Chili is a spicy dish that typically includes meat and beans combined with peppers and seasonings to create its flavor. However, a spicy chili without any sweetness can seem a bit unbalanced. If your chili recipe is not sweet enough for your preference, you can alter it to make it more appealing. You will need less than half an hour of time and some simple ingredients.
Add 2 tbsp. dark brown sugar for every 3 cups of chili you would like to sweeten. Stir the sugar into the chili with a wooden spoon for 60 seconds to ensure it dissolves and does not sink to the bottom of the pot. Cover and simmer for five minutes to combine the flavor of the brown sugar with the chili’s sauce.
Taste the chili. If it is not as sweet as you desire, add 2 tbsp. tomato paste for every 3 cups of volume. Stir with a wooden spoon and simmer for an additional five minutes.
Sample the chili again to decide if it is sweet enough. If the chili is not sweet enough, add 1/2 cup of drained canned corn for every three cups of chili. Stir to combine the ingredients and simmer for an additional 15 minutes to cook the corn and meld the flavors.
Try a spoonful of the chili and decide if it is as sweet as you would like. If it is not, add an extra tbsp. dark brown sugar for every 3 cups of chili. Stir and simmer before trying the chili once more. Continue adding more brown sugar until the chili reaches your desired flavor.
Tip
The addition of new ingredients will alter the overall flavor of your chili. If you are unsure of how the flavors will meld, try mixing a bit of the ingredient into a small bowl of chili first.
References
- "Chili Madness"; Jane Butel; 2008
- "The Ultimate Chili Cookbook"; W. C. Jameson; 1999
- "The Everything Soup, Stew, and Chili Cookbook"; Belinda Hulin; 2009
Writer Bio
Serena Styles is a Colorado-based writer who specializes in health, fitness and food. Speaking three languages and working on a fourth, Styles is pursuing a Bachelor's in Linguistics and preparing to travel the world. When Styles isn't writing, she can be found hiking, cooking or working as a certified nutritionist.