I heard an interesting debate on the radio today. The DJs were talking about whether or not chili is a soup. A couple of the DJs passionately said that yes it is a soup, but one was staunchly against it. He said that chili is a separate entity all its own. Weigh in on the debate. Chili a soup or not? Comment.
A soup is defined as liquid food (kind of like beer was in college)
made by boiling or simmering meat, fish, or vegetables with various added ingredients. So, I think that we have no choice but to define chili as a soup. Soup consistency runs the gamut from thin broth to thick chili. However we are forced to classify it, it is most certainly yummy.
I think Chili is a class in itself. If you go to a restaurant and they ask if you would like soup or salad, the soup of the day is never chili.
Many times chili is one of the choices when they ask if you want “soup or salad”
My wife says own category, I however would agree with Daniel. Particularly since it fits the definition precisely. A more difficult question in my mind is are stews separate from soups? My wife says yes, again, I say no it is a soup (anything simmered w/ broth is soup, various thickness but soup none the less).
Good point nic, but at all 3 of the restaurants I’ve worked at the soup of the day NEVER changed or only changed once or twice per year. None of them had chili either.
Chili falls into the “aroma therapy” category…if too aromatic, you need therapy…or at least beeno.
I love chili.
Chili is technically a soup. Served sometimes with a sandwich, so, “soup and sandwich” genre is what it is. We load it up with cheese and serve it over rice in my family.
I love chili. It is a soup for sure. Hmmm, now I want to make some!
i think its a stew……
I came across this article when looking at soup recipes! Check it out….
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-soup-and-stew.htm
I still feel that it is a class all by itself, but can be adapted to fit many other genres of food. Either way it is really yummy. By the way rob I did not see a shout out for mere’s blog on your homepage, yet she has one for your blog…
wait….. you’re supposed to EAT chili??? sheesh, i’ve always used it for skin exfoliation…
Here is the one thing that makes me think chili is a seperate category…if I were to tell you that I was going to put soup on my hotdog you would look at me like I was crazy. But if I told you I wanted some chili on my hotdog you would not think twice about it. Therefore chili may have come from the soup family but it is it’s own beast now.
Thanks for that soup vs. stew comment, that was interesting.
Betty Crocker cook book has chili under the stew category.
Webster’s dictionary is not clear, but seemst to indicate it’s own category.
In a secret balot survey of my CG we had 3 say soup, 6 say own category, 1 stew and 1 it depends.
Don’t know if you know this Rob, but across the internet world this is a much debated topic.
Dan, I didn’t know that. It must be because this is the most comments I have ever recieved on a blog. Who knew Chili was such a big deal?