Making a really great pot of chili on a ninety degree day would seem a bit obtuse or even strange to many folks. Well, call me a practicing masochist then, as I do love eating a good bowl of red in most any season. Today, I decided to see if adding a can of Ro-Tel diced tomatoes would actually improve my ‘really tasty chili‘ recipe!
Simple is best!
In my original (and very minimal recipe list), I employed a generic can of petite dice tomatoes. And, I thought that it tasted pretty darn good. Time went on and I made a lot of that chili using just that combination. However, a culinary associate suggested that Ro-Tel’s ‘diced tomatoes and green chilies’ might add an additional spark! What? Screw with perfection, I wondered? OK, sure. Why not! So, I went out and got myself a can for about $1.05 USD at a local grocery mart.
Preparation is a breeze!
The preparation went as usual, (something I’ve done hundreds of times). I took out my trusty Le Creuset (Fr: the crucible) enameled cookware pot, added the can of tomatoes and a can of kidney beans ( after draining most of the stuff they were packed in, and placed it on a induction stove top set at level 5. While that deal heated up, I added one pound of ground beef to a frying pan, sauteed it til brown, drained the grease and then added that to the tomato bean mix. Lastly, I added about 28 grams of Williams Chili Mix. The pot was covered and set to simmer for about thirty minutes… and then…..
Results…
OK, I’ll admit that by adding the Ro-Tel as opposed to generic diced tomatoes sans the chilies, that there was a definite bounce in my flavor meter! (My only last minute addition to my steaming bowl of red being a squirt or two of Tabasco sauce).
In summary then, my current simple chili meal-a-deal contains the following;
1 lb ground beef 80-20% mix
1 10 oz can Ro-Tel original diced tomatoes and chilies
1 15 oz can generic kidney beans, partly drained
16 grams of Williams chili mix (one pkg good for 2 lbs, so about half)
A shot or two of Tabasco sauce, to taste (optional)
The above ingredients makes for a super base to which you can add all sorts of crap such as chopped onions, shredded cheese, pasta and the like!
Nutritionally, this recipe is great for anyone on a diet, if used in small portions. (It’s high in protein and iron for starters). And, at about 1.43 calories per gram, a 150 gram serving ain’t all that big a deal in the old calorie department! (Note that is you add any of the other toppings, the calories per gram go right through the roof)!
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