My dad swore by putting ketchup in chili and I finally tried it

So my dad has been telling me for years that a squirt of ketchup makes chili taste better. I always thought he was crazy because ketchup is for fries, not chili. Last weekend I made a big pot of chili for game day and figured why not. Added like 2 tablespoons and honestly? It was way better. Not sweet or anything just richer somehow. Has anyone else tried weird little additions that actually worked?

3 comments

3 Comments

diana_west2716d ago

Ketchup's got sugar and vinegar in it, both of which balance out the acidity in canned tomatoes and bring out the savory side of the meat. Start with a tablespoon first to test the waters - you can always stir in more but you can't take it back out. If you're worried about sweetness, skip the sugar some recipes call for and just let the ketchup handle it. Works the same way in spaghetti sauce too if you ever want to experiment.

mila_campbell2516d ago

2 tablespoons is a good start but tbh I usually go for a full quarter cup to really get that depth without tasting like ketchup.

hugo_robinson2516d ago

Does that much not overpower whatever else you're cooking?