Zippy's Chili When You Are Far Away
SKU:
Zippy's chili is pure Hawaii comfort food.
Chili and rice. Chili spaghetti. Or my favorite, chili loco moco.
This is pretty darn close according to my birdies, who have had their fair share of Zippy's. They declare it the best option when the closest Zippy's requires a 6-hour plane trip. Aside from that, it's just plain ono.
Chili and rice. Chili spaghetti. Or my favorite, chili loco moco.
This is pretty darn close according to my birdies, who have had their fair share of Zippy's. They declare it the best option when the closest Zippy's requires a 6-hour plane trip. Aside from that, it's just plain ono.
Ingredients
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1 Portuguese sausage, finely chopped
1 package (1-pound) of ground turkey (or hamburger) 1 large onion, very finely chopped 3-4 stalks of celery, very finely chopped 1 green bell pepper, also very finely chopped 1 can (15 ounces) of kidney beans (or black beans in a pinch) 1 can of chili beans (15 ounces). I used the Safeway brand 1 large can (28 ounces) of diced tomatoes OR 2 15-ounce cans of the same About 1 cup of chicken broth OR 1 can (14 ounces) of chicken broth |
2 good squirts of catsup
2T red wine vinegar 2-3 bay leaves 2t chili powder 1t brown or raw sugar ½t oregano ½t paprika ½t cumin 1-2 dashes of Worcestershire sauce 2-3 dollops of mayonnaise |
What To Do
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Cook the chopped Portuguese sausage in a Dutch oven until it is well-browned and starting to get crispy. Add the ground turkey, smashing up the meat as finely as you can. If it looks a little soup-ey, cook a little longer to let the excess liquid evaporate, but do not let it dry out. Add onions, then celery, and then green pepper, and cook until all are soft.
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Add kidney beans, chili beans and tomato sauce and all spices EXCEPT mayonnaise.
Simmer for about 30 minutes so the vegetables start to break down a little. Taste at this point and add more Worcestershire or chicken broth to taste.
Just before serving, start to stir in mayonnaise. Start with one dollop (I use a regular soup spoon). Taste as you go, and
I would not recommend more than three.
It's weird, but essential and you will immediately notice a color and consistency change to more "Zippy's-like." Remove bay leaves, and serve once the mayonnaise is well mixed in, and taste is to your liking.
Simmer for about 30 minutes so the vegetables start to break down a little. Taste at this point and add more Worcestershire or chicken broth to taste.
Just before serving, start to stir in mayonnaise. Start with one dollop (I use a regular soup spoon). Taste as you go, and
I would not recommend more than three.
It's weird, but essential and you will immediately notice a color and consistency change to more "Zippy's-like." Remove bay leaves, and serve once the mayonnaise is well mixed in, and taste is to your liking.
Notes and Talking Story
- The actual Zippy's chili recipe is clearly a well-guarded secret. The Internet points to a 1969 Star-Bulletin recipe, but it is not The Recipe, according to Zippy's. So we make do.
- While you can swap black beans for kidney beans if that is what you have in-house, do not omit or swap the Chili Beans. I've tried Safeway and Whole Foods and prefer the Safeway brand because they have a smokier flavor..
- Many of the recipes listed vegetables in measurements like ½ cup of onions. I prefer to cook in whole vegetable units. This recipe accommodates that. Fractional vegetables are inevitably forgotten in some corner of our fridge until they became hazardous biological materials.
