Chili: A Regional Glossary (2024)

FAQs

What region does Chilli come from? ›

Historians generally consider San Antonio, Texas, chili's birthplace but can only speculate about how exactly the stew-like dish developed. We do know that it spread across the United States soon after it anchored a Texas exhibit at Chicago's 1893 World's Fair.

Traditionalists say chili only includes beef, tomatoes and heat — absolutely nothing else. But in Indiana, we add beans, sometimes V-8 and spaghetti to create what could pass for soup. It's called Hoosier chili — a much-maligned meal.

While many food historians agree that chili con carne is an American dish with Mexican roots, Mexicans are said to indignantly deny any association with the dish.

Chili is considered a type of stew because of its low liquid content and is usually made with chilis or chili powder.

“Despite being the official dish of Texas, chili has grown to become America's dish,” said Doug Koegeboehn, chief marketing officer for Wienerschnitzel.

Chili is classic American comfort food. Even though it varies from place to place — namely in the Southwest and Midwest — people everywhere agree that this hearty dish isn't just a stew, topping, or bulky soup: It's chili.

Today, chili is considered a regional dish—served over spaghetti in Ohio, spooned onto Coney-style hot dogs in Michigan, and made with green chiles and pork in New Mexico, to name a few.

Chili became commonly prepared in northern Mexico and southern Texas. Unlike some other Texas foods, such as barbecued brisket, chili largely originated with working-class Tejana and Mexican women.

Head to Texas today and order a "bowl of red" (as the locals call it), and you'll indeed receive something that more closely resembles a simple beef stew than your vision of modern-day chili: tender chunks of beef (usually chuck) in a rich, thick sauce that contains chiles, maybe some additional spices, and not much ...

Chili has been the Official State Dish of Texas since 1977.

Grant, Marshall, Texas, convinced his colleagues in the 65th Texas Legislature that chili was the only dish worthy of representing the state in an official capacity.

Why is chili called chili? ›

That it was named after Chile, South America by local people sympathetic to its cause during Chile's struggle for independence. The name Chile was somehow mispronounced and called Chili.

I found it very interesting to know that the red chilies that are very often attributed to Indian cuisine, did not actually originate in India. Red chilies originated in Mexico and were brought to India by Portuguese traders. Now India tops in the cultivation of dry red chili peppers.

[noncount] a : a spicy dish made of ground beef, hot peppers or chili powder, and usually beans. a bowl of chili.

In American English, "chili" is the most common spelling for the spicy peppers as well as the stew and hotdog topping. In British English the preferred spelling is "chilli." In Spanish speaking countries and regions of the US, "chile" is the most common variant.

Most food historians—among them chili expert Frank X. Tolbert, author of the classic A Bowl of Red—agree that chili likely originated in Texas.

Hatch is widely known as the "Chile Capital of the World," for growing a wide variety of peppers, especially the New Mexican cuisine staple, and one of New Mexico's state vegetables, the New Mexico chile.

The modern dish we know as chili, also known as chili con carne (chili with meat), does appear to have roots in the American West, particularly the State of Texas. An old legend holds that immigrants from the Canary Islands brought a recipe for chili with them when they settled San Antonio in the early 1700s.

The native tribes of Mexico had fully domesticated chili peppers far earlier than the days of Columbus, with archaeologists tracing them all the way back to 5000 BC in the country's Tehuacán Valley. The word “chili” can be credited to Nahuatl, an Aztec language from which many modern terms are derived.

Chili was adopted as the Texas state dish on May 11, 1977. The International Chili Cook-Off has been held in Texas in 1967. President Lyndon B.

What foods are regional? ›

Regional cuisine is cuisine based upon national, state or local regions. Regional cuisines may vary based upon food availability and trade, varying climates, cooking traditions and practices, and cultural differences.

The reason why Texans hate beans in chili is because they believe that beans do not belong in the dish. Beans are not a traditional ingredient in chili and they believe that adding beans to the dish ruins the flavor. Texans are also known for being very particular about their chili.

