Dried herbs and spices are typically used to flavor chili.
Almost every cook has her secret ingredient for making the "best" chili, but most chili recipes have more in common than not. A good bowl of chili balances several different flavors to create one satisfying, harmonious dish.
Ground Chili Peppers
Ground chilies (also called peppers) are the main spice used to flavor a dish of chili. Some commonly used peppers include, cayenne, pasilla, poblano, chipotle or the extremely hot habanero. Packaged products labeled "chili powder" are a combination of several types of ground peppers and can vary widely in the amount of heat they add to the dish. As a general rule, the darker the powder, the hotter its flavor.
Other Flavorings
Salt, oregano, garlic powder, cumin, onion powder are typically combined with chili powders in homemade and packaged chili seasonings.
Unusual Ingredients
Some chili makers use surprising ingredients to boost the flavor of their chili. Cocoa powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground nuts, fresh ginger, brown sugar and peanut butter are a few of the items chili cooks experiment with.
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