Old-Fashioned Brick Chili Recipe | CDKitchen.com (2024)

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This old-fashioned recipe takes chili back to the basics. Suet is the traditional choice for cooking fat, but you can substitute lard, vegetable shortening or even unflavored coconut oil.

Old-Fashioned Brick Chili Recipe | CDKitchen.com (1)


serves/makes:

ready in:

2-5 hrs

2 reviews
4 comments


ingredients

5 pounds lean chili meat
1 pound suet, ground
4 medium onions, chopped
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 1/2 tablespoon cumin powder
1/2 tablespoon red pepper
5 chili peppers, parboiled, skinned and finely chopped
3 tablespoons chili powder

directions

Put suet in pan, let melt, then add onions. Add chili meat and cook until meat stands apart, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Add remaining ingredients except chili powder. Turn to low and cook slowly until tender, about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

About 15 minutes before meat is done, add chili powder and simmer. Pour into rectangular bowls in refrigerator to thicken. This will keep for weeks.

added by

meezermom

recipe tips


Try toasting the cumin and chili powder before adding them for a richer flavor.

If the chili is too thick, add a little beef broth or water to adjust the consistency.

Garnish with fresh cilantro, cheese, or sour cream when serving.

Try adding beans or corn for a different texture and taste.

Use a heavy-bottomed pot to prevent the chili from burning during the long cooking process.

Stir the chili occasionally while it simmers to make sure it cooks evenly.

Adjust the seasoning towards the end of cooking, as flavors intensify over time.

For a smoky flavor, add a bit of smoked paprika or chipotle chili powder.

Let the chili cool completely before refrigerating for both food safety reasons and to keep the temperature of the refrigerator increasing.

Serve leftovers in different ways, like over baked potatoes or hot dogs.

common recipe questions


What is suet and is there a readily available substitute?

Suet is beef fat that has been ground and is solid; you can substitute it with lard, vegetable shortening, or unflavored coconut oil.

Can I use a different type of meat for this chili?

While lean chili meat is traditional, you can use beef, pork, or turkey (or a combination) as alternatives.

How can I adjust the spice level in this recipe?

Alter the amount of red pepper and chili powder according to your preference.

Why do you parboil the chili peppers?

Parboiling makes them easier to skin and chop, but it's optional if you prefer a more robust pepper flavor.

Can this chili be made in a slow cooker?

Yes, after browning the meat and onions, transfer everything to a slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours.

How do I store this chili and how long does it last?

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator; it will keep for several weeks but we really recommend eating it within a week.

What is the purpose of refrigerating the chili in rectangular bowls?

Refrigerating helps the chili to thicken and set, making it easier to cut into brick-like pieces.

Can I freeze this chili?

Yes, it freezes well. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

What are some serving suggestions for this chili?

Serve with cornbread, over rice, or use as a filling for tacos or burritos.


nutrition data for old-fashioned brick chili

644 calories, 56 grams fat, 6 grams carbohydrates, 27 grams protein per serving. This recipe is low in carbs.



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reviews & comments for old-fashioned brick chili

  1. Spurwing Plover March 26, 2020

    My mom used to buy brick of Chill at the local grocery store just boil up some dry beans as the Chilli Brick stir it a ll up and let it simmer a while

  2. Guest Foodie REVIEW:
    October 12, 2019

    I came from a time where you could go to the store and in the freezer section under Lynn Wilson you could purchase a one 01 lb.red brick Square that you could use as a base for the flavoring to the best ever Chili! Since we have grown up, I cannot seem to see that little red brick? So now we need to think? What went in to making that little wonder of flavor? I have looked and I haven't found anything close until today? Maybe? So with a little leap of faith and a desire,I may of found something like that little red brick of wonder! I feel like if this isn't it, it may be neck to neck runners up, head to head qith this little Web site Old-Fashion C.D.Kitchens. I feel this is the holy grail. With these recipes I am going to indulge and post results in this news letter! Thank-You Web, and the blessings of Freedom! My intials will be posted at this site at a very near future Thank-You again L. A.

  3. Doug January 25, 2019

    I like this recipe and realize that it has to be an old hand me down. Suet and the plain term chili peppers is old midwest farm talk,I was a farm kid. But then it smacks of Texas and their no bean chilis. Think I'll make this and use 80-20 chili grind and reconstitute some chili arbol and others for those chili peppers.I think this recipe has a chance at being very good chili.Texas chili as is and with beans for everyone else. Thank for the recipe

  4. Guest Foodie January 6, 2017

    Suet is not ground beef fat. It is the fat layered around beef kidneys. It needs to be trimmed and rendered. You can substitute it with lard. With today's fat content in ground beef you will have fat in your recipe.