Some say that chili and cornbread originated in the American South, while others claim that they originated in Mexico. Regardless of their origin, chili and cornbread have become popular comfort foods in the United States.

No bean chili, also known as Texas chili or Chile con carne, is a spicy stew made without any beans. It traditionally contains meat (usually ground beef), tomatoes, peppers, onions, aromatics and flavorful spices.

Guajillos are large, dried, bright red chillies which are widely used in Mexican cooking. It's low heat intensity and fruity flavour makes it a versatile ingredient to use in many dishes. We love using guajillos in the traditional Mexican soup, Mole de Olla.

But stories are spread that the beef was too valuable and was limited to be used as food on the cattle drive, so extra protein came from a pot of beans along side the chili pot. The cowboys then mixed the chili and beans together in a tin plate.

New Mexico Chiles, Capsicum Annuum, are a chile grown in New Mexico. They may also be called Hatch chile or red chile.

India. Need we even talk about India and its love for spicy food? The country is literally known for its enhanced spice indulgences. Without chillies, garlic, ginger, cardamom and pepper the Indian cuisine is literally incomplete.

Who introduced chilli in India? ›

After the Portuguese arrival in India, chillies were first introduced to Goa, from where they spread to South India. When the army of the Maratha king Shivaji moved north to challenge the Mughal Empire during the 17th century, the chilli was also introduced to north India.

Contrary to popular belief, Chiilies are not native to India. Chillies were introduced to India in 1498 by the Portugese explorer Vasco De Gama. This may come as a surprise to many who think Indian food is incomplete without chiilies that make them spicy.

It has been scientifically proven that spices prevent our food from spoilage and thus, north Indian foods tend to be so spicy. Bacteria and foodborne pathogens cannot survive in a hot environment, which is provided by spices. Countries with a hotter climate have comparatively spicy cuisine.

According to a new report, chili pepper in your diet could lower your risk of dying of cancer or cardiovascular disease, and could also promote longevity.

Chili peppers spread to Asia through its introduction by Portuguese traders, who—aware of its trade value and resemblance to the spiciness of black pepper—promoted its commerce in the Asian spice trade routes. It was introduced in India by the Portuguese towards the end of the 16th century.

SANTA FE, N.M. — There are not many things New Mexicans cherish more than chile. Not the soupy stuff from Texas or Cincinnati — that is chili, with an 'i' — but the fiery red or green sauce drawn from peppers plucked on New Mexico's sun-soaked farms.

Chili is the spelling for this fruit in many parts of the US and Canada, although chili pepper is how it's commonly called. This is rather handy because the word chili itself is the generally accepted shortened name for chili con carne (chilli with meat).

What is Chili? Chili, also referred to as chili con carne is a hearty beef stew made with spices, peppers, meat, tomatoes, and beans (in some cases). Most homemade chili recipes are made up of the same basic ingredients like ground beef, onion, spices, beans, and some type of tomato product.

The modern dish we know as chili, also known as chili con carne (chili with meat), does appear to have roots in the American West, particularly the State of Texas. An old legend holds that immigrants from the Canary Islands brought a recipe for chili with them when they settled San Antonio in the early 1700s.

The important chilli growing states are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh. Chilli is mostly grown under rainfed cultivation and the crops are often affected by low moisture stress leading to inconsistent yield and quality.

Which country produces chili? ›

Chili was adopted as the Texas state dish on May 11, 1977. The International Chili Cook-Off has been held in Texas in 1967.

The native tribes of Mexico had fully domesticated chili peppers far earlier than the days of Columbus, with archaeologists tracing them all the way back to 5000 BC in the country's Tehuacán Valley. The word “chili” can be credited to Nahuatl, an Aztec language from which many modern terms are derived.

That it was named after Chile, South America by local people sympathetic to its cause during Chile's struggle for independence. The name Chile was somehow mispronounced and called Chili.

Mexico. There's no doubt, the Mexicans can make the spiciest food in the world with their penchant for Jalapeno, Pabloan, Habanero, Ancho and Serrano peppers. These chilli and peppers that we just listed out are known to be the spiciest ones that you can find in the world.