Cincinnati, Ohio might not seem like the most interesting culinary hotbed to most. This medium-sized city on the Ohio River might be best-known for its sports teams and its airports, but it’s a hotbed for one truly unique American food item.
Cincinnati Chili can be found on seemingly every corner of this city, with restaurants offering up hot plates of this strange-looking and sounding dish to diners from near and far. What makes this dish so unique, and why is it so beloved?
Throughout its history, Cincinnati has been a city of immigrants. Plenty of Irish, Germans, and African-Americans have ended up in the Queen City over the years, but it’s a smaller and less well-known group that modified one of its traditional dishes to make what is now a favorite.
A group of Macedonian and Greek immigrants arrived in Cincinnati at the start of the 20th century and thought up a genius creation that modified a traditional dish from their homeland to adapt it to the diverse palates of their new city.
They modified saltsa kima, a traditional tomato and spice sauce used on spaghetti in their home countries, as the base for a new creation.
Cincinnati chili sauce contains ground meat, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and many of the ingredients used in saltsa kima. In addition, it is often topped with cheddar cheese, onions, and/or beans in order to give it a unique and distinct twist.
Now available on both pasta and hot dogs, this invention truly represents the United States’ immigrant and innovative traditions, adapting Old World dishes to a New World taste palate. Be sure to try it if you’re ever in Cincinnati!
