FOOD NEWS
Root Beer Is The Secret Weapon For Better Chili
BY KAREN HART
Root beer works great in chili because it adds a mild sweetness and a snap of spicy, herbal notes to it. Its sweetness isn’t overpowering and helps tame the chili’s heat.
To use root beer in chili, simply swap out some of your tomato juices for root beer or use it in place of whatever beer you would normally add. Just be sure to add it slowly.
As the root beer cooks with your ingredients, its flavor will become more concentrated and will also help tenderize the meat you are using for this hearty creation.
Keep in mind that it may take some trial and error to figure out how much you want to add. Chili is about balance, so you’ll want the sweet, savory, and heat to be aligned.
If one is out of sync, it throws the whole pot off. If the chili is teetering toward being too sweet, smooth it out with a squeeze of lemon juice or a splash of vinegar.