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Warm Up with Sinai's Chili

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Chili is a staple for many families not just in winter. It's also a staple in the cafeteria at Sinai Hospital, where it is known as a tasty alternate for soup during the colder months and a topping for hot dogs in summertime. Its meaty base and tomato flavor pleases many a palate and the options for toppings are endless.

Sinai Hospital's chili recipe was the result of a hospital-wide cooking contest held nearly 20 years ago, according to Zane Gardner, the hospital's director of food and nutrition. The recipe proved so popular that it's now part of the year-round menu, available Monday through Friday. To keep up with the demand, Sinai's chefs prepare roughly 15 gallons of chili each day.

"There's nothing better when it's cold outside than warming up with Sinai's chili," Gardner says.

Stories vary on the origin of chili. Some reports trace it back to 17th century Spain and a mysterious nun known to the Natives of the Southwestern United States who was said to use venison or antelope meat cooked with onions, tomatoes and chili peppers. According to What's Cooking in America, the first stories describe chili as a kind of hash or stew with little meat and more vegetables like peppers, to feed the family in challenging times. The organization also cites an emigrant group from Spain that landed in San Antonio, Texas, bringing a spicy Spanish stew, similar to chili. There's also a story of Texan adventurers and cowboys using chili to last during travel.

Regardless of its history, chili is now an essential item on many a restaurant and pub menu today, and it's often the fodder for annual organizational cook-off competitions. The main ingredient is often some kind of meat, whether beef, sausage, turkey or venison, flavored with spices created from chili peppers. Vegetarian chili recipes primarily incorporate a variety of beans added to an assortment of vegetables including onions, peppers and tomatoes.

See the recipe below and see if your creation is just as good. Add shredded cheddar cheese or sour cream and it's sure to please everyone in your household.

Sinai's Chili

Ingredients

  • Vegetable Oil ¼ cup
  • Ground Beef 2 pounds
  • Onions, diced ½ cup heaping
  • Green Peppers, diced ¼ cup
  • Garlic, minced ¼ cup
  • Kidney Beans, canned 1.5 lb.
  • Beef Base 2 tablespoons
  • Brown Sugar 2 tablespoons
  • Tomato Puree, canned ¾ cup
  • Tomato Paste ½ cup
  • Diced Tomatoes, canned ¾ cup
  • Salsa ½ cup
  • BBQ Sauce ½ cup
  • Ketchup ½ cup
  • Cumin ½ tablespoon
  • Chili Spice ¼ cup
  • Water 5 cups

 

Method of Preparation:

  1. In a steam-jacketed kettle, sauté ground beef in vegetable oil until evenly browned.
  2. Add onion, peppers, and garlic until softened or about 3 minutes.
  3. Add remaining ingredients, combine, stirring often.
  4. Add water and simmer for 15-30 minutes until consistency is achieved.