Chilli and Chocolate - Love it or hate it?
An interesting combination to say the least, chilli and chocolate has become increasingly popular in the UK, with several luxury chocolate companies selling this combination as part of their product range. Of an Aztec origin, I personally am not a huge fan, but feel that this could be incorporated more into savoury cooking as opposed to sweet treats.
What are people's views on this? Does anyone cook with chocolate and chilli?
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28 Comments:
Love it!
Markbb at 10:27AM on 03/10/09
I've made dark choc icing with the addition of ceyenne(sp) and or cinnamon, its one the favs in my house, I also always add some cocoa powder to chili, its one of the few things that never changes. I've also been thinking of adding cocoa to a roasted tomitillo sauce I make for tamales, not sure how it would work so if anyone has any suggestions...... ;-)
huneybumper at 10:59AM on 03/10/09
Love it also.
bobbob at 11:18AM on 03/10/09
love, Love, LOVE!!!
I particularly like the combo of dark chocolate/chille or cayenne/cinnamon. It's just got everything going on. It makes an incredible cup of hot chocolate. I got a package of hot chocolate mix from The Cocoa Bar in Park Slope called "I Like It Spicy" that is incredible. Zingerman's also has one with cocoa nibs called Aztc Elixir. POW! You can reconstitute some with a little boiling water and add to brownies or chocolate cake. nummy, nummy...
Oh, look what you did! I had to get my last two squares of Vosges Red Fire Bar out of the back of the cupboard (that I have been hoarding!) melting on my tongue right now...mmmmmm
frederika at 11:28AM on 03/10/09
I once had a dark chocolate/chili sauce which was served over crispy roasted duck. It was quite an interesting combination and I think the best word to describe it is sensuous.
Ever since I saw the movie "Chocolat" I've been intrigued by adding spices to chocolate. Also, it's what made me fall in love with Johnny...but that's another post.
juliebugsmama at 11:29AM on 03/10/09
I don't care for chocolate so have never tried chili pepper+chocolate bars, but it didn't sound like a horrible combo so I've been sending them away as gifts to friends/family for over a year now. Everyone seems to genuinely love them, since I receive subtle hints that they want more.
At our weekly dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant, I order mole poblano at least once a month. It's good, but I don't know where the chocolate begins to know whether I'd miss it if it wasn't there...
Cassaendra at 11:36AM on 03/10/09
ewwww! i live in u.k and a new flavour of crisps are being promoted..... chilli and chocolate flavour!!!! they taste terrible.Ive tried chilli and chocolate in the bar form and it was nice, but for me the crisps are too strange.chocolate and a kick of chilli with a potato after taste. Thats not a nice thing......... really. lol
sallbriggs at 11:53AM on 03/10/09
Buy a dark chocolate cake mix. Sub buttermilk for the water. Add mini chocolate chips, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/2 a teaspoon of cayenne. Bake it in whatever pan you want for whatever the box tells you to. I also use sugar around the pan instead of flour when anything calls for "greased and floured".
Please, ahead of time, save the bullshit chastizing about a boxed cake mix. Over it. I cook. I dont bake. Amen.
ChelleyD01 at 11:55AM on 03/10/09
The best cake I've had in years was a chili chocolate cake at a wedding rehearsal dinner. Oh, wow, was that good. Though I love spicy and I love bitter chocolate, so I wouldn't be surprised if others didn't like it.
tangledgray at 12:36PM on 03/10/09
Savory, like mole, you mean?
For the chocolate/chili thing to work, it has to be in the right balance, and the sweetness also plays a part. Chocolate in a savory application needn't be sweet. Jalepeno poppers filled with milk chocolate probably wouldn't be so good. But filled with a cream cheese with some unsweetened chocolate, it would probably be better. I'msure there are better examples.
On the sweet end, I don't want to bite into a candy bar expecting sweetness and then need a fire extinguisher to douse the flames. But a subtle hot can be nice.
I think when you're adding chocolate to savory, it needs to be the unsweetened background note, as it is in mole. You'd never know it's in there. Just like when you add coffee or espresso to a chocolate cake. You don't want to taste the coffee flavor, you just want it to accentuate the chocolate.
Anyway, just my opinion. Someone is probably filling jalepenos with milk chocolate as I write this. ick.
dbcurrie at 1:05PM on 03/10/09
Vosges Red Fire Bar is sooo, sooooo good. Cocoa Camino has a chili spice bar that is also delicious. I heart spicy chocolate! I have to remember to throw in some chipotle powder the next time I make brownies.
wellred at 1:22PM on 03/10/09
Love it! But I always like spice.
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 1:22PM on 03/10/09
I'm over it when everybody and their dog is adding some cayenne powder to a hot chocolate and calling it spicy.
I'm also discovering a new love of milk chocolate lately, which is also contributing to my fatigue with the trend because the chili taste defiantly goes better with dark.
Peony at 1:36PM on 03/10/09
I like it, but not many people do it very well. Its such a fad that manufacturers are just throwing in any old chili for a burst of heat.
fuuchan at 1:42PM on 03/10/09
I'm not a huge fan of chocolate, but I do love dark chocolate with chiles. Vosges makes some great spicy truffles. And @ChelleyD01, that cake sounds good!
ride&cook at 1:56PM on 03/10/09
Love it, but I dont like the chili-chocolate bars sold in stores. They just taste off to me, even the expensive brands. Put some chili in a handmade truffle or dark chocolate cake and I'm all for it though!
Embackus at 2:09PM on 03/10/09
Love. It's my favorite, actually. There's this one chocolate bar with cinnamon, chili and pepitas - I could eat them daily. And Mexican Chocolate snickerdoodles, mmm!
KarynMC at 2:48PM on 03/10/09
Wow, mexican chocolate snickerdoodles sound yummy! Care to share the recipe?
caramel at 3:25PM on 03/10/09
chili (as in red beans and ground beef) and cheesecake is awesome. trust me
santoslhalper at 5:10PM on 03/10/09
Mmmm. I like it done well. I think those chips that were mentioned would be awful indeed!
I do a red ale and chili truffle every year at X-mas, and a good dark chocolate cake with chili and lime is wonderful.
sadiepix at 5:44PM on 03/10/09
Love it -- the grocery store near me carries a local brand of chocolate bar, and the dark chocolate with chilies and dried cranberries is out of this world.
kfarrel3 at 7:55PM on 03/10/09
oh yeah....particularly in hot chocolate.
i also put in some cocoa whenever i make actual chili with meat & beans.
gastronomeg at 1:08AM on 03/11/09
Sure when I make chili, moles, some chocalate cakes.
pjracz10 at 6:14AM on 03/11/09
LOVE it!!! Dagoba makes a great bar with chilies and cacao nibs called Xocolatl -- YUM. And, of course, Jacques Torres' wicked hot chocolate is thick and amazing, a meal in a cup!
CookiePie at 10:21AM on 03/11/09
I absolutely love the combination!
killatofu at 2:12PM on 03/11/09
LOVE the Trader Joe's Chocolates with Chili! Sold in a small round tin. Just enough chili for a good kick.
I added some chipotle to my last batch of chocolate ganache - OMG. Strictly for adults though :D.
therealchiffonade at 3:48PM on 03/11/09
Chelley, I love you.
BangieB at 4:09PM on 03/11/09
LOVE it. Such a good combo, esp. when you add cinnamon.
Check out this post -- "Hot For You Spiced Brownies" = Best. Brownies. Ever! Here's the recipe I adapted. Seriously AMAZING.
jbeach at 4:27PM on 03/11/09