I've had several bowls of chili and cowboy beans with a certain spice in em that I can't seem to duplicate. Especially had it in dishes in Texas and out west. Might be just a healthy shot of cumin or maybe even roasted cumin ? but I'm not sure. It will give the beans / chili a orange - light brown tint. Anyone know what I'm talking about ? It's not a hot spice but man it's flavorful and I'm probably failing miserably at trying to explain it.

Any clues ?

Sounds like cumin to me. Looks like a good many recipes call for 2 tablespoons of it.

David

cumin or paprika perhaps?

Cocoa maybe?

Not paprika for sure. I think it's cumin but I don't get the same flavor when I use it. Maybe because I'm not putting enough in it ?

Maybe all it needs is 2 table spoons of eat-a-bag bbq sauce.......:)

There one that they use out west more than around here. I’ll take a pic when I get home. It may be what you have had

According to whild 1975 that was Saws sauce ... yeah right ...

Thanks nomercy

I've seen texmex recipes that use coriander and some that use ginger, along with cumin, onion powder, smoked paprika, etc. Maybe it is a ginger bite you're getting? Then again, coriander is described as a nutty, citrus, warm and musky flavor.

That might be it. Describes it pretty well.

Yep he got whipped fair and square and then started coming up with all kinds of reasons and stories.

Turmeric can give the orange color.

I've seen homemade chili powder recipes out west that use dried orange peels, among other stuff. Cumin and tumeric would be what I'd bet on, however.

Never underestimate the power of Mexican Oregano … key ingredient in a lot of Texas (no-bean) chilis 😃

Yep. Always used a little Oregano in my chili.

I think I've been shorting the Cumin . But I appreciate all these suggestions and I'm going to branch out.

Lots of cumin and also some dark chocolate or cocoa powder adds a nice umami.

It was Saws Sauce not my sauce just like Randy’s isn’t your sauce either. Therefore there was no sauce off. Facts is facts.