wine with a bold and strong taste such as the Australian Shiraz. It has some exotic note and mild tannins. The fruit is also strong and this strength matches the spice strength in the chili.
It would be good to have the wine ice cold so that it hydrates your palate due to the spices in the chili. The sweetness in the wine coats your tongue to prevent a burning sensation caused by extremely spicy chili. A low alcohol content wine ensures you get to drink more of, then remain sober to enjoy the meal and let the wine do its magic on your tongue.
Which Wine with Which Chili?
If the chili is largely tomato based, opt for red wine, I’d recommend an Italian wine.
For non-tomato based chili, pick the white wine to go perfectly with the dish.
Serve a glass of Zinfandel if the chili is traditional with a lot of Asian or Mexican spice.
A Rosé wine would go just fine with any type of chili. Always remember, the spicier the chili, the sweeter the wine.
Considering all the factors, it is a delicious idea to pair wine with chili.
This goes best when you have a group of people coming over as you get to flaunt your skills since the pairing is not as easy as it sounds. If there is leftover chili, always remember that you can refrigerate it for future use. Be extremely careful and check the spice level of the chili, alcohol content of the wine and acidity of the wine as it is easy for this to go wrong. Whatever happens, never try a bitter-bitter combination. Otherwise, rustle up a bowl of chili, grab some wine and enjoy the ultimate meal!
This Guest Post was written by Jenny Hopper of MyCookingHero.com exclusively for Social Vignerons.
Hi there! My name is Jenny Hopper, I’m the founder of MyCookingHero and I just really really love food and cooking. To tell you, blogging isn’t an easy task. But for me, I feel rewarded for doing the things that I love and one is sharing my experiences to everyone.
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