Chilli con carne is a popular dish that is made up of minced meat, chilli peppers, tomatoes and pinto or kidney beans. The Mexican favourite is full of flavours, typically coming from the vast amount of seasonings and spices that go into the dish. The best thing about chilli con carne is that you can adjust it to personal taste, making the stew milder or extra spicy. You can also enjoy it on its own, with rice, or some tortilla chips.
However, for those who enjoy making the dish at home, there is one surprising ingredient that adds another level of depth to it. The tip was revealed on Reddit after user rorank requested people’s chilli “secret ingredient”.
Mahthafan then responded: “Cocoa powder. NEVER make chilli without it.”
The user of the original post, interested by the suggestion, then asked if the addition of cocoa powder makes the dish sweeter, “similar to cinnamon”. However, for those concerned about having a dramatic change in the flavour, that’s not what happened at all.
Mathanfan explained: “Use unsweetened cocoa powder. It’s not sweet (or really chocolatey) at all, but provides a nice richeness.”
Another user, Droddcat, then added that it becomes “darker, richer, more like adding coffee or dark beer.”
Another user recommended using Dutch process dark powder, also known as alkalised cocoa. The powder is made from cocoa solids treated with an alkalising agent to reduce the cocoa’s natural acidity, making it less bitter and more dark.
Anonymous5791 says the alkalised cocoa “doesn’t change the acid balance and gives a deep earthy undertone”.
While adding cocoa powder to a spicy stew might seem different, it is actually a common addition to Mexican beef dishes to enhance the flavours, and enough people have shared just how much it works.
So, next time you plan to prepare a nice pot of chilli con carne for dinner, make sure to add a bit of cocoa powder to unpack all the different flavours and let the dish reach its full potential — you won’t be disappointed, and neither will anyone else who is served it.