Since I’ve been home (as most of have been), I’ve been cooking a lot more than I usually can. One thing I like to make, even if I’m not home a lot, is turkey chili. It’s healthy, it’s easy to make and it can last awhile which is good for the budget. I know right now a lot of people are out of work so a frugal recipe is always good to have. Also, if you are vegan or vegetarian you can replace the turkey with tofu or just leave it out all together. I feel like this recipe is very basic so it’s good for all the non-cooks out there too! Stay safe out there. I hope you enjoy!
PANDY’S TURKEY CHILI
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound Ground Turkey (or Tofu)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 large onion, chopped
2 large sweet red peppers (or orange or yellow or combo), cored, deveined and chopped
3-4 medium stalks of celery
1 jalapeno pepper, cored, deveined and finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder
3 tablespoons of Chili Powder
1 tablespoon of Oregano
1 teaspoon of Cumin
1 teaspoon of Paprika
2 tablespoons of minced garlic
2 bay leaves
2 14.5/15 ounce cans of tomatoes (Fire roasted preferred)
1 cup of chicken broth (or vegetable)
2 15 ounce cans of kidney beans, slightly drained (or replace one can with black beans)
STEP ONE:
Add the oil to at least an 8 quart stockpot and heat on high. Add the turkey meat and a pinch or so of salt and pepper. Use a wooden spoon or something similar to separate the meat as it cooks. Add the onion powder. Cook the meat until it browns which should be about 5 minutes.
STEP TWO:
Add the spices: chili powder, oregano, cumin, paprika, garlic and bay leaves. Stir and cook for about a minute or two.
STEP THREE:
Add the vegetables: onion, peppers, jalapeno pepper and celery. Stir well to blend all the spices with everything. Cook for five minutes. Stirring occasionally. You want all the vegetables to reduce in size a bit.
STEP FOUR:
Add the tomato and chicken broth. Salt and pepper to taste, probably a pinch of each. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
STEP FIVE:
Add the beans. Cook while stirring occasionally for 20 minutes.
STEP SIX:
Enjoy!
You could add a dollop of sour cream, some cheddar cheese or a squeeze of lime if that flips your fancy or just eat it as is. That’s usually my choice.
Happy eating,
Pandora
