Cincinnati Chilli

I tried a new and exotic recipe yesterday.  Ok, it was exotic for us Canadians.  The recipe is usually a bit more involved than this, but this simplified version worked well for me and was delicious.

Cincinnati Chilli

2 tbsp olive oil
5 cloves of garlic, minced
2 onions, diced
1 lb ground beef
2 tbsp chilli powder
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups ground tomatoes
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups water
grated cheddar cheese

1. In a large pot, sauté onions and garlic in oil until soft.  Add ground beef and brown.  Drain off excess fat.
2. Stir in tomatoes, water, spices and cocoa and simmer on med-low heat for about 25 minutes (cover the pot once the chilli has reached the desired consistency).
3. While chilli is simmering, cook some spaghetti (I used whole wheat).
4. Serve the chilli over the cooked spaghetti and top it with grated cheddar cheese.

This dish is so savoury and delicious!  It's surprising that such a combination of different spices go so well together, but there you have it.  I will definitely be making this again!