Seeking information about: bean substitutions for chilli

[sassyschu]

Hi!

I'm dying to make chilli but ever since my daughter has been diagnosed with allergies I've hit a road block. She cannot eat any legumes eg. all kinds of beans, lentils, soy, peanuts. I'm toying with the idea of just leaving the beans out and adding extra veggies but I thought I would check to see if anyone has any ideas as to what would be some good substitutions.

Thanks for your input!
Sandra

[Karen From Colorado]

I would just leave them out completely. Many people don't beleive that beans belong in chili anyway. Just make it thick and meaty. This is the one that I use and I don't add beans unless I want to make it streatch further.

Chile Lovers Spicy Three Meat Chili
.

[Zeldaz]

You could use some hominy. It has a beany texture.

[sassyschu]

Hi Karen,

Thanks so much for the advice and recipe! I have tried several of your recipes and they have all been fabulous... Can't wait to try this one! Thanks again!

[Karen From Colorado]

You're welcome sassy. I hope you enjoy it.

[Molly53]

Zeldaz wrote:
You could use some hominy. It has a beany texture.

I was going to suggest hominy also.

[Chocolatl]

You can also serve chili over pasta, rice or potatoes.

[Krislady]

Maybe Cincinnati Chili? While not exactly "chili," it's very good without the beans. We always forget them anyway.

[Chicagoland Chef du Jour]

I have one question and one suggestion.

I am wondering if Quinoa would work. A GREAT protein source and I love the texture.

Here is my Cinc'y Chili recipe. It's wonderful Some recipes call for browning the meat or using cocoa powder

Cincinnati Chili this is not TexMex style but I haven't met a person who doesn't like it. I have served it to as many as 60 people at parties.

[DEEP]

If we all face the facts, the term chili, is just that. It's a "term" that has become "generic" in the USA to the point of being somewhat pointless to name. Whether its "Cincinatti", Southern, Tex-mex, South Beach, or Pioneer, it's all become a matter of preference. Very few recipes are "original" to the degree of ancient derivatives.

Don't sweat it! Make it like you like it, and call it anything you want....original, ancient, Tex-Mex, Barbara's Best Backyard Beans, and Beef....The arguments about chili have gone on for some years, and will likely be around when we are all gone.

Make it with lamb, pork, beef or kangaroo. Just be sure you call it "chili".

Simply, if you want to use TVP, quinoa, beans, barley, or bok choy. Enjoy it the way you like it, and end the debate. Keep a secret

I recently came across a recipe for waffles that calls for cilantro. It just might be damned good with a heap of anyone's fave "chili".

[Karyl Lee]

I've recently used quinoa in chli, and liked it very much. I have also had chopped cashew, although those are best stirred in at the last, and not cooked in.

[Rit]

When I first met my husband, his mom would make chili and because they didn't like the beans she would put in some elbow macaroni instead. If you like that idea any shapped pasta would work. I think any of the suggestions shared would work great.

[Chocolatl]

Some recipes add sweet corn.

[Chocolatl]

Krislady wrote:
Maybe Cincinnati Chili? While not exactly "chili," it's very good without the beans. We always forget them anyway.

Well, if it has beans in it, it's not exactly "chili."! Technically chili is just stewed hot peppers. But I don't think it really matters if it's what you like.

[Krislady]

Chocolatl wrote:

Krislady wrote:
Maybe Cincinnati Chili? While not exactly "chili," it's very good without the beans. We always forget them anyway.

Well, if it has beans in it, it's not exactly "chili."! Technically chili is just stewed hot peppers. But I don't think it really matters if it's what you like.

Huh. I've never had chili that was just stewed hot peppers. I guess like chili SAUCE?

Of course, we have a local Town of Chili - but that's something even more different.