My family moved to Cincinnati when I was 13 years old. I soon learned that there are many food items and brands associated with Cincinnati that Cincinnatians are very proud of. Some of those are Montgomery Inn Ribs and Sauce, Graeters Ice Cream, Busken Bakery's Smiley Face Cookies, LaRosa's Pizza (very saucy, my favorite!), and of course, Cincinnati Chili! There is debate of who rules, Skyline or Gold Star, but I prefer Skyline (mostly because I get the jingle stuck in my head...)
Cincinnati Chili is very different from a chunky, beef and bean type chili that's super hearty and a meal in and of itself. Skyline Chili is more like a sauce, the meat is almost pureed, and always served over a heaping pile of spaghetti, or topping a coney (a hot dog).The chili is very spicy and hot, it has incredible depth of flavor, and it's very hearty.
There are a few traditional ways to eat Cincy Chili:
3-Way: Chili over spaghetti topped with mounds of Cheddar Cheese
4-Way: Add minced, raw white onion to a 3-way
5-Way: Add cooked kidney beans to a 4-way
Anyway you eat it, it's delicious. When JJ and I go, we usually each get a 4-way coney and share a 4-way spaghetti. You can buy skyline chili in the freezer or in a can, but it's not the same, so I decided to tackle making it at home.
I love to incorporate Morningstar Farms crumbles in place of ground beef whenever I can, and it actually was perfect for this chili. Since the meat is broken down so far it's almost pureed, the crumbles were just the right texture.
I think I hit the spice blend pretty well, but I think not having the beef flavor made it a little off, but it was pretty close! This meal was delicious and reminded me of home!
Vegetarian Cincinnati Chili 4-Way
1 tbsp. EVOO
1/2 medium onion, grated
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 package Morningstar Farms Grillers Crumbles
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cumin
2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. allspice
2 tbsp. Dutch process cocoa powder
Salt
1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
1 c beef stock (or vegeable stock)
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 bay leaf
1/2 lb. Barilla plus spaghetti
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Diced raw white onion
Heat a soup pot over medium heat.
Add EVOO, onions, garlic, and season with salt.
Cook for 3-4 minutes, until onions are translucent.
Add crumbles,spices, tomato sauce, stock, worchestershire, and bay.
Simmer covered for 30 minutes.
If it's too watery, simmer uncovered, if it's too thick, add some more beef stock.
Prepare pasta and mince onion.
Plate pasta, ladle chili over, top with cheese and minced onion.
A Year Ago yesterday: Chocolate Oat Pancakes and the day we bought Black Bean!
A Year Ago: Homemade Do-si-so's, and NASCAR Challenge: California - Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion Tart & Spinach Citrus Salad
15 comments:
A vegetarian alternative is a great idea!
This sounds great. If I am not too keen on the spiciness, can I limit the amt in the recipe. Do you think roasted garlic would work in this recipe too?
What a great chili dish. I will try this sometime instead of the usual one we have.
Mmm this is definitely making me drool. I haven't had chili in far too long...
As a Kentuckian, I'm well versed in all things Cincinnati, including the chili. I've never been able to taste a difference between the 2 big names but they're both delicious! I have a package of M.Star crumbles in my freezer right now. Thanks for giving me something to do with them.
MMM...It's Skyline time! I love making this stuff at home - I'm a Cincinnati transplant, and I'm hooked! Love your healthier version!
I just stumbled across your blog yesterday and I just LOVE your recipes! This one caught my eye because I am from Ohio..and now that I live in Texas I just miss Cincinnati chili! I am going to make this next week for my family..they will love it. Thanks!
Gosh, my roommate in college was from Cincy and introduced me to skyline...I am gonna have to try this vegetarian option!
So happy to see this recipe! I def love Skyline (I'm in Columbus), but since I don't eat meat, I don't get it anymore. I'm super excited to try this! Now I need to figure out how to get shredded cheese like theirs. Have you noticed the wonderful texture is has??/ i guess it's shredded super thin?? MMMMMMM!
i'm a little late to the party but i was perusing your blog for a simple dinner idea and was thrilled that you used morningstar farms crumbles. i've recently been finicky about meat and love their meatless alternatives. i was happy to find something so delicious and flavorful to make with my new-found crumbles. even my meat-eating boyfriend loved it.
great recipe!
We loved this Vegetarian Cincinnati Chili. I am not experienced with Cincinnati Chili, but I remember having and liking it. My husband and I are eating very healthy these days, so I searched for a vegetarian Cincinnati Chili. I first had to find the Dutch pressed cocoa, but finally having found it (two stores were out), I made it last night. I was thrilled to learn about Morningstar Crumbles, and the kitchen smelled so good (probably the cinnamon). Then we ate it over whole wheat spaghetti.
My sister and I are both from the Cincinatti tri-state area living in Los Angeles. We are both vegetarian and were tortured going back home for the holidays when the family brought home Skyline and we couldn't have a yummy coney the way we used to. I can't wait to make this recipe with MorningStar crumbles and veggie dogs and invite my sister over, she'll be so surprised and happy.
Do you know of a vegetarian substitute for Worcestershire sauce that could be used in this recipe? (Worcestershire sauce has anchovies in it.)
You can purchase vegetarian Worcestershire sauce. Here's the brand I buy: http://www.shoporganic.com/product/annies_naturals_worcestershire_sauce/sauces
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