The great 'chocolate in chilli' debate

[escargot]

I seem to remember someone on PH suggesting that adding a small amount of dark chocolate into a chilli con carne would finish it off nicely.

So there I was, merrily breaking small pieces of dark chocolate into tonights chilli when the missus walks in and has an eppy. Naturally, I turned around and told her that someone on Pistonheads said it, so therefore it must be true. Apparently this didn't carry much weight with the lass so she thinks it's going to taste like shit.

Is she right? Or can the person who suggested it in the first place step forward and justify it, otherwise i'm going to be off down to tesco to buy some more mince.

Ta!

[becca_viola]

I don't even eat meat... but in my experience you can get away with a small quantity of nearly anything edible even where it really doesn't belong in a dish. Stick to your guns... good luck!

ps this really ought to be on the food board

[benyeats]

Why not continue to cook it and see if it does in fact taste like shit ?

I think you will find it won't

Ben

[eyebeebe]

Dunno about chocolate in chilli but chilli in chocolate

[escargot]

becca_viola said:

ps this really ought to be on the food board

Bugger off, forum nazi.

[Lois]

It's got to be the good dark stuff, but yes, a small about of chocolate enhances the flavour

[drivin_me_nuts]

bitter chocolate - largest cocoa solid content you can get the better. If you can get you paws on some organic unrefined cocoa power then even better still. It really will make a difference. Just don't go adding dairy milk to it

[becca_viola]

escargot said:

becca_viola said:

ps this really ought to be on the food board

Bugger off, forum nazi.

Please don't call me a nazi, even in jest - I honestly don't like it.

Point taken, though.

[escargot]

becca_viola said:

escargot said:

becca_viola said:

ps this really ought to be on the food board

Bugger off, forum nazi.

Please don't call me a nazi, even in jest - I honestly don't like it.

Point taken, though.

Bugger off, forum.

[LotusNova]

Google for 'Mole sauce' m8. 100% authentic Mexican fare, two of the main ingredients being chilli & chocolate.

[Gretchen]

drivin_me_nuts said:

bitter chocolate - largest cocoa solid content you can get the better. If you can get you paws on some organic unrefined cocoa power then even better still. It really will make a difference. Just don't go adding dairy milk to it

Friend of mine cooks his Chillis this way and they are divine.

He does a great stuffed Marrow too

Edited by Gretchen on Tuesday 21st August 19:04

[Plotloss]

Its alright, can take it or leave it, doesnt have a massive impact for me.

Half a pint of bitter is also sometimes added to chillis but again I cant say it impacts the flavour an awful lot.

However, if you're cooking it now you shouldnt even contemplate eating it until tommorow.

A great chilli requires at least 12 hours cooking.

[escargot]

Plotloss said:

Its alright, can take it or leave it, doesnt have a massive impact for me.

Half a pint of bitter is also sometimes added to chillis but again I cant say it impacts the flavour an awful lot.

However, if you're cooking it now you shouldnt even contemplate eating it until tommorow.

A great chilli requires at least 12 hours cooking.

Quite, which is why i've made enough for a small army. It only ever gets better with time.

Cheers all, looks like I win (and am therefore the best - at everything).

[fluffnik]

In Mexico you can get Chocolate and Chilli Knorr Stock Cubes - Mole Poblano.



I wouldn't have believed it if I'd not been given a pack.

Bitter chocolate is great in all sorts of savoury food, not just chilli but stews and even soup. I find grating it in works best.

[Balmoral Green]

Chocolate in chilli works really well, it enhances the flavours and gives an extra richness too. If you get it right and dont overdo it, there will not be the slightest hint of choccy flavour, but everything else will be boosted. I can't imagine knocking up a chilli without it now. two to six small chunks of dark, or two teaspoons of cocoa powder, you can't go wrong. Milk chocolate is a bit yukky though, doesn't really do it right, and can easily spoil it.

[zetec]

There was a prog on BBC1 this morning (one of those countryfile/climate change type thing) that visited a chilli farm in Devon. One of their delicacies was chilli chocolate. The reporter made it sound quite nice until he described the 'cor blimey it's got a kick' moment. I sat there and wished I could take him for a proper curry.

[Adam_BGT]

had mole sauce with my bison burger at chiquitos the other week. oooohhhh yeah! it was good! choc sauce with a fair amount of chilli in it. tell ya what as well, for a chain restaurant i actually rate chiquitos, and thats coming from the head chef of a very large and sucessful dining establishment!

[Noger]

I have a friend in Mexico, we were thinking of importing Mexican Chocolate for the purpose of putting in Mole and Chilli etc (Mole = Sauce, so Mole Sauce = Sauce Sauce !). I tried some of their cooking chocolate when I was over there, only vaguely like our chocolate, more like the sort of chilli and spices in chocolate some people do. Didn't find any Chilli Con Carne though !

These guys do a rather nice Chilli Chocolate bar ...

http://www.rococochocolates.com/intro.php

Hare with Chocolate sauce is nice, as is Venison.

[escargot]

It was nice. Unlike any chilli i've ever had before and as Warren said, it didn't taste chocolatey at all, just gave the other flavours a real boost.

The missus enjoyed it too.

[becca_viola]

escargot said:

It was nice. Unlike any chilli i've ever had before and as Warren said, it didn't taste chocolatey at all, just gave the other flavours a real boost.

The missus enjoyed it too.

Nice one!