how do you make too hot chili less hot??

[cheryld]

we made a batch of chili that was way too hot. How do you make it less hot???

[Beth]

I have heard that you can put in slices or chunks or raw potato and the potato will absorb some of the heat as it cooks (salt too). I haven't tried that though. Sugar or something sweet won't take the heat out, but will counter it a bit. Hope one of those will help. If not, drink milk or eat butter (on cornbread or tortillas) with the chili. They will help calm the burn.

[robinf]

If you have the ingredients, you may want to make a batch of "unseasoned" chili and mix it with your too hot batch. Depending upon how too hot it is, you can make a lot or a little.

[Gail]

If neither of these solutions works quite enough, you can try serving it ladled over cooked macaroni with a little onion and lots of cheese to break things up a bit. A now-defunct diner in the area used to call this three-way-chili.

Or you could send it to us! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Beth]

Gail, you're right...I do the macaroni and top with grated cheese for my kids, but didn't think of it. I've made things that were too hot for them to eat, but never had that problem for myself or DH.

[cookgirl]

I do the same as beth and Gail, though I use rice a lot instead of macaroni. I also drink milk when I eat chili, to cool my tounge. It works much better than water, and belive me...I like chili very hot!

[Gail]

That's a good point, cookgirl! I'd forgotten about rice. I remember when I was in Thailand with a group from Montana, unused to spicy food. They were drinking water like mad (and without success) until I suggested they do as the Thais do and use rice.

So, you've got a triple-threat fire extinguisher: the rice, the cheese and the milk.

[Leanne]

Put it over rice & put sour cream & cheese on top - you probably won't even notice the heat anymore.

[cookgirl]

That's right Gail...
We're talking serious anti-flame ammo!