Chili connoisseurs/purists, 'splain the "NO BEANS" thing & 1 other thing, pls/tia:

[UTUSN]

Over the years, have heard self-proclaimed chili authorities choose NO-beans as their hill to die on. Since beans are staple sides at any barbecue place, what's the big deal if any? And would it all be better if the beans were off to the side of the bowl of chili?

*** The 1 other thing, to compound the heresy: At a vaunted barbecue place, the chili was super promoted and I went for it. To my deflated surprise, it tasted exactly the same as the Romulus and Remus brand in a can and have never veered from the can again, WITH BEANS of course!1 --------gasp, the horror!1

[dweller]

1. WITH beans, imo

Chili without beans belongs on a hotdog

✌🏻

[UTUSN]

2. YeSSss!1

[yellowdogintexas]

13. Absoposilutely!

I am not a Native Texan, and I like beans in my chili.

I use black beans and lots of fresh chiles

[Paladin]

3. Never have understood why some people obsess about chili.

I like beans in my chili, but I'm perfectly alright with people who prefer chili without. The first I ever heard of this "controversy" was in "Texas Monthly" magazine years ago, where the flag was obnoxiously planted for the no-beans style. I stopped paying attention to "Texas Monthly" when their ad content went above the 98% level (it was a pretty good magazine when it started out, but then the original crew all hauled ass to go write their novels, and the magazine went rapidly downhill from there).

[UTUSN]

4. Excellent insights, and not just because I agree with them all!1

[AndyS]

5. Most Chili cookoffs are sans beans because the thing being judged is the stew itself.

It's a purest thing.

Beans are always available on the side so the attendees can add as many or as few as their taste dictates.

I've always served Chile Con Carne without beans with the beans on the side. The beans also serve as a moderating influence for the spices. Some people are kinda into the heat--I'm not as I prefer flavor to numbed tastebuds--and a nice bland pinto bean can soak up a lot of the jalapeno pepper.

[UTUSN]

7. You are a reasonable being. & here I go, but *Mild* for me, contradicting the "chili" with lessened

pepper!1

[malaise]

6. Chili must have beans

That is all

[UTUSN]

8. Word!

[mockmonkey]

9. Beans or not? Don't skip on the meat.

[El Supremo]

10. It's a Texas thang, ya'll.

Only Yankees lak beans in thars.

Actually, it's the Mexican way. If there were beans in Chili Con Carne it would be called Chili Con Carne y Frijoles.

[Midnight Writer]

11. I like beans in my chili. It provides fiber and adds protein.

It makes the chili more filling without adding fat.

[yellowdogintexas]

14. lowers the WW point value too nt

[if..fish..had..wings]

12. Beans in

Always!

[NotASurfer]

15. Cincinnati would agree with Texas on beans

A traditional 3-way omits them. You have to work up to 4-way or 5-way. Beans are an add-on for chili in that part of Ohio.

[UTUSN]

16. 3/4/5-way?

[NotASurfer]

18. Yep. As in "Ernestine, let's stop for a 3-way after church"

I don't know if this is related, but the story goes that cook who opened the first chili parlor in the city named it after the brothel up the street from where he got his start selling food to hungry patrons of that fine establishment. It does kind of fit the profile for calling a dish of spaghetti topped with chili and cheese a "3-way"

Considering Cincinnati has a highish level of church-going conservatives, I like the irony of the city's namesake dish that escalates up to a 5-way so easily.

I guess in the interest of disclosure, I should admit to indulging in the occasional 3-way while visiting Ohio. Once in a while I'd even go for a 4-way (spaghetti, chili, cheese, and onions) but I'm not sure I'd be up to a 4-way these days. And, at least when it comes to a dish of this particular chili, my better half is entirely on board with a 3-way, and would dive right in

[UTUSN]

20. Now see what I would have missed out on if I hadn't asked!1

[Generic Brad]

17. Chili without beans is just sauce

Someone had to say it. Oh, snap!

[UTUSN]

21. Thanks!

[left-of-center2012]

19. I don't care how Texans like they're chili

I like mine with beans.

[UTUSN]

22. Thanks!