Post Views: 142

The real reason root beer was invented wasn’t for the creation of root beer floats, although these delightful ice cream based drinks are a wonderful fringe benefit. It was actually a result of colonial settlers’ innovation to attempt beer production without hops. Despite not becoming a true beer, this beverage has developed its own unique place in our assortment of drink choices over time. Root beer has earned its position in the cooling box full of soda for outdoor gatherings, but interestingly, it also has a place in your favourite pot of chili. This seemingly odd inclusion may actually be a secret weapon to make this well-loved dish enjoyable for both children and adults.

The addition of root beer provides the chili with both a subtle sweetness and a sharp, herbal spice that gastronomy enthusiasts will find tantalizing on the palate. This fizzy drink incorporates flavours extracted from sassafras root, licorice, wintergreen, vanilla, cloves, cinnamon, molasses, and sugar. These are all flavours that perfectly complement a bowl of chili. The soda’s sweetness is well-balanced and helps to alleviate some of the spiciness of the chili recipe. Simply replace some of your tomato juice with root beer or use it instead of the beer that you would normally add.

However, it’s important to remember to add your root beer to your chili slowly due to the carbonation. Bubbles will fizz and sizzle when exposed to heat. As the root beer cooks along with your ingredients, its flavour is going to intensify, and it will assist in tenderizing the meat in your hearty winter dish.

Be careful about being heavy-handed when you pour. Root beer, by its nature, is sweet, so it may take some trial and error to discover just how much of it you want to add. Some recipes call for a single can while others suggest using more. Just remember, chili is about balance. You want to make certain the sweet, the savory, and the heat are all aligned. If one is out of sync, it throws the whole pot off. So, if you find your chili is teetering towards too sweet, reach for a little squeeze of lemon or a splash of vinegar to smooth it out. Try this root beer trick the next time you make Texas red chili or live on the wild side and give your classic Cincinnati chili a new take.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.