The worst thing ever — Page 5

I've read that beans were added to chili as an economical means of making what was essentially a form of stew more filling and substantial. When chili recipes became competitive in the 50s and 60s, the purist mentality that evolved was that beans were unnecessary filler that detracted from the flavors developed in the base of the chili. If you've never had high-end beanless Texas chili, I can understand why the idea of chili without beans may seem odd, but it's probably a completely different form than you'd expect or imagine. It's thick and hearty with a very dark and rich complex flavor profile and nothing like tomato sauce (some purists insist on no tomatoes or tomato sauce in the recipe, either).