Is It Chili in Cincinnati?

I subscribe to a few different weekly e-newsletters so that I can keep up with trends and have a constant reminder of food in my back pocket at all times (I have a BlackBerry).

Allrecipes.com, The Splendid Table, and America's Test Kitchen are all I subscribe to, but there are plenty of tips, tricks, and trades between the three of them to keep me rolling in dough (and salt, butter, spices, but not all at the same time. It tends to get a bit messy) for years to come.

I was introduced to Cincinnati chili recently at a restaurant in Greensboro, NC called Cincy's. Apparently it's sold in a can in Cincinnati-based grocery store, Kroger and made-to-order at a few choice fast-food restaurants in the 'Nati. It's Greek in origin--two Greek families immigrated to Ohio in the early 1900s and perfected recipes, opened chains of restaurants, and the rest is history.

The lure of this chili you may ask? It's served on top of spaghetti with a choice of toppings:

Two-way: Served over spaghetti
Three-way: Served over spaghetti and topped with cheese
Four-way: Served over spaghetti and topped with onions and cheese
Five-way: Served over spaghetti and topped with onions, beans, and cheese

If you don't want spaghetti, you are to order "a coney." It's a hot dog with all of the aforementioned toppings. Did I forget to mention oyster crackers? Yes, most servings of this regional delight are served with oyster crackers so you can crumble them over the top. I love oyster crackers, but the cheese and onions are enough for me.



Cincinnati Chili Serves 3 to 4
Adapted from CooksCountry.com

Today's e-letter from America's Test Kitchen reminded me of a promise I made to post some lacto-ovo vegetarian recipes.

1/2 Tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1 Tbsp ancho chili powder
1 Tbsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup low-sodium, vegetable broth or low-sodium, fat-free chicken broth
1 Tbsp cider vinegar
1 tsp brown sugar
2 pouches Boca Meatless Burger Crumbles**
Optional: 6 oz Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat Thin Spaghetti, cooked and drained

1. Heat oil in a dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat until shimmering. Cook onions until soft and browned around edges.

2. Add garlic, tomato paste, chili powder, oregano, cinnamon, salt & pepper, to taste. Cook until fragrant.


I took it upon myself to grind my own spices together. I heard some people add cocoa powder to the spice mixture too. This would lend a richer, deeper texture to the chili.


3. Stir in chicken broth, tomato sauce, vinegar, and brown sugar.


The chili is supposed to be watery, not thick like we're used to with meaty (or bean-y) chilies.
4. Add Boca crumbles, bring to boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until chili is slightly thickened. Add salt and pepper to taste.

At this point, the chili can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days or frozen up to 2 months.


Pretend the onions aren't there, and that's a two-way.

On my way to the dining room with my favorite: Four-way

I reckon this would be the portion of the program called product placement, but I just want to make sure you know what you're looking for in the grocery store when you attempt this recipe as written.
**Attention Meat Eaters: One pound (or a 1 1/2 lb if you wish) of ground meat should be added instead of the crumbles in step #4. Use the leanest ground beef you can find. Otherwise, the resulting chili will have undesirable pockets of fat that have to be skimmed off and that's just not cute. Increase the vegetable/chicken broth to 1 1/2 cups and break up the meat add you put it in the pot.

Like this post?

About the author

Nikki Miller-Ka

Nikki Miller-Ka

Ms. Miller-Ka is a classically trained chef with a BA in English from East Carolina University and a Culinary Arts Associate Degree from Le Cordon Bleu-Miami.

Formerly, she’s worked as a researcher, an editorial assistant, reporter and guest blogger for various publications and outlets in the Southeast. She has also worked as a catering chef, a pastry chef, a butcher, a baker, and a biscuit-maker. Presently, she is a food editor, freelance food writer, and a tour guide for Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours.

Leave a reply

  1. I love a good coney. My husband is from Ohio and I really want to try the Cincinnati chili! Yours looks delish.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank your for thinking of use vegetarians, we do appreciate it!

    I have not yet made the cornmeal grilled cheese but will definitely do so.

    Your posts are a lot of fun to read!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Heather: I have only had a coney at Sonic, the fast-food restaurant. I always thought it was named after Coney Island in NY. Good luck with the chili when you try it! :)

    Lisa: I have much veneration for vegetarians. I do hope that you or someone else like you can enjoy this recipe.

    I'm glad you enjoy my posts, Lisa! I eally put a lot into them.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you so much for the sweet comments you left on my blog.

    Your blog looks great; it's NOT chilly here in Texas today, but chili still sounds good to me. And what a great idea to put it over pasta. I never thought of that. I'll definitely visit your blog again in the future :o).

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ben: pumpkin chili? That's a new one. I'll have to explore that before it gets too warm here in North Carolina, too.

    Chocolatecoveredvegan: I'm glad you stopped by!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have been to Cincy and experienced a "Coney". Good stuff! I have to admit, I was a bit taken with the chili over spaghetti though. Being from Philly, spaghetti was always served with a ragu.

    This looks wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  7. MrOrph: I'm originally from Philly too! I really don't get the whole spaghetti thing, but I'm not going to complain. It is really good.

    Last night I saw a box of Cincinnati chili in the frozen food section of the grocery. 1st time ever. This phenomena is spreading...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nikki,
    I have heard of Cincinnati Chili but never knew exactly what it was. Over spaghetti with cheese... DH will be all over that one! Somehow, though, I have a difficult time thinking of eating chili without cornbread.

    I make my chili with a half-and-half mix of ground turkey and Boca crumbles, but will try your recipe with all Boca (can't possibly cut too much sat fat out of a dish, can we???) :)

    ~Vicci

    Ben, I have had pumpkin chili in Circleville, too! A very interesting and good taste (amazingly enough).

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi! Thanks so much for your comments on my blog :) I am so relieved to hear your catering experiences mirror mine- I was such a nervous wreck! All's well that ends well, though. Love this post on chili- I saw a Bourdain episode where he had some cincinnati chili and it looked devine-cant wait to try this!

    ReplyDelete
  10. With a father from Cincinnati I have a big soft spot for their sweet spiced chili. Thanks for the recipe.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thank you for coming by! Don't make this visit your last!