    • CDKitchen Staff Reply:

      Our comment meant ground as in grated, not as in "ground beef" as the recipe calls for ground suet.

  5. Suzy Cowan REVIEW:
    January 1, 2014

    What is Suet?

    • CDKitchen Staff Reply:

      It's essentially ground beef fat.

  6. Venus October 26, 2013

    Where do you get suet? And what can you sub for it if you can't find it?

    • CDKitchen Staff Reply:

      Check with the meat department of your grocery store. You can use grated lard or shortening in place of it.

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Old-Fashioned Brick Chili Recipe | CDKitchen.com (2024)

FAQs

What does a chili brick have in it? ›

A chili brick is a block of chili con carne made of finely ground beef and various peppers and spices. You can usually find it at most grocery stores in the refrigerated or freezer section.

How long does brick chili last? ›

Chili Brick®. It simply goes from our box to your meat case. Our chili sells best in the fresh meat case next to the ground beef and sausages. Guaranteed eight-week shelf life after removing from your freezer.

What can I add to chili to make it unique? ›

Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight. Warming spice blends, like Garam Masala, Ras el Hanout or Baharat are another simple and delicious way to add layered flavors to this simple one-pot meal.

Why do you put brown sugar in chili? ›

The real key to great chili however is brown sugar! In fact, brown sugar is what gives the chili a subtle sweetness you never even knew you were missing. With both subtly sweet tones and punches of heat, this Sweet and Spicy Chili, lives up to it's name, it truly is sweet and sassy!

What is the original chili made of? ›

A recipe dating back to the 1850s describes dried beef, suet, dried chili peppers and salt, which were pounded together, formed into bricks and left to dry, which could then be boiled in pots in an army encampment in Monterrey, of what is now Nuevo León, Mexico.

What does Wendy's use in their chili? ›

Chili Concentrate: Chili Sauce (Water, Tomato Juice, Tomatoes, Calcium Chloride, Seasoning (Sugar, Salt, Corn Starch, Dried Chilies, Spices, Flavor Enhancer [Dextrose, Salt, Yeast Extract, Silicon Dioxide, Modified Corn Starch], Citric Acid, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Xanthan gum), Beans (Pink Beans, Red ...

What is the secret to really good chili? ›

Cook it long enough

Chili recipes need time for flavors to meld and come together, and collagen-rich meat (like chuck roast or ground beef) needs 90 minutes to two hours to fully break down and become tender. If you don't have time for a long simmer, try using a slow cooker or making it the day before.

What secret ingredient will deepen the flavor of your chili? ›

Stir some puréed pumpkin into your chili just after sautéing your aromatics (onions, garlic, etc...) and before adding any liquid. This will deepen and sweeten its flavor, making it a great balance for all the chile peppers and heat.

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

Why do you put vinegar in chili? ›

With only about 1 tablespoon per pot added toward the end of the cooking process, the vinegar will make the flavors more vibrant without overwhelming the dish with its biting tang. Through just a splash, everything becomes a little brighter, and the chili's flavors are more balanced.

What liquid is best for chili? ›

Chili cooks low and slow, so you need enough liquid to tenderize the meat and keep everything from drying out. That liquid should also add flavor to the chili, so use chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, or beer.

Why is cinnamon good in chili? ›

Cinnamon. The beauty of ground cinnamon is that it brings a warmth to your chili, without being spicy. It works well with other flavors commonly found in chili (like tomato, cumin and chile powder) so you only need a little bit to achieve the desired balance.

What does chili powder have in it? ›

Ingredients. Ground cayenne pepper is made only with cayenne peppers that have been dried and finely ground into a powder. Chili powder is made with a blend of ground red chilis (sometimes including cayenne) and savory spices such as cumin, paprika, garlic and onion powder, Mexican oregano and salt.

What comes in a chili kit? ›

Four individual seasoning packets - spices, cayenne, masa flour, and jalapeno and bell peppers - let you fix your chili however you like, hot or mild.

What is Mexican brick made of? ›

The fundamentals of brickmaking here in Mexico is this: mix clay mud with cheap binder like sand, shovel the wet muck in 8 brick molds, let dry in the sun, then stack them over a some burnable energy source, then torch it and then keep the fire going for the better part of a day.

What does chili contain? ›

Vitamin Content of Chilis. Chili peppers are known to be one of the major sources of carotenoids, precursors of vitamin A and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). They contain high levels of carotenoids and L-ascorbic acid at maturity, having 0.33–336 RE/100 g RDA for provitamin A and 124–338% of the vitamin C activity [12].

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