Tip for Using BeeWild Infused Honeys:
Devil’s Advocate Infused Honey Chili!

Our infused honeys are quite versatile and can be used in any recipe to enhance the flavor. So, I decided to take one of my favorite chili recipes to see how Devil’s Advocate Infused Honey could improve the recipe. I’m going to walk you through my process, so you know how easy it is to work with BeeWild infused honeys.

Original Recipe

1 lb ground beef
1 large sweet onion chopped finely
2-4 cloves of garlic chopped finely (to taste)
*1 large sweet red pepper, seeded and chopped
*1 jalapeno pepper, remove some seeds and ribs
1 can of beans (kidney, black, or pinto)
1 large can crushed tomatoes
*1-2 tbsps BeeWild Gallberry Honey
2 tbsps chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp Mexican oregano
*1-2 tsps of Cayenne Pepper (to taste)
1 tsp salt (or to taste)
1 tsp black pepper

*Ingredients I looked at changing.

My Thinking

I wanted to enrich the taste of peppers in the chili recipe without removing the spicy heat I like. So, the first thing I did is replace the chopped red pepper with red pepper paste. This gives the chili a more mellow, deeper red pepper flavor. I also replaced the jalapeno and the larger amount of cayenne pepper with a smaller amount of cayenne pepper and the addition of Devil’s Advocate Infused Honey. In that way, I bring the cayenne pepper taste forward in my mouth, following by a hint of ghost peppers just after I swallow a spoonful of chili. I also replaced the Gallberry Honey with Devil’s Advocate to add sweetness and heat.

In order to get the level of spiciness I like, I began by adding 1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper, 1 tsp of salt, and 1/2 tsp of black pepper to the chili. Then, I tasted it and noted what I liked and what flavors I wanted to improve. Then, I added 1 tbsp of Devil’s Advocate Infused Honey (to level out the bitter/sour flavors and add more spiciness) and let the chili simmer for a few minutes. I retasted the chili, and noted light back notes of ghost pepper and a better balance of bitter, sweet, and sour. At that point, I wanted to bring the peppery taste more forward. So, I added another 1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper and another 1/2 tsp of black pepper. I simmered the chili for a few more minutes and retasted the chili. I loved it! Then, I had my partner taste the chili, and since he likes spicy food less than I do, he decided to add sour cream and cheese to his chili. Remember, that the addition of dairy or a sweetener, like honey, will calm down any spicy food.

So, when you experiment with infused honeys, remove one or two ingredients from your basic recipe, perhaps the ones with stronger flavors. Then, starting with a small amount of infused honey, replace the removed ingredients (beginning with the infused honey and adding in or replacing any other ingredients you want to experiment with). Taste, simmer, and then retaste until you achieve the flavor profile you are seeking.