zippy's chili when you are far away |
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What we are aiming for.
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Zippy's chili is ubiquitous on O'ahu. Classic chili and rice. Chili spaghetti. Or my favorite, chili loco moco. Chili and hot dogs. Zippy's is must-eat for ex-pat Hawaii people when we come home, and it's a downright craving when we are away from Hawaii.
There have been many, many variations to this secret recipe so this version comes with a big mahalo to T's Easy Local Homemade Cooking who cites the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in 1969. The end result is not spot-on Zippy's, but when the closest Zippy's is an over-the-ocean flight away and the frozen packets are tracking at $10 per person, this is a very, very compelling and just plain ono option. |
INGREDIENTS
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1 package of ground turkey (or hamburger)
1 Portuguese sausage, finely chopped 1 large onion, very finely chopped 3-4 stalks of celery, very finely chopped 1 green bell pepper, also very finely chopped 1 large can of kidney beans 1 large can of chili beans. I used the Safeway brand 1 large can of tomato sauce |
2 good squirts of catsup
2T red wine vinegar 2 bay leaves 2t chili powder About 1 cup of chicken broth, to taste 1t brown or raw sugar 1/2t oregano 1/2t paprika 1/2t cumin Dash Worcestershire sauce A couple of dollops of mayonnaise |
Cook the ground turkey, smashing up the meat as finely as you can. Drain if necessary. Add sausage, onions, peppers and celery, and cook until soft. Add kidney beans, chili beans and tomato sauce and all spices EXCEPT mayonnaise. Simmer for about 30 minutes so that the vegetables can start to break down a little. Taste at this point and add more Worcestershire or chicken broth to taste.
Just before serving, stir in 1-2 dollops of mayonnaise. It's weird, but essential and you will immediately notice a color and consistency change to more "Zippy's-like."
NOTES
These are the changes I made from T's posted recipe:
1. I omitted MSG and ginger. I don't like ginger and no one needs MSG anymore.
2. Chili beans are definitely required. I've tried Safeway and Whole Foods and prefer the beans at Safeway because they have a smokier flavor. And cheaper too.
3. Used chicken broth instead of 1t of chicken boullion powder, to lower salt and keep MSG away.
4. Used "units" of vegetables (i.e., 1 onion, 1 pepper, etc.) instead of measurements (i.e., 1/2 cup of onions). This makes it much easier to shop and eliminates vegetable fragments.
5. I doubled the amounts of all spices.
Just before serving, stir in 1-2 dollops of mayonnaise. It's weird, but essential and you will immediately notice a color and consistency change to more "Zippy's-like."
NOTES
These are the changes I made from T's posted recipe:
1. I omitted MSG and ginger. I don't like ginger and no one needs MSG anymore.
2. Chili beans are definitely required. I've tried Safeway and Whole Foods and prefer the beans at Safeway because they have a smokier flavor. And cheaper too.
3. Used chicken broth instead of 1t of chicken boullion powder, to lower salt and keep MSG away.
4. Used "units" of vegetables (i.e., 1 onion, 1 pepper, etc.) instead of measurements (i.e., 1/2 cup of onions). This makes it much easier to shop and eliminates vegetable fragments.
5. I doubled the amounts of all spices.
