This is a classic Cincinnati chili in the tradition of the famous Skyline® Chili restaurants in Cincinnati, Ohio. Although this recipe is not from Skyline, it uses ground beef and pork shoulder with allspice and cinnamon to achieve the required taste. Of course it's not Cincinnati chili unless it's served as 3 way chili (on a base of spaghetti and topped with a huge mound of shredded Cheddar cheese).

Also authentic are the following types of Cincinnati chili:

2 way: spaghetti with chili

3 way: spaghetti with chili topped with a 1" layer of shredded Cheddar cheese

4 way: spaghetti with chili and chopped raw onions, topped with a 1" layer of shredded Cheddar cheese

5 way: spaghetti with chili and chopped raw onions plus red kidney beans, topped with a 1" layer of shredded Cheddar cheese

Hot dogs can also be served with 3, 4, or 5 way chili toppings.

Rick Carlton 15 min. preparation, 1 hr. cooking, makes 20 servings

2 lb ground beef

1 1/2 lb ground pork shoulder

1 onion (sweeter is better, Vidalia is the best)

1 bell pepper

2 cloves garlic

1-2 jalapeno peppers

28 oz (1 can) crushed tomatoes

12 oz (1 can) beer (cheap lager)

1/2 cup water

2 packages (1.25 oz) chili seasoning

1/2 teaspoon allspice

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon cumin

2 bay leaves (remember to find and remove them before serving as their spines can injure when eaten)

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon lemon juice (or 1/2 squeezed lemon)

1 lb spaghetti

1 lb package shredded Cheddar cheese

1. Brown ground beef in skillet and remove to a side dish or pan

2. Add ground pork to beef juice, brown, and remove to a side dish or pan

3. Peel garlic, cut into 1/4" squares, crush with side of knife, and chop finely. Dice onions, bell pepper, and jalapeno peppers..

4. Brown onion, peppers, and garlic, then return beef and pork to skillet

5. Add tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, beer, water, and all the remaining spices, cover and simmer for 45 min.

6. Boil water and add spaghetti until cooked through, then drain and rinse

7. Serve indivdually with a base of spaghetti topped with chilli and crowned with 1" shredded Cheddar cheese

This page was updated on 3-22-99. If you have queries or comments, email rcarlton@arkansas.